Just while you thought it was secure to embrace the tank, New England bounced out a surprising upset of the Buffalo Bills. Quarterback Mac Jones had yet one more hero alternative served as much as him late in a thriller, and this time he took it — giving the hometown followers a game-winning landing drive leaving solely seconds on the clock.
While it was enjoyable for the followers, the consultants additionally noticed sufficient positives within the three-phase effort to bump the crew up a wholesome 5.2 factors within the rankings. Austin Gayle of the Ringer defined:
“Even with more than 20 players listed on the Week 7 injury report and several others on IR, the Patriots found a way to punch the Bills in the mouth and ultimately upset their division rival. To call the win a shock would be an understatement. The Patriots were 8.5 underdogs and coming off three consecutive losses. So, the question has to be asked: Is this a fluke or the start of a return to prominence?”
Now that the celebration is over and the Week 8 game-plan is launched on Wednesday, Gayle’s query is merited. Was that win an indication of issues to return, or only a useless cat bounce? Gayle leans towards it being the beginning of one thing higher. I do too. The Patriots fly to Miami to face the Dolphins this Sunday. It will probably be one other robust division matchup towards a high opponent. The preliminary unfold favors the Dolphins (-9.5) however I’m taking the Patriots to win. Can’t rely these guys out but.
GO PATS!!
Around the AFC East:
New England Patriots (2-5) at Miami Dolphins (5-2)
Buffalo Bills (4-3) vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (3-3)
New York Jets (3-3) at New York Giants (2-5)
AFC Matchups:
Kansas City Chiefs (6-1) at Denver Broncos (2-5)
Baltimore Ravens (5-2) at Arizona Cardinals (1-6)
Jacksonville Jaguars (5-2) at Pittsburgh Steelers (4-2)
Cleveland Browns (4-2) at Seattle Seahawks (4-2)
Houston Texans (3-3) at Carolina Panthers (0-6)
Cincinnati Bengals (3-3) at San Francisco 49ers (4-2)
Las Vegas Raiders (3-4) at Detroit Lions (5-2)
Indianapolis Colts (3-4) vs. New Orleans Saints (3-4)
Tennessee Titans (2-4) vs. Atlanta Falcons (4-3)
Los Angeles Chargers (2-4) vs. Chicago Bears (2-5)
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twenty third – Matt Johnson (SportsNaut): No crew wanted that win greater than the New England Patriots and it’s becoming it got here on the identical day information of Bill Belichick’s contract extension was reported. Do we imagine this will probably be a turnaround level for the Patriots’ offense they usually’ll battle for a .500 file the remainder of the yr? No. But, New England demonstrated that it’s not near being the worst NFL crew in 2023 and that’s an enchancment over earlier weeks. [+7]
twenty fourth – Nate Davis (USA Today): The solely AFC East crew to win in Week 7, New England’s 29 factors practically matched its 35-point output from the earlier 4 video games mixed. [+7]
twenty fifth – Karen Guregian (MassLive): Finally, a signature win for Mac Jones, main a game-winning drive within the last minutes to beat Buffalo. It’s been a very long time coming. [+4]
twenty fifth – Pete Prisco (CBS Sports): The excellent news after beating the Bills was how properly Mac Jones performed. Could that be the sport that will get him going once more? They face a tricky one this week at Miami towards the Dolphins. [+4]
twenty sixth – Austin Gayle (The Ringer): Even with greater than 20 gamers listed on the Week 7 damage report and several other others on IR, the Patriots discovered a strategy to punch the Bills within the mouth and finally upset their division rival. To name the win a shock can be an understatement. The Patriots have been 8.5 underdogs and coming off three consecutive losses. So, the query needs to be requested: Is this a fluke or the beginning of a return to prominence? I lean the latter. …More. [+3]
twenty sixth – Ryan Dunleavy (NY Post). [+5]
twenty sixth – Vinnie Iyer (Sporting News): Mac Jones awakened the Patriots’ various passing recreation with loads of assist from the operating recreation. New England’s offense discovered its groove vs. Buffalo, however was it a particular vibe to get Bill Belichick his three hundredth win? Now the protection must sustain the overachieving, too. [+5]
twenty sixth – Josh Schrock (NBC Sports Chicago): Mac Jones desires individuals to nonetheless imagine. As the final remaining member of Mac Jones Island, I’ve no different alternative. [+4]
