Tag: NFL Preseason Week 3

Instant analysis of Patriots 20-10 road loss to Commanders

A mistake-filled night led to a second straight preseason loss for the Patriots

New England Patriots coach Jerod Mayo will probably be seeing yellow flags in his sleep after Sunday’s 20-10 preseason road loss to the Washington Commanders.

It was raining flags on the Patriots in a game where the team was called for 10 penalties.

Sure, some of the calls felt a bit ticky-tacky, particularly with some of the ones called on the Patriots’ offensive line. But it’s hard to even present that as a viable argument considering the offensive line has struggled throughout training camp and the preseason.

And Sunday’s showing against the Commanders might honestly have been the worst we’ve seen. The offensive line racked up penalties and struggled in pass protection when facing a Commanders defense mostly composed of backups. It was an absolute mess of a performance.

Chukwuma Okorafor drew multiple penalties, and Nick Leverett once again struggled snapping the ball. Rookie Layden Robinson also had issues with penalties. The miscommunication was so bad up front that quarterback Jacoby Brissett got flattened like a pancake in the first quarter.

Brissett exited the game with a right shoulder injury and didn’t return.

Perhaps the only silver lining in the game was rookie Drake Maye, who once again showed signs of being a future franchise quarterback. He looked comfortable moving around in the pocket, avoiding defenders and delivering accurate throws to receivers.

He finished the game throwing 13-of-20 for 126 yards, one touchdown and a 99.2 passer rating.

Brissett’s injury will be worth monitoring over the next couple of weeks, as the team prepares for their Week 1 regular season matchup against the Cincinnati Bengals. The Patriots could be forced into a position where they have to start Maye under center.

That might not necessarily be a bad thing considering he’s looked like the best quarterback on the team in the preseason games. However, he’d be getting thrown into the fire behind a makeshift offensive line and a bunch of unproven wide receiver weapons.

It’s a potentially disastrous situation that could either make or break a young quarterback.

NFL preseason Week 3 fantasy football recap

Reviewing all of the notable fantasy football performances from Week 3 exhibition play.

While NFL preseason stats ultimately don’t matter in the quest for a fantasy football championship, that’s not to say it those numbers are entirely useless to track. Exhibition action gives us a glimpse into unearthed gems and allows gamers to recalibrate late-round flier rankings. After all, just getting an opportunity to showcase one’s talent can be the difference in making a roster or not, which creates an inroad for a chance during the regular season.

With that established, here’s a spin around the noteworthy performances — good and otherwise — over the final week of the preseason. Since the NFL splits the games up over several days, be sure to check back multiple times for updates.

As you can tell below, most teams rested key players, so we weren’t left with much for fantasy implications this week.

Inactives for Patriots vs. Commanders, preseason Week 3

Patriots’ inactives for Sunday’s preseason finale

The New England Patriots are expected to play most of their roster in Sunday’s preseason finale against the Washington Commanders. However, there are several noteworthy names that are not in uniform for the game.

Patriots.com’s Evan Lazar noted a total of 14 Patriots players who aren’t in uniform for the Week 3 preseason matchup.

Some of the more notable and expected names on that list include Hunter Henry, Christian Barmore, Kyle Dugger, Jonathan Jones, Deatrich Wise and Joshua Uche.

There are also roster bubble players on that list with uncertain statuses beyond the preseason finale. Players like A.J. Thomas, Kobe Jones and Mitchell Wilcox will sit this one out and hope for the best on roster cutdown day.

Per the Boston Herald’s Doug Kyed, the Commanders are sitting 34 players, including rookie quarterback Jayden Daniels for Sunday’s game. So it’ll be a mix of starters and backups for the Patriots facing mostly backups for the Commanders.

Commanders sitting 34 players in Sunday’s preseason finale vs Patriots

The Patriots will be facing mostly backups in Sunday’s preseason finale

The New England Patriots are approaching Sunday’s preseason finale like an actual regular season game with many of their starters expected to see action. Well, the same can’t be said for the Washington Commanders.

Per the Boston Herald’s Doug Kyed, the Commanders are resting 34 players for the game, including rookie quarterback Jayden Daniels.

So the Patriots will be facing mostly backups to close out their three-game preseason slate.

