The Patriots and Packers both come into Week 9 at 5-3, and the matchup has the feel of a real quarterback showcase. Drake Maye and Jordan Love have been two of the league’s best passers so far, and Sunday should give both teams a clear read on where they stand.
For New England, this is more than just another game on the schedule. Green Bay may be sitting at the bottom of the NFC North, but the Packers still offer a useful test for a Patriots team trying to stay in the mix at the top of the AFC East. With a national audience watching and Tom Brady set to call his first Patriots game, the stage is set for a big one.
Love has been dangerous all season, especially when he gets the chance to push the ball downfield. Matthew Golden, Christian Watson and Tucker Kraft give Green Bay plenty of options to challenge the Patriots’ secondary, and slowing those explosive plays will be a major job for New England.
“A really, really intelligent quarterback, talented, athletic,” Mike Vrabel said of Love about what he saw from him coming out of college. “I think all those things have proven to be true. His poise and composure at the line of scrimmage, I think he’s worked on cadences, and the operation has really improved from a young quarterback coming out.”
The Packers’ offense has leaned heavily on the pass, ranking second in the NFL in passing yards per game while producing the fewest rushing yards per game. That puts even more pressure on New England to make Love uncomfortable. He has thrown an interception in each of his last three games, and that’s the kind of trend the Patriots will have to attack if they want to have a chance.
One of the biggest names in that effort could be Jones. Green Bay has leaned on second-year receiver Matthew Golden, who is top-10 in the NFL in both receptions and receiving yards, and Jones is expected to have a major hand in trying to slow him down.
He also has another job that matters on Sunday: punt returner. The Packers have been excellent in that area, allowing the second-fewest punt return yards in the league.
On the other side, New England is still dealing with a thin receiver group. A.J.
Brown is out for a second straight week, and Romeo Doubs remains on IR. That leaves DeMario Douglas, Kyle Williams and Efton Chism III as the main names in the room.
If the Patriots activate Hollins from IR, they could get some needed size back. Hollins has not played since Week 4 after suffering a calf injury in Buffalo, but he returned to practice this week.
The Patriots did not start well in Miami last week, but they still came away with a win, and there’s a belief that they’re building momentum. Maye will need to keep doing what he’s been doing lately, both as a passer and with his legs to extend plays. New England also has to keep Josh Jacobs and the Packers’ rushing attack from getting established.
Still, the challenge is obvious. The Patriots were already stretched thin against a rough Dolphins team, and now they’re facing a Packers group with playoff aspirations. With the receiver room still short-handed, it’s hard to see New England consistently generating enough offense to win this one.
That said, the week does carry a little extra juice. A Super Bowl LI reunion, Brady back in Gillette Stadium and Rob Gronkowski being inducted into the team’s Hall of Fame could give the building the kind of energy New England needs.
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Patriots Offense Faces One Huge Test Against Green Bay
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One of the biggest questions for New England is the status of Hunter Henry, who did not practice recently as the Patriots continue to manage a growing list of health concerns. With Green Bay also expected to be shorthanded, this matchup may come down to which offense can piece together enough clean drives against a defense that is likely to win its share of snaps. [Read more 🡒]
Patriots Face A Trade Deadline Mistake They Really Can't Afford
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There is also some internal tension around how aggressive New England should be. Talks involving vice president of player personnel Eliot Wolf are ongoing, and the team has looked at help at offensive guard and edge rusher, but the broader question is whether the Patriots should be adding or subtracting from a defense that still has pieces worth keeping intact. For a team trying to avoid a deadline misstep, the next few days could say a lot about how it views its own timeline. [Read more 🡒]
Patriots Face A Trade Deadline Choice That Could Hurt A Playoff Push
With the NFL trade deadline approaching, the Patriots are being forced to weigh short-term help against the longer view of their roster. Sports Illustrateds Albert Breer pointed to Christian Barmore and Carlton Davis as possible trade candidates, a reminder that even a team trying to build momentum can find itself pulled into deadline conversations when the market starts moving.
Mike Vrabel has tried to keep the focus elsewhere, saying he has not shared any trade plans and stressing the team is locked in on the Packers and the usual week-to-week business. Still, the possibility of moving either player would come with real consequences for a Patriots group trying to stay competitive, which is why this deadline feels less like a formality and more like a decision that could shape the rest of the season. [Read more 🡒]