The Patriots are trying to avoid the same old 1-2 start that has followed them into recent seasons, and this week’s trip to Jacksonville offers a chance to change the script. New England sits at 1-1 entering Sunday, while FanDuel Sportsbook lists the Patriots as 2.5-point underdogs against the Jaguars.
Inside Pats Pulpit, the prediction board leans toward New England finding a way to leave with a second straight win. The common thread is familiar: a game that may not turn into a shootout, but one where the Patriots’ defense does enough to keep the result in reach.
Bernd Buchmasser expects a low-scoring afternoon and says the Patriots can get it done without much offense. “There won’t be any offensive fireworks on Sunday, but that will not be necessary for New England to steal a victory.
While the team is dealing with some injuries, cutting down on takeaways and putting pressure on Trevor Lawrence’s supporting cast will do the trick and give the Patriots a second straight W.” His call: Patriots 23, Jaguars 17.
Matt St. Jean sees a more productive day for Drake Maye and the offense.
He noted that this will be “the first time in quite some time” the Patriots won’t be staring down a fierce front, and believes that opens the door for New England to get above .500 for the first time this season. His prediction: Patriots 27, Jaguars 20.
Pat Lane also expects defense to matter more than flash. He pointed out that both units have been solid, even if they haven’t always gotten the attention, and thinks New England will move the ball just a bit better. His score: Patriots 21, Jaguars 17.
Dylan Klayman doesn’t see the Patriots suddenly lighting up the scoreboard, but he does think this is a favorable matchup compared with what they’ve seen so far. He said he hasn’t seen enough explosiveness from the offense yet, but called the Jaguars defense “probably the easiest they have seen so far,” while also noting Jacksonville’s offense struggled against the Broncos last week.
He added that the Patriots defense has matched up with any unit in the league through two games. His pick: Patriots 20, Jaguars 17.
So the consensus is clear: if New England is going to break the recent pattern and avoid another 1-2 start, the defense looks like the piece that can carry the day.
In Other News...
Tom Brady Report Reopens How Football Helped End His Marriage
Tom Bradys family life is back in the spotlight after new reporting from an upcoming biography by Lars Anderson revisits the strain his football career put on his marriage to Gisele Bundchen. Brady and Bundchen finalized their divorce in October 2022 after 13 years together, and the latest account digs back into one of the central issues around the split: her frustration with the demands and priorities of his football commitments.
The biography also adds fresh detail to a relationship that had already been heavily scrutinized, including claims that Bundchen wanted Brady to retire and that her connection with Joaquim Valente began earlier than previously understood. The book says the marriage ultimately unraveled after Brady decided to unretire in 2022, reopening a chapter that, for Patriots fans, has long been tied to the final stretch of his career. [Read more 🡒]
Patriots Dip Into Practice Squad Again For Key Week 3 Roles
The Patriots leaned on familiar depth again for a key Week 3 assignment, elevating safety Mike Brown and defensive tackle Jeremiah Pharms Jr. from the practice squad for Sundays game against the Jaguars. Both players have been around the organization in recent seasons, moving between the practice squad and the active roster while giving New England some continuity at two spots that can come under strain quickly during the season.
Brown and Pharms are expected to go back to the practice squad after the game, which is the kind of roster maneuver that has become part of the weekly rhythm for teams trying to stay flexible early in the year. For the Patriots, it also underscores how much they continue to value players who already know the system and can be called upon without much adjustment when a spot opens up. [Read more 🡒]
Patriots Tight End Problem Feels Bigger After One Offseason Misfire
The Patriots went into the offseason trying to add some badly needed depth at tight end, bringing in free agent Julian Hill and using a draft pick on Eli Raridon. It was a sensible attempt to address a spot that has been thin for a while, but Hills season-ending injury quickly changed the equation and left New England without the extra body it was counting on.
From there, the opportunity to make a bigger swing never materialized. Kyle Pitts had been discussed as a possible trade target for the Patriots, but Atlanta kept him and then extended him, even as his 2026 start has drawn fresh scrutiny around that decision. For New England, the result is another reminder that the tight end room remains unresolved, and the offseason move meant to stabilize it may already be behind schedule. [Read more 🡒]