Patriots @ Raiders
Final Score: Raiders 21, Patriots 17
Writer: Jason Wolf (J_Wolf_Picks on Twitter)
The Week 6 meeting between the Las Vegas Raiders and the New England Patriots had the makings of a tenuous reunion between a collection of scorned ex-lovers. Josh McDaniels, Jakobi Meyers, Brian Hoyer, and Jimmy Garoppolo welcomed their old teammates and coaches to Vegas, and Bill Belichick tried to make it as awkward as possible by causing scenes and smashing tablets. Garoppolo sustained an injury and left the game (stop me if you’ve heard this one before), the Raiders scored 20 points for the first time this season, and the Patriots fell to 1-5 on the season; those are bizarre numbers next to New England in the standings.
Three Up
- Kendrick Bourne – Bourne was by far Mac Jones’ go-to guy in this game. Bourne saw double the targets of anyone else on the field for the Patriots, including the vast majority of those in the fourth quarter when it mattered most. Crisp route running and chemistry with Jones makes him the most reliable receiver in the Patriots offense. As long as JuJu Smith-Schuster is out, we can expect extra targets for Bourne.
- Michael Mayer – The rookie tight end was given the chance to shine and show why the Raiders moved up to draft him. Mayer is an effective blocker as well as receiver, so he’s going to be staying on the field more and more. Mayer showed off some nice moves in the open field for a big guy; he’s a talented pass catcher whose role should only increase from here on out.
- Ezekiel Elliott – There was seemingly very little optimism around Ezekiel Elliott producing usable fantasy numbers as Rhamondre Stevenson carried the bulk of the load for the Patriots and the market for Elliott’s services was nothing crazy. However, Zeke passed the eye test with flying colors today. He looked surprisingly fast and powerful. Patriots look to be involving him in more ways than the standard run plays which is a promising development for his role in the offense.
Three Down
- Davante Adams – Once again, Jakobi Meyers played the role of 1B to Adams’ 1A. Or in the case of this week, Davante played second fiddle to Meyers. Granted, it was against defensive mastermind Belichick but this is the second consecutive week that Adams was not the focal part of the offense. Of course, he is still one of the best in the league; he just does not appear to have the same floor as he did in years past in the targets department.
- Rhamondre Stevenson – Stevenson isn’t in danger of losing his job or the bulk of his touches but the sudden reemergence of Ezekiel Elliott hasn’t been good for him from a fantasy football perspective. Coming into the season it was assumed that Zeke would mostly be a true backup to Rhamondre but that is seeming less and less likely, especially if Elliott continues to look as good as he did today.
- Josh Jacobs – Coming into Week 5, Jacobs was averaging a career-worst 2.8 YPC. He didn’t improve on those numbers in this one as he carried the rock 25 times, gaining 77 yards on the ground for 3.1 YPC. The Raiders’ run blocking has been a problem all year as Jacobs has been hit more times in the backfield than any other running back in the league. Now with the health of Jimmy Garoppolo being thrown into question, Jacobs’ efficiency figures to keep going down if their quarterback situation suffers a downgrade with Hoyer or O’Connell. The volume will be there but efficiency and touchdowns might not be.
New England Patriots
Quarterback
Mac Jones: 24/33, 200 Yards, INT
Mac Jones has been shouldering most of the blame for the Patriots’ offensive struggles. Whether or not that is a totally fair evaluation will be left for a different post but as far as the Week 6 loss versus the Raiders goes, Mac Jones is not solely to blame for the offense’s struggles. To be fair to Jones, he was under duress most of the evening, including the vast majority of the first half and the entirety of the first quarter, where the Patriots were out-gained 125 to -2 yards (yes, that’s negative 2 yards). Jones’s game was not perfect by any stretch of the imagination as he did miss some easier throws and threw an absolutely awful interception but it’s clear that he is in a sub-optimal situation for a young quarterback. Shoddy offensive line? Check! Lack of offensive weapons to help make your quarterback’s life easier? Check! Even when Jones made perfect throws, the Patriots managed to shoot themselves in the foot by having the big plays called back due to penalties or by receivers just dropping balls.
Notes
- Mac had no chance to get anything going in the first quarter as any time he dropped back he was met by defenders nearly instantly.
- Errors in this game include an unforgivable interception where he completely missed a wide-open Hunter Henry by a country mile, throwing the ball right to a defender’s waiting arms. The throw was on the run but the play is expected to be made the vast majority of times by a “franchise quarterback.”
- Had more than one perfect pass dropped by his receivers and/or called back due to stupid penalties.
- Decently accurate when given time to throw.
Missed Opportunities
- The biggest missed opportunity of the day and the play that will probably haunt Patriots fans from this game is the absolutely 10/10 dime that Jones placed in DeVante Parker’s hands on a streak down the sideline. Not Jones’ fault at all as he dropped it in Parker’s bread basket and he just dropped the ball, literally. What could have been a game-winning touchdown was cruelly turned into a deflating incompletion.