It’ll still be an opportunity for the Patriots’ starters to get on-field reps in a game situation against an actual opponent. That kind of work against other NFL opposition is invaluable, regardless of the depth chart.

It won’t change the way the coaching staff evaluates the performances on the field. In some cases, it might cause them to be even more critical considering the Patriots aren’t facing the Commanders’ top-team units.

This will be the last opportunity for players to prove they’re worthy of a spot on the 53-man roster. Nothing could ruin those hopes more than a bad performance against a group of backups and roster bubble players.

Ravens OC Todd Monken should not take preseason struggles lightly

There has been a consistent problem within the Baltimore Ravens offense through all three preseason. OC Todd Monken must adjust.

NFL fans always revert to the “it’s just the preseason” moniker when their favorite team gets blasted during an exhibition game. However, we’ve seen the same consistent problem within the Baltimore Ravens offense throughout all three preseason games. These problems directly relate to offensive coordinator Todd Monken’s execution and scheme.

Firstly, minimum targets have been made towards rookie wide receiver Devontez Walker, who still tends to have an injury. Secondly, countless turnovers on offense indicate that not everyone is in sync throughout the depth chart.

Through 180 total minutes of preseason football, the Ravens failed to produce a game score higher than 17 points and have averaged just 11 first downs per game. Meanwhile, their opponents have averaged 21 first downs a game versus them.

 

Again, it is endlessly presumptuous to assume that the Ravens will be the same defensive powerhouse from a season ago with key losses on their depth chart. This means their offense will need to be sharp, and we’ve seen everything but sharpness from the reserves, which should be feeding off the leadership of NFL MVP Lamar Jackson and company.

Neither the Green Bay Packers nor the Ravens starters were participatory, so that excuse doesn’t fit as a scapegoat. Monken is responsible for establishing a competitive spirit on offense so the team can carry over into the regular season. So far, things have been a struggle.

Jalen Pitre returns interception for TD, looking to breakout in Year 3 with Texans

Jalen Pitre’s big-time interception in the preseason might just be the start of a promising third season with the Houston Texans.

As a rookie, Jalen Pitre took the Houston Texans’ defense by storm, leading the team in both interceptions and tackles.

In his season season, there was a slump. Under DeMeco Ryans’ man-heavy scheme, Pitre took a step back. He didn’t record a turnover and his missed tackle rate went up.

Entering Year 3, Pitre wants to live up to his billing as a former Big 12 Defensive Player of the Year. Daniel Jones provided that opportunity Saturday afternoon at NRG Stadium.

The New York Giants quarterback made an ill-advised throw during the first quarter when Texans defensive end Derek Barnett provided pressure up the middle. Looking to avoid the safety, Jones heaved a pass toward tight end Theo Johnson, hoping it would land at his feet.

Instead, it landed in Pitre’s hand at the Giants’ 6-yard line. After that, it was a foot race to the end zone for a touchdown as the Texans secured a 28-10 victory.

“Big shout out to DB (Barnett),” Pitre told reporters postgame. “Pressure on the quarterback, he let it go, and thank God that I was right there, and like y’all seen, grabbed it scored. That was a blessing, for sure.”

While the interception won’t count toward his stat line since it’s the preseason, it’s a sign of Pitre’s progress heading into a pivotal year. After an underwhelming season deep in coverage, Houston elected to move Pitre closer to the line of scrimmage as the team’s starting slot defender.

It’s a similar position to the STAR role he played at Baylor en route to becoming a second-round pick in 2022. Slot defenders must handle both shifty receivers inside and big-bodied tight ends with the capability of overpowering smaller defenders for substantial gains.

Pitre, who played over 500 snaps in the slot during his final season with the Bears, didn’t miss against the 6-foot-6 Johnson. He was one of five players to come away with a turnover in Saturday’s contest.

“You get the ball three times, you win,” cornerback Derek Stingley Jr., who picked off Jones in the second quarter, said postgame. “That’s what we did.”

Pitre’s role remains somewhat of a mystery entering the final week of training camp. He’s taken reps in the nickel position, but when Houston moves to a base three linebacker set, he’s back at safety opposite Jimmie Ward.

The Texans might plan on using Pitre as a chess piece in 2024. Depending on the formation, he’ll shift either to the backend or near the line of scrimmage. When down low, Eric Murray and third-round pick Calen Bullock will likely take over as the last line of defense.

