3 up, 3 down: Winners and losers from the Patriots’ past week
Another Patriots trade is paying dividends.
After suffering two losses in a row, the Patriots responded with a statement win against the Dolphins. Miami entered the matchup at 3-0, leading the AFC East, but was soundly beaten at Gillette Stadium.
At 2-2, the Patriots now sit in a familiar place after a slow start. Having answered critics’ doubts – at least for the moment – with a 38-7 win over the Dolphins, the Patriots could be in the process of stabilizing what was once a “capsizing” ship.
While there were many Patriots winners from the past week, here’s a look at a few (as well as a trio who didn’t perform as well).
Up
Jason McCourty
: In Week 1, McCourty played just six defensive snaps. Against the Dolphins, he joined his twin brother, Devin, on the field for 100 percent of the Patriots’ defensive snaps. Not only has he increased his playing time, but he’s proven effective. According to Pro Football Focus, McCourty ranks as the sixth highest graded among 110 players who qualify.
James White: While the entire Patriots backfield was definitely “up,” White in particular continued his strong start to the season. He’s earned strong praise from Tom Brady, and it’s easy to see why. The versatile running back led his position in snaps, and provides a dynamic counterpart to the effective running of rookie Sony Michel.
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John Simon: In his first game with the Patriots since signing as a free agent, Simon played 20 defensive snaps (41 percent). The 27-year-old finished with five total tackles, one tackle-for-loss, and one sack. His instantaneous production was a welcome sight for the New England pass rush.
Down
Chris Hogan
: It’s not that Hogan played especially badly, but he had minimal involvement in the passing game. Targeted just once, he caught a single pass for 25 yards. With Julian Edelman returning in Week 5 and Josh Gordon’s role in the offense likely expanding, targets for Hogan may continue to prove difficult.
Keionta Davis: After playing as much as 75 percent of the team’s defensive snaps in Week 2, Davis saw his involvement decline in Week 3 before being listed as a healthy scratch on Sunday. And with the addition (and strong debut) of pass rusher John Simon, Davis could be a candidate to be moved in order to create a roster spot for Edelman.
Patriots critics: Having pounced on the ample opportunity to call the Patriots out for struggles in back-to-back losses, a wide range of critics found it difficult in the aftermath of Week 4. The standout example in this case was 98.5 The Sports Hub’s Tony Massarotti, and his dueling assessments of Sony Michel.
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