Running Back
Rhamondre Stevenson: 10 Carries, 46 Yards, TD | 6 Targets, 5 Receptions, 24 Yards
Run blocking (and the overall effectiveness of the run game) has been an issue for the Patriots for a couple of seasons now. Stevenson hasn’t exactly been the poster boy for efficiency as this was the first game this season where he averaged over 4 YPC. Stevenson didn’t flash all that much this week but he played a solid role in the offense and produced positive gains nearly every time he touched the ball. He also served as a man outlet in the passing game, attracting more targets in the passing game than everyone but Kendrick Bourne. Stevenson ran violently and was tough to bring down on initial contact, two of his hallmark qualities.
Notes
- Stevenson saw six targets and came down with five receptions, His role in the passing game is secure and keeps him on the field a lot.
- He flashed his above-average hands for a running back on a couple of occasions, most notably on a high degree of difficulty catch in traffic where he knew he was going to absorb a hit.
- Took a couple of snaps with Ezekiel Elliott also on the field, making for an interesting package where both can be used in creative ways.
Ezekiel Elliott: 7 Carries, 34 Yards, TD | 1 Target, 1 Reception, 15 Yards
Ezekiel Elliott passed the eye test for what felt like the first time in years. He saw only three fewer carries than Rhamondre Stevenson, and he was slightly more efficient with his touches as well. He flashed some surprising burst out of the backfield, looking like the Zeke from years past.
Notes
- Packages featuring both Elliott and Stevenson together on the field are promising to see as their presence together confuses the defense and keeps the offense unpredictable. This is evident by the effectiveness of the play(s) where they run the ball with one of them while the other runs as a decoy.
- Flashed surprisingly strong when watching him carry the ball.
- Zeke got the first crack at goal-line carries over Stevenson.
Missed Opportunities
- Elliott had a 70+ yard touchdown catch taken off the board by a highly questionable holding call on Hunter Henry. What should have been a monster play on a screen pass taken to the house instead gets erased completely like it never happened.
Wide Receiver/Tight End
Kendrick Bourne: 11 Targets, 10 Receptions, 89 Yards
Kendrick Bourne soaked up an absurdly high 33% of the total passing game targets, attracting 11 targets and coming down with 10 balls for 89 yards. He was everywhere in the second half where he did the majority of his damage, particularly in the fourth quarter where he caught seven balls down the stretch. At one point, Bourne touched the ball on seven out of 13 plays as they were constantly looking to feed him. Getting the ball to Bourne in different ways (screens/intermediate routes), he carried the offense at times in the second half.
Notes
- Especially without JuJu Smith-Schuster, Bourne is the go-to possession guy and Mac Jones’ most trusted option.
- Displayed clean route running, often gaining 1-2 steps of clean separation and finding soft spots in the defensive zones.
- Also came down with a couple of catches in traffic where he knew he was most likely going to take a hit. Not afraid to go over the middle.
DeVante Parker: 3 Targets, 1 Reception, 7 Yards
Even without JuJu Smith-Schuster, DeVante Parker has not been a big part of the Patriots offense. Hard to believe that they re-signed him to a 3-year deal with the way they use him, Parker saw three targets on the day, and is still another head-scratching personnel decision by the Patriots (especially on the offensive side of the ball). Parker once said that when he’s around, a 50-50 ball is “more like an 80-20 ball,” but unfortunately for the Patriots, Parker’s most impactful moment of the day was the 20% chance rearing its ugly head on his massive drop late in the game.
Missed Opportunities
- Had the biggest missed opportunity of them all as he dropped what could have been the game-winning touchdown with less than two minutes remaining on a perfectly thrown ball down the sideline from Mac Jones. What should have been a career-defining highlight (thus far) for Jones turned anticlimactically into a deflating drop.
Tyquan Thornton: 2 Targets, 1 Reception, 6 Yards
Hunter Henry: 3 Targets, 1 Reception, 7 Yards
Hunter Henry hasn’t been as big of a part of the offense over the past couple of weeks. The timing and connection with Mac Jones was a little off in this one but the usage is still perplexing as Henry should be one of the Patriots’ most reliable targets in the passing game and usually comes through when called upon.
Notes
- Got called for a very questionable holding penalty which caused the long Ezekiel Elliott TD to be called back.
Mike Gesicki: 3 Targets, 3 Receptions, 28 Yards
Las Vegas Raiders
Quarterback
Jimmy Garoppolo: 14/22, 162 Yards, TD | 2 Carries, 4 Yards
Jimmy Garoppolo made it through one half before he left the game after taking a hit to his back. In the half he played, he was afforded ample time in the pocket and was delivering balls with accuracy and zip. Jimmy G was leading the offense up the field with ease but the Raiders had trouble cashing in on the two red zone trips they had with Garoppolo.
Notes
- The interception that was credited to Garoppolo really shouldn’t count against him at all, as it was more of a Davante Adams fumble than an actual interception. But because it was a bang-bang play, Jimmy G got credited with the interception of the fumbled/deflected ball.
- Made a questionable decision in recklessly getting rid of the ball as he was being sacked. Luckily for him, his teammate jumped on the ball but plays like these oftentimes result in turnovers.
