Boy, the Patriots had no business being in a position to win that game, especially with the stupid decisions being made by Mike McCarthy, but they were. Ultimately, they fell in overtime to the Cowboys. Here are your ups and downs from week six.
Ups
Justin Bethel
Bethel had a great game yesterday, he tipped a pass from Prescott which was intercepted by Dugger, a rare defensive play by him, but in a pinch where backups were being used a bunch, he came up and caused a huge turnover. In addition to his work on defense, he also caused a fumble on the Cowboys punt return, unfourtunatley, the Patriots couldn’t recover and Dallas kept possesion. Bethel was an up for sure.
Running Backs
A better day for the backs as a banged up Harris rushed for a touchdown and over 100 yards, Stevenson also scored his first career touchdown which was cool to see. This needs to continue, but a better day for this group, perhaps we could try J.J. Taylor once more in place of Bolden?
A quieter day for Bourne, who only had one catch from two targets, but boy, it sure was an important one. He hauled in a career long 75-yard touchdown from Jones which helped the Pats regain the lead late on in the fourth.
Ja’Whaun Bentley
Bentley came up with a huge play to deny Prescott’s would be touchdown when he punched the ball out as it was about to pass over the goal line. That play alone gets him in the good books. If that wasn’t enough, he was heavily involved in the Pats defensive work, recording ten tackles in the first half alone.
Downs
Special Teams
A blocked punt for the second straight week is inexcusable. The Patriots pride themselves on is their special teams work, but so far this year it’s been shambolic.
Jalen Mills
Mills isn’t a corner, or, at least he shouldn’t be covering player’s in that position like Ceedee Lamb on a regular basis. He got burned a number of times, including the winner in overtime where Lamb had a good 5-10 yards seperation from him. A bad night for Mills.
Isaiah Wynn
Is there anyway the Patriots can get out of that fifth-year option? Wynn returned from the COVID list with a game to forget, he was benched after getting manhandled by the Cowboys defensive fronts. Perhaps try him at guard?
N’Keal Harry
Harry was on the field for around 20 or so offensive snaps and wasn’t targeted once, I think any hopes of him being a useful player for this team are done. One play sticks out to me that happened in the fourth quarter, Harry was meant to motion across on the play but didn’t realise until Mac shouted at him, it almost ended up in a delay of game and really rushed Mac into snapping the ball and throwing an incompletion.
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