{"id":96398,"date":"2021-12-30T20:30:13","date_gmt":"2021-12-31T01:30:13","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.clnsmedia.com\/?p=96398"},"modified":"2022-01-03T21:44:42","modified_gmt":"2022-01-04T02:44:42","slug":"patriots-game-plan-a-five-step-plan-for-the-patriots-to-get-right-against-the-jags","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.clnsmedia.com\/patriots-game-plan-a-five-step-plan-for-the-patriots-to-get-right-against-the-jags\/","title":{"rendered":"Patriots Game Plan: A Five-Step Plan for the Patriots to Get-Right Against the Jags"},"content":{"rendered":"

These Patriots are no strangers to adversity after starting the 2021 season at 2-4.<\/span><\/p>\n

New England\u2019s situation following an overtime loss to the Cowboys wasn\u2019t all that different from this week\u2019s matchup with Jacksonville.<\/span><\/p>\n

The Pats had a punching bag to take out their frustrations coming to town in the Jets, then dominated New York in a 54-13 drubbing at Gillette Stadium.<\/span><\/p>\n

After hanging a 50-piece on the Jets, Bill Belichick\u2019s group rattled off seven-straight wins and were at the top of the AFC standings.<\/span><\/p>\n

There are only two games left compared to 11 back in October, but the Patriots need a get-right game against the Jags to jumpstart the engine as they try to make a run come January.<\/span><\/p>\n

Although it was with two pillars of dynasty 2.0 and the GOAT, it wasn\u2019t that long ago that the 2018 Patriots rediscovered their confidence with wins in their last two games after consecutive December losses.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

We aren\u2019t suggesting that Mac Jones will lead the Patriots on a 2018-like run. But if there\u2019s any hope for postseason success, Jones needs to beat the Jags like it’s Alabama versus New Mexico State.<\/span><\/p>\n

Jacksonville (2-13) was the laughing stock of the NFL under former head coach Urban Meyer, who lasted 13 games in northern Florida. The Jags are dead-last in point differential, 31st in team total DVOA, and would currently pick number one overall for the second consecutive season.<\/span><\/p>\n

Rookie quarterback Trevor Lawrence is, as Belichick called him, \u201ca really good prospect.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Belichick views Lawrence as a prospect rather than a starting NFL quarterback because that\u2019s how disastrous the situation is in Jacksonville. Before you say don\u2019t take an opponent lightly, no, Sunday\u2019s game is not about game-planning the Jaguars.<\/span><\/p>\n

On Sunday, New England needs to focus inward and get back to playing winning football. The Patriots need to make a statement that they\u2019re the football team that won seven consecutive games this season and not the one that lost the last two weeks.<\/span><\/p>\n

Here\u2019s a five-step plan for the Patriots to get back to their winning formula:<\/span><\/p>\n

1. Get Back to Dominating in the Intermediate Passing Game<\/span><\/strong><\/h3>\n

The phase for the Patriots that needs to find more consistency is the passing game; if the Pats don\u2019t rediscover their success through the air, they won\u2019t go very far.<\/span><\/p>\n

The area of the field where New England\u2019s personnel, from quarterback to pass-catchers, finds the most productivity is at the intermediate level, where they find the majority of their explosive plays.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

In the loss to the Bills, Jones was 3-of-11 for 54 yards with an interception throwing passes with medium depth (10-19 yards), as Buffalo exposed some flaws in the Patriots\u2019 personnel.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

The Bills knew the Pats would try to throw in-breaking routes (crossers\/digs) and played with man coverage corners taking inside leverage on the Pats\u2019 receivers to cut off the middle of the field.<\/span><\/p>\n

Although Jones\u2019 issues throwing deep compounded this strategy, New England\u2019s receivers were more to blame for forcing Mac to throw into leverage.<\/span><\/p>\n