Drake Maye ought to have a extra favorable matchup in his second NFL begin. Simply ask fellow rookie quarterback Caleb Williams.
Maye and the skidding New England Patriots will journey throughout the pond to play the Jacksonville Jaguars at Wembley Stadium in London on Sunday. And nobody must level out Jacksonville’s defensive flaws to Maye. They had been on full show final week when Williams threw four touchdown passes in Chicago’s 35-16 romp over the Jaguars in London.
Inconsistent cross rush. Blown assignments. Hole integrity points. The Jaguars (1-5) put all of them on tape.
Even former Patriots coach and present analyst Invoice Belichick took goal on the Jags whereas weighing in on Williams’ efficiency, saying “that was protection to face.”
It could be good for Maye, too.
The third total decide from North Carolina had moments in his beginning debut in opposition to Houston, together with three landing passes, however he additionally had three turnovers because the Patriots (1-5) misplaced their fifth straight since gorgeous Cincinnati in Week 1.
“Because the weeks go on, I feel I’ll get increasingly assured, particularly with the sport plan stuff,” Maye stated.
Maye threw two interceptions within the 41-21 loss. He additionally gave the ball away on a strip sack that left Houston on the Patriots 10, organising a third-quarter landing. His fourth-quarter INT additionally gave Houston the ball deep in New England territory and arrange one other rating.
“We damage our protection, put them in some unhealthy spots,” Maye stated.
As troubling as ball safety was for first-year Pats coach Jerod Mayo, the sluggish begin was extra alarming. The Texans had been up 14-0 after two drives and it will have been worse had they not missed a discipline purpose.
“We’ve bought to start out video games quicker, and that’s undoubtedly some extent of emphasis this week,” Mayo stated.
The Jaguars spent the week in London licking their wounds. Little has gone proper for Jacksonville this season and getting swept abroad would put a vivid highlight on coach Doug Pederson’s job safety, particularly after security Andre Cisco stated he noticed “loads of stop” in opposition to the Bears and quarterback Trevor Lawrence referred to as the crew fragile.
Pederson responded by saying his guys must eradicate psychological errors, be bodily more durable and extra well-conditioned.
“Being a better soccer crew actually makes a distinction within the success that you’ve on the sphere,” Pederson stated.
A chance for some youthful Jags
The Jaguars are making room for 2 rookies on their defensive position. They traded veteran Roy Robertson-Harris to Seattle on Monday in trade for a sixth-round draft decide in 2026.
The transfer creates extra snaps for 2 newcomers from LSU: second-round draft decide Maason Smith and fourth-rounder Jordan Jefferson, who made his NFL debut final week.
“Extra alternatives to go make performs,” defensive coordinator Ryan Nielsen stated. “We admire every part that Roy did, however next-guy-up mentality. We’ve bought a deep room there. We’ve saved loads of guys, so we really feel like we’re actually good at that place.”
Too many flags
Mayo stated there might be modifications coming to carry gamers accountable for the slew of penalties the crew has dedicated.
The Patriots have 48 penalties this season, tenth most within the NFL. They’d 9 penalties in opposition to the Texans on Sunday, together with one on linebacker Sione Takitaki for an unlawful formation on the opening kickoff.
“The frequent denominator is only a lack of focus,” Mayo stated. “We’re in the course of the season now, and to have a penalty on the primary play of the sport is simply unacceptable.”
Mayo stated taking part in time might be affected, calling it a wake-up name.
“We would like our most reliable gamers on the market that we are able to really matter on,” he stated. “In the event you’re going to have pre-snap, post-snap penalties — we are able to’t reside that method.”
Campbell returning
Jacksonville’s protection ought to get a lift from the return of cornerback Tyson Campbell, who missed the final 5 video games with a hamstring harm. Campbell signed a four-year, $76.5 million contract extension days earlier than coaching camp and performed effectively within the season opener.
However the Jaguars have struggled since he went down, falling to final within the league in passing protection.
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AP Sports activities Author Jimmy Golen contributed from Boston.
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