Missed Opportunities
- Led a perfect, nearly 8-minute drive to open up the game which should have ended in a touchdown but his receiver dropped the crucial third-down catch which would have extended the drive and put them in goal-to-go.
Brian Hoyer: 6/10, 102 Yards | 3 Carries, -3 Yards
Brian Hoyer filled in admirably for Garoppolo, coming in the game and immediately slinging the rock around, throwing for significantly more air yards than Garoppolo was. He was not as accurate as Jimmy G but he was looser with the ball and it was actually working to the Raiders’ advantage, especially in the third quarter when Hoyer came in.
Notes
- On a 1st & 10, Raiders run play-action and Hoyer hits Adams for a nice 20-yard gain. This play was noteworthy because when Garoppolo was in, 90% of 1st down plays were a run with Jacobs. Why are the Raiders more limiting with their starting quarterback than with their 38-year-old backup?
Running Back
Josh Jacobs: 25 Carries, 77 Yards | 5 Targets, 2 Receptions, 16 Yards
Jacobs didn’t have his best game in this one, in terms of counting stats and eye test. The Raiders continued to struggle with run blocking and creating lanes for Jacobs to run through. Jacobs, per usual, did a great job working with what he had and turning nothings into somethings but overall it was a tame afternoon for Jacobs. He did get 20+ carries but averaged only 3 YPC and never quite busted that big one.
Notes
- No matter how inefficient it’s currently going, the Raiders are committed to feeding Jacobs the ball and sticking with the run game. Good for Jacobs’ fantasy owners, not always good for their offense but at least Jacobs’ usage is a highly secure floor.
- Raiders are much too predictable on first down. The vast majority of their first down calls is a simple running play with Jacobs. Mixing up with some play action, and pre-snap motions; anything really would do wonders for keeping the defense guessing on first down and creating more room for Jacobs to run through.
Zamir White: 2 Carries, 2 Yards | 2 Targets, 2 Receptions, 2 Yards
Wide Receiver/Tight End
Davante Adams: 5 Targets, 2 Receptions, 29 Yards
Bill Belichick is known as a defensive mastermind, and one of his signature moves is his ability to take away the opposing team’s most dangerous offensive threat. This week was no different as the Pats successfully limited Davante Adams’ impact on the game. He was held to a single catch for eight yards through the first half and finished with only 29 yards on two catches, by far his least productive outing this season (with last week’s dud coming in second).
Notes
- There are times when you can see Adams on the sideline looking frustrated with his role on offense and the lack of targets being funneled his way but coincidentally the Raiders also won their last two games. Have to wonder if his displeasure with the team/situation is affecting his play at all (could be a nagging shoulder injury as well).
Missed Opportunities
- Adams lightly bobbled one of his targets, leading to Jimmy Garoppolo’s interception in the red zone. Had he caught it cleanly as he does 90% of the time, he would have had a first down and been a threat to score as well. What should have been a nice catch in traffic to set up a goal-to-go situation was instead the Raiders’ only turnover of the game.
Jakobi Meyers: 7 Targets, 5 Receptions, 61 Yards, TD
Another week, another game where Jakobi Meyers dominates the intermediate areas of the field for the Raiders. This is the second consecutive week that Meyers out-produces Davante Adams and looks more impactful while doing so. This could be due to more focus from defenses on Davante and the Raiders exploiting the general threat that Adams poses to free up Meyers. Whatever it is, Meyers is enjoying a lucrative role in the Raiders offense and shows no signs of slowing.
Notes
- Meyers is an excellent route runner, seemingly always able to gain a step or two on defenders.
- The longer a route or play goes on, the more likely it is that he finds himself open. B
Tre Tucker: 2 Targets, 2 Receptions, 57 Yards
Tre Tucker got a couple of designed looks in an effort to get him out in space, and understandably so as he looks dangerous when he picks up momentum. Brian Hoyer let it fly to Tucker on a deep bomb and connected with him for a 48-yard hookup. Tucker simply outran his defender and beat him by a healthy step or two.
Notes
- Looks blazing fast with the ball in his hands.
- Every week we are seeing a little more from Tucker as the Raiders try to unlock him.
Michael Mayer: 6 Targets, 5 Receptions, 75 Yards
It was the Michael Mayer show early and often in this one as Mayer caught three balls for 35 yards on the first drive. This was by far Mayer’s most impactful game in his young career, and he is on an upward trend as the Raiders are clearly making concerted efforts to get him the ball whenever possible. Watching Mayer gives you a great example of what teams are looking for out of these new-age prototypical tight ends. Mayer excels as a pass-catching option but is also a competent blocker with room to grow, which will help him stay out on the field more and become more versatile as an offensive piece.
Notes
- Truly surprisingly shifty in the open field. Moves fluidly when juking and making guys miss. Deceptive agility.
- Flashed an exciting blend of speed/power on his third catch in particular as he both made guys miss with change of direction and bounced off would-be tacklers like nothing.
Austin Hooper: 2 Targets, 2 Receptions, 19 Yards