There’s continuity in the secondary this fall. Ward is back at safety. Stingley is healthy and looking to build off his five-interception campaign entering Year 3. While a rookie, Kamari Lassiter has locked down the No. 2 corner spot after an impressive summer.

Pitre believes that a sign of progress in eliminating big plays, a drastic issue from Houston’s top 10 defense from a season ago.

“We’ve been growing in a lot of different ways, on and off the field,” he said. “I think it’s going to do nothing but help us as we move forward. It’s great camaraderie in that room right now.”

NFL preseason Week 3 fantasy football recap

Reviewing all of the notable fantasy football performances from Week 3 exhibition play.

While NFL preseason stats ultimately don’t matter in the quest for a fantasy football championship, that’s not to say it those numbers are entirely useless to track. Exhibition action gives us a glimpse into unearthed gems and allows gamers to recalibrate late-round flier rankings. After all, just getting an opportunity to showcase one’s talent can be the difference in making a roster or not, which sometimes is enough to create an inroad for a chance during the regular season.

With that established, here’s a spin around the noteworthy performances — good and otherwise — over the final week of the preseason. Since the NFL splits the games up over several days, be sure to check back multiple times for updates.

6 biggest takeaways from Patriots’ 23-7 road loss to Titans

The Patriots got stepped on at Nashville Stadium on Friday night. Here are the six biggest takeaways from their loss to the Titans.

It won’t be a fun flight back home for the New England Patriots, following Friday’s shellacking at the hands of the Tennessee Titans at Nissan Stadium in Nashville.

The “Music City” was singing the name of Malik Willis by the end of the four-quarter exhibition finale, while Patriots backup quarterback Bailey Zappe was getting absolutely roasted on social media.

That isn’t to suggest all of the blame lies at the feet of the second-year signal-caller. The Patriots were bad on offense, defense and special teams. It was a trifecta of disappointment for the team in a game that will weigh heavily in coach Bill Belichick’s decision on the final 53-man roster.

Here are the six biggest takeaways from the game.

Patriots Twitter shreds Bailey Zappe after brutal loss to Titans

Zappe-Mania wasn’t running wild in Friday’s loss to the Titans.

The New England Patriots were defeated by the Tennessee Titans 23-7 in the final preseason game of 2023. With the loss, the Patriots dropped to 1-2 on the preseason slate.

Quarterback Bailey Zappe got the start for New England and went 8-of-15 for 57 yards on a night when the offense struggled. Kevin Harris carried the ball seven times for 17 yards for the only touchdown of the game for New England.

The Patriots started off strong defensively, but fatigue was a factor towards the later parts of the game. Tennessee quarterback Malik Willis was able to use his scrambling ability and strong arm to lead the Titans to victory.

Let’s take a look at some of the best reactions from Patriots Twitter.

Instant analysis of Patriots’ 23-7 loss to Titans in preseason finale

It was an ugly performance for the Patriots in Friday’s preseason finale.

The New England Patriots wrapped up their 2023 preseason with a dud of a performance on the road in a 23-7 loss to the Tennessee Titans on Friday night.

Granted, things started off strongly—at least on the defensive side of the ball—when the Patriots forced a three-and-out against Tennessee with starting quarterback Ryan Tannehill under center.

However, things got progressively worse when backup Malik Willis came into the game

The defense looked completely baffled at times by his ability to scramble around with the football and make plays on the run. They were able to get consistent pressure, but Willis kept buying time with his legs for receivers to get wide open.

That was pretty much the story of the game with the Titans sticking with their second-year quarterback the rest of the way, after the initial drive by Tannehill.

On the offensive side of the ball, the Patriots looked like they were playing in quicksand. They couldn’t get anything going.

The offensive line was getting pounded into oblivion, and Bailey Zappe became a sack lunch for a ferocious Titans defense. Tennessee finished the game with six sacks and three forced fumbles. The Patriots recovered one fumble, and the other two ended up being takeaways for the Titans.

With the preseason now in the rearview, the Patriots can turn the page towards next Tuesday’s 53-man roster cut deadline. That’s when the team will settle on their final roster in preparation for their Sept. 10 regular season opener against the Philadelphia Eagles.

A meeting with the defending NFC champions is a good gauge to know exactly where the Patriots stand as a football team right out of the gates.

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