The New England Patriots are set to take on the Jacksonville Jaguars in London on Sunday with both teams looking to pick up their second win of the season.
Last week’s game against the Houston Texans brought hope for the Patriots organization and fans alike with rookie quarterback Drake Maye getting his first start. He showed flashes of what he could do on the football field, throwing for 243 yards, three touchdowns and two interceptions in the 41-21 loss.
Maye also led the rushing attack in the game, carrying the ball five times for 38 yards. Through the air, he established a connection with wide receiver DeMario Douglas. He caught six catches for 92 yards and a touchdown.
There were positives to be had in New England’s fourth straight loss, most notably with Maye starting and the passing offense immediately picking up steam. Fans got a glimpse of the future on the offensive side of the ball.
Meanwhile, the Jaguars lost to the Chicago Bears by 35-16 score. Trevor Lawrence threw for 234 yards, two touchdowns and an interception.
Tight end Evan Engram was the other big story for the Jaguars. He caught 10 passes for 102 yards on the afternoon. Nevertheless, it was not enough to overtake Caleb Williams and the Bears, who were able to pick up their fourth win of the season.
The Patriots lead the all-time series against the Jaguars by a 12-2 margin. The last time these two teams met was January 2022, when New England netted a 50-10 blowout victory.
This could be another opportunity for Maye to show what he can do, provided he is healthy. He threw for more touchdown passes in Sunday’s game than the entire team had all season.
This is not a win-now season for the Patriots, who are looking more toward improving and developing for the future. We will see if Sunday’s game is another step towards those goals.
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