The Patriots head into Week 10 with plenty hanging over them, and DeMario Douglas is making it clear the fix has to start on the sideline as much as on the field.
New England is coming off last Sunday’s loss to the Packers and sits at 5-4, with the Lions looming in a matchup that could put the Patriots right back at .500. That’s a dangerous spot against a Detroit offense that has been piling up production, and the Patriots’ defense is walking into the game after a brutal showing in which two receivers topped 150 receiving yards.
Now they’re staring down another tough receiving group, one led by Amon-Ra St. Brown and Jameson Williams, and the pressure is on New England to avoid a repeat.
On offense, the challenge is just as real. The Patriots may be dealing with some of their most important losses, including possibly Rhamondre Stevenson this week and potentially A.J.
Brown.
That puts even more on Drake Maye and Douglas, who has become Maye’s top target over the last month. If New England is going to have a shot in Munich on Sunday, it will need Douglas to keep producing.
After last week’s loss, Douglas didn’t shy away from what he thinks the team is missing. He pointed to the energy around the group and said it has to improve if the Patriots want to turn things around.
"I just feel like we need more energy on that sideline. I think that would help us play complementary football.
I feel like if we go out there, offense-wise, on the sideline, with the defense out there, I feel like we need to be out there to be like, 'Let’s go.' I feel like that would help the energy around the whole team.
So, I feel like once we get that together, we’ll be a tighter team, and we’ll clean a lot of things up.”
His comments came just after Mack Hollins appeared to call out teammates for being too comfortable and not showing enough urgency, a sign that the mood inside the locker room may be a little more tense than usual.
That wouldn’t be hard to understand. The Patriots have dealt with nonstop injuries, uneven play, and a season that has gone a lot harder than anyone expected. That kind of stretch can wear on a team, and it can chip away at confidence or turn into frustration if it keeps piling up.
Douglas’ point is simple, though: when the season gets messy, the group has to stick together and keep pushing. The Patriots may not be where they wanted to be, but with nine games left, the season is still alive, and they can’t afford to let the disappointment take over.
In Other News...
Patriots Offense Suddenly Has A Huge Munich Concern
The Patriots trip to Munich has picked up a little more uncertainty on the offensive side, with wide receiver A.J. Brown and running back Rhamondre Stevenson both landing on the injury report as questionable for Week 10 against the Lions. Brown is dealing with ankle and knee injuries after being limited in practice, while Stevenson is working through a knee issue of his own and was also limited. For a New England offense already trying to settle in on the road, the timing is less than ideal.
The team also ruled out three players and added several others to the questionable list, leaving the final game-day picture a bit murky as kickoff approaches. For the Patriots, the concern is not just who suits up, but how much of the offense they can count on if these key pieces are less than full strength in a game that already comes with the added wrinkle of playing in Munich. [Read more 🡒]
Patriots Can't Risk This A.J. Brown Decision Again
A.J. Browns return to practice has given the Patriots a much-needed lift, even if it has not yet answered the biggest question surrounding him. The three-time All-Pro receiver has missed multiple games this season because of a high-ankle sprain and knee issues, and while he traveled with the team for its Week 10 game in Germany, his availability remains uncertain.
For New England, the temptation to push Brown back into action is obvious. He is the kind of difference-maker that can change the shape of an offense and help keep playoff hopes alive, but the Patriots also know how quickly one injury can turn into another if they rush him before he is ready. After all the time he has already missed, this is the sort of decision that could matter well beyond one game. [Read more 🡒]
Patriots Suddenly Have A Backfield Fix Worth Watching
The Patriots running back room has gone from crowded to precarious in a hurry, with Treveyon Henderson out indefinitely because of neurological issues and Rhamondre Stevenson also sidelined. That has pushed the team into a spot where adding help is no longer just a depth conversation, it is a practical roster issue, especially with the season already asking a lot of the backs still standing.
Najee Harris has surfaced as a name to watch after his release by the New York Giants, and he fits the kind of profile New England could use if it decides to make a move. He would offer immediate backfield insurance and, if the fit is right, a chance to matter later in the season too, but for now it remains only a possibility rather than a reported signing or negotiation. [Read more 🡒]