twenty seventh – NFL Nation (ESPN): Young riser: WR Demario “Pop” Douglas. The sixth-round pick of Liberty performed a season-high 37 snaps in Sunday’s win over the Bills, after averaging 16.2 within the prior video games during which he was wholesome. His quickness and dependable arms confirmed up with 4 catches for 54 yards, one punt return for 25 yards, and one rush for 20 yards. He additionally drew three defensive penalties. — Mike Reiss. [+3]
twenty seventh – Conor Orr (SI): The Patriots have been capable of get comfy and make the most of a few of Bill O’Brien’s Alabama-inspired numbers-game offense towards the Bills, the place they might lop a lot of the protection on one aspect of the ball and chuck it the opposite manner. Demario Douglas introduced some a lot wanted pace, and run after the catch means, whereas Ezekiel Elliott out-touched Rhamondre Stevenson within the run recreation, maybe using his superior move defending abilities. [+5]
twenty seventh – Frank Schwab (Yahoo! Sports): With everybody able to bench Mac Jones, he got here out and posted a line of 25-for-30, 272 yards, two touchdowns and a 126.7 passer score in a comeback win over the Bills. Who is aware of if this can be a signal of issues to return, however it’s probably the most constructive step ahead for Jones since … his rookie season? [+4]
twenty seventh – Jarrett Bailey (TouchdownWire): The Patriots are dangerous, however you’ll be able to’t fairly rely any recreation as a win forward of time going towards Bill Belichick. Also, the NFL ought to effective Mike Gesicki each time he does that griddy- it’s painful to observe. [+1]
twenty seventh – Staff (TheRating): Head coach Bill Belichick picked up profession win No. 300 this weekend on the again of a robust defensive outing and a clutch end-of-game drive from Mac Jones and the offense. [+4]
twenty eighth – Mike Florio (ProFootballTalk): Was Sunday a turning level, or only a temporary delay of the inevitable? [+4]
twenty eighth – Eric Edholm (NFL.com): This was actually Mac Jones’ signature NFL win. He beat the Bills as a rookie, however that was in a three-pass, wind-whipped recreation in Buffalo. The Bills had gotten him 4 straight occasions since then, together with the playoff blowout, with Mac throwing seven mixed INTs in these video games. Jones final led his crew again within the fourth quarter to victory in Week 5 of 2021 towards a moribund Texans crew. The returns of Cole Strange and Michael Onwenu helped the offensive line, and Demario Douglas and Pharaoh Brown proved they deserve greater roles within the passing recreation. All that stated, this rousing win got here towards a beat-up Bills crew, and we will’t precisely memory-hole the three earlier video games. An indication of progress or a one-game analgesic? With Miami up subsequent, we may discover out shortly. [+1]
twenty eighth – Consensus (Bleacher Report): It’s been a tough season for quarterback Mac Jones and the New England Patriots. The Pats have suffered among the worst blowout losses of Bill Belichick’s profession, and the offense has had every kind of bother transferring the ball. A game-winning landing drive towards the rival Bills isn’t going to avoid wasting New England’s season, nor will it cease the criticisms of Jones’ play. But for one afternoon not less than, all was properly at Gillette Stadium.
For his half, Jones stated he’s been dialing out the criticism all alongside and simply making an attempt to play his recreation. In Week 7 not less than, the quarterback was strong. His completion proportion, yards per try and passer score have been all really higher than Josh Allen’s. But the signal-caller additionally entered Week 7 at thirtieth within the league in each passer score and QBR. He received Bill Belichick his three hundredth win Sunday, however the doubters aren’t going to be quieted till Jones strings a number of begins like this collectively. [nc]
twenty ninth – Dalton Miller (ProFootballNetwork): The Patriots offense was horrific for weeks. Mac Jones remains to be making an attempt to perform a little bit an excessive amount of as a restricted athlete, however he performed extremely properly towards the Bills, remaining in rhythm all through the sport as a passer. The win towards Buffalo seemingly has extra to do with Buffalo than New England, however it was good to see this unit scratch and claw its strategy to Bill Belichick’s three hundredth profession regular-season win. [nc]
AVG RANK: 24.8 30 (+5.2)
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