Patriots
The Patriots' offensive line problems were evident after their 20-23 time beyond regulation loss to the Seahawks on Sunday.
After helping New England establish a ground-and-pound game within the team's surprise win over the Bengals in Week 1, the Patriots' offensive line faltered in several elements against Seattle, particularly in pass defense.
With QB Jacoby Brissett having little time to operate within the pocket and scan the sector, the veteran was often forced to rush to avoid bone-crushing hits. Hunter Henry was the one reliable pass receiver once the plays stopped working.
Although Henry gained 109 yards in pass receptions, New England's wideouts only managed to catch three passes for 19 yards within the loss. The Patriots' offense became increasingly one-dimensional as the sport went on.
Brissett was in a position to avoid a lot of the pressure in the primary half, but Seattle landed some tough hits when New England's offensive line began to falter. Brissett was sacked 3 times and hit eight more times on Sunday.
Speech on WEEI’s “The Greg Hill Show” on MondayJerod Mayo was candid when asked about New England's O-line play to date this season.
“I thought the pass defense was average at best,” Mayo said. “They brought players from different sides of the field. Even when they rushed four, they were able to get back to Jacoby.”
“It doesn't have to be a sack to affect the passing game. The bodies around the quarterback affect the passing game. We need to protect Jacoby better, on the offensive line, with the running backs and the tight ends.”
New England's passing game was severely limited by its pass defense issues, with the Patriots only in a position to record one pass attempt of 20 yards in Sunday's loss.
A rookie like Drake Maye could offer greater upside when it comes to arm strength. But putting such a talented QB behind that O-line would likely spell disaster.
As Phil Perry of NBC Sports Boston noted, the Patriots have allowed the NFL's second-highest pressure rate on offense at 44.3 percent through two games.
Things could also worsen before they improve for New England's offensive line, especially because the team makes a fast turnaround ahead of Thursday's primetime game against the Jets at MetLife Stadium.
New England released a prospective injury report on Monday, with three offensive linemen placed on the non-participating list: center David Andrews (hip), guard Sidy Sow (ankle) and tackle Vederian Lowe (knee).
Two other starters were reported to have limitations: tackle/guard Mike Onwenu (wrist) and offensive guard Layden Robinson (shoulder).
image credit : www.boston.com