FOXBOROUGH – There was purpose and precision. Most of all, there was urgency.
Mac Jones’ first career 300-yard passing game looked at times more like a controlled scrimmage in practice than it did an NFL regular-season game, but the Patriots don’t pick their opponents.
You get the feeling all the boxes on Bill Belichick’s offensive checklist were filled in after the 54-13 obliteration of the New York Jets on Sunday.
“(The) players were ready to go. Had a good week and came out and started, got off to a good start, played from ahead,” said Belichick. “Had a lot of production offensively … (We) had good balance offensively, and made big plays in the passing game. It was just some good, solid plays, and then had 150 yards rushing, so that's always a good thing. You know, proud of the way the team has bounced back here.”
At 2-4, victory is really the lone goal, and the Patriots took care of that, with some help from the lifeless – often confused – New Yorkers.
But it was evident from the opening New England possession, a four-play, 65-yard assault capped by a 25-yard Kendrick Bourne-to-Nelson Agholor TD pass, that the Patriots had left nothing to chance in practice this week.
Must-win in Week 7? Absolutely.
“This week we put together a complete game. Guys really competed and played hard. Great team win,” said center David Andrews, who made a beeline for the podium after the victory almost like he wanted to let folks know this one mattered.
Forget the numbers for a second, although the 551 yards on 74 snaps (7.4 per play) is mighty impressive. Focus on what this football team set out to accomplish, and the hurdles they skipped over to make it happen, and the fact that it came against the JV-level Jets matters little.
First, there was a concerted effort, again out of the gate, to be sharp. Also, Belichick, Josh McDaniels and the QB Jones were intent on re-engaging with tight end Jonnu Smith, who since a disastrous Sunday in the Week 3 loss to New Orleans has been pretty much AWOL.
Three straight plays on the opening possession went to Smith, including a 5-yard run and a 28-yard hookup with Jones.
The $50-million man was off to a fine start with a pair of catches (52 yards) on five targets before he went down with what was announced as a shoulder injury.
The loss of an integral part of this week’s gameplan didn’t matter, and that’s another positive sign for this offense.
“It’s just kind of the next man up. It’s only really two of us (tight ends) that dress so there’s different things that I had to do that maybe he would have done,” said Hunter Henry. “But at the same time, you’ve got to be ready to go whenever your name is called on any kind of play. I think jumbo tackle (Justin Herron) stepped up in some of those situations and all of the guys around us stepped up.”
Big or small, spread or in that a big formation with Herron, Henry and fullback Jakob Johnson on the field, New England called the shots.
Damien Harris ran to daylight, and he ran hard with 14 carries for 106 yards and a pair of TDs. The third-year man’s performance was the second straight 100-yard day and his third of the year.
“We know if we get Damien (Harris) to the second level he's going to make some plays. He runs the ball hard. He's a tough kid,” said Andrews. “As an offensive lineman, we love to get guys rolling. J.J. (Taylor) came in and did a great job. (Brandon Bolden) always has a little up his sleeve. It was a great job by that group. They made a lot of plays."
Yes, it all the production comes with a qualifier. It came against the Jets. But expand the picture. This was a Patriots offense traded punch for punch with Dak Prescott, Zeke Elliott and the Cowboys last week.
“I think we just bought in to who we are. Play by play. Not trying to get too ahead. Just playing each play how it’s supposed to go,” said Bourne, who along with his perfect 158.7 passer rating caught four balls from Jones for 68 yards. “We practiced. Today, we just executed almost every play that we practiced. The rhythm was right. Just finding that rhythm and playing together is the main thing.”