New England Patriots receiver N’Keal Harry got the ball on a jet sweep on the fifth offensive play in his team’s 34-13 win over the Cincinnati Bengals on Sunday. He carried the ball 10 yards. It wasn’t a big play on the stat sheet, but it was a big play for Harry.
“It was good, just starting to get my groove back out there. It felt good,” Harry said after the game in the locker room.
It seemed offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels was poised to keep his promise this week. He wanted to get Harry, the 2019 first-round pick, involved on offense. That’s easier said than done, with Harry still figuring out how to operate in New England’s complicated offense. But McDaniels called two jet sweeps to Harry over the course of Week 15 — both plays had Tom Brady handing the ball directly to the receiver. That cut out the complications of the playbook and the still-developing chemistry between he and Brady.
“I take pride in being a hard worker and being a workhorse, so I just take that approach and try to seize the day,” Harry said.
N'Keal Harry trying to "seize the day." #Patriots pic.twitter.com/YxQPnxZ0CQ
— Michael Giardi (@MikeGiardi) December 15, 2019
Since Harry made his debut in Week 11, he has been a part of the team’s red zone plans in just about every game. His first NFL catch was a touchdown in Week 11. Even in Week 14 when he played just two snaps, Harry managed a 13-yard catch in the red zone that should have been a touchdown, if not for an officiating gaffe. In Week 15, he was again a scoring threat, with a second-half touchdown. Brady extended the play, and though Harry didn’t get open at first, he improvised with Brady, and managed a score.
“He adjusted his route and came back and found some space,” Brady said. “It was a good play that we needed. He’s fighting. He’s working hard every week to learn. … It’s fun to see him make those plays.”
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