As the New England Patriots trot through the rest of the 2020 season, it’s no secret that the passing game has been hit-or-miss for the team. Some games, the wide receivers look like the Patriots best positional unit. Other games, the wide receivers disappear. The 2020 season has been full of peaks and valleys for New England’s wide receivers, and the team in general
Even still, offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels has confidence in that unit. Speaking to the media on Tuesday, McDaniels indicated he thought the Patriots have enough talent at wide receiver to be successful and compete at the position every week.
“They work their butt off, and they’re doing what they can do each week to prepare and play their best,” he said. “I couldn’t ask any more of those guys with their attitude and effort and approach. I don’t worry about this, that and the other in terms of weapons and all that. We have enough people here to win, and we’ve got to do a better job of executing and putting those guys in positions to be productive.
I disagree with the sentiment that the Patriots have enough wide receivers to win. New England needs a true top wide receiver.
When you look at the Patriots receiving production, Damiere Byrd leads the team 566 yards and a touchdown. The next biggest producer is Jakobi Meyers who has caught 42 passes for 505 yards. Those two have been great producers in the receiving game, but they are not true wide receiving threats. N’Keal Harry is the next biggest producer at the position with 277 receiving yards and two touchdowns.
Have the receivers play better in recent weeks? Sure, they have been able to offer some sort of offense. Is it enough to win football games? No, it is not. They have not been consistent enough throughout the season.
Harry is still struggling to find his groove in his second year, while Byrd would be better suited as a third wide receiver. He does have talent and speed, but his skill set does not lend itself to top wide receiver material.
The same is true of Meyers. He has what himself in a position to have a great year partly because of him standing out in an inexperienced group of wide receivers. He is not necessarily a player I would consider a top-tier wide receiver. He is a good wide receiver, but not one that can take over a ballgame consistently.
As for right now, the Patriots do not have enough wide receivers to win. They have a lot of good wide receivers that could fit better in complementary roles. There is nothing wrong with being a complementary wide receiver, but the New England Patriots definitely need a clear-cut top wide receiver if they want to win consistently. Right now, they do not have the horses to do so.
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