Jacoby Brissett is not the problem. Drake Maye is not the solution.
The New England Patriots will therefore play with the experienced Brissett as starting quarterback for at least another week before handing over the reins to Maye, the first-round rookie and recognized quarterback of the future.
“It’s still the status quo,” coach Jerod Mayo said on Friday, one day after the team’s 24:3 defeat to the New York Jets. “Jacoby is still our starting quarterback and we have to be ready to support him. There are eleven guys out there on offense, so everyone is needed.”
After a surprisingly good start to the season — Victory against Cincinnati And against Seattle in overtime — the Patriots fell to Aaron Rodgers and the Jets in their NFC East opener on Thursday night. Brissett completed 12 of 18 passes for 98 yards and was sacked five times, limping off one of the 10 hits he took.
“It’s football. I’m supposed to get hit. I didn’t sign up for this sport not to get hit, so I don’t really pay attention,” Brissett said after spending most of the game dodging a Jets pass rush that overwhelmed the Patriots’ injury-plagued offensive line.
“These guys fight their asses off, man. And I take my hat off to them,” Brissett said. “It’s not an easy job. I honestly don’t want this job. But I respect these guys for going out there and just doing their best, and that’s all you can ask for, man. It’s just give me your best. I’ll give them my best, and at the end of the day, we’ll see where we’re at.”
Brissett was taken out of the game in the final five minutes and replaced by Maye, who completed 4 of 8 passes for 22 yards in his NFL debut but was sacked twice in his only series on the field – including once to end the game.
Mayo said he considered keeping the freshman off the field to protect him. “But at the same time, I thought it was too good an opportunity for him to go out there and get some experience,” the coach said.
What works
It’s not great when the punter is the star, but Bryce Baringer’s five punts averaged 49 yards and three of them were sunk inside the Jets’ 20-yard line.
What needs help
The offensive line held together for the most part through the first two games, but it all fell apart on Thursday night. The seven sacks were the most the team has allowed since Scott Zolak and Hugh Millen were brought down eight times by Ted Marchibroda’s Indianapolis Colts in 1992.
“It was bad in all phases,” said center David Andrews. “We couldn’t really get into a rhythm, and some things that we thought would work, we didn’t execute well enough.”
Stock up
The team’s draft position for 2025. The chances that the Patriots will The NFL’s worst record is 11-1the fourth shortest in the league.
Inventory is decreasing
RB Rhamondre Stevenson ran for 201 yards and two touchdowns in the first two games. There was also a fumble in both games, but the Patriots recovered both balls.
On Thursday night, he caused the team’s first turnover of the season, rushing for just 23 yards on six attempts.
Injuries
The offensive line is devastated. Left tackle Vederian Lowe (knee) and left guard Sidy Sow (ankle) did not play. Sub LT Caedan Wallace and LG Michael Jordan both left the game injured in the fourth quarter. Center David Andrews (hip) and right tackle Mike Onwenu (wrist) played despite being listed as questionable.
Key number
139 – The second-fewest yards for the Patriots in a game since the start of the 1993 season, surpassed only by the 119 yards against the Jets in Week 18 of last year.
What happens next?
The Patriots visit San Francisco on September 29th.
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