BSJ Game Report: Patriots 50, Jaguars 10 - Lawrence, Jacksonville no match for New England

Everything you need to know from the Patriots’ win over the Jaguars in quickie form, with BSJ insight and analysis:

HEADLINES

Patriots take care of business against a JV team: A fully healthy Jaguars team is a bad football team. A Jaguars team ravaged by Covid and using an interim coach is not an NFL team. In any event, the Patriots did what they needed to do and completely dominated Jacksonville in every phase of the game to lock up their 10th win of the season.

Patriots lock up a playoff berth: New England needed a win and a loss by either the Raiders or Dolphins to secure a playoff berth. Two of the three things happened (Patriots win, Dolphins loss), so the Patriots will return to the playoffs again after sitting out in 2020. As of this moment, the Patriots are the 5th seed in the AFC with one game to play after the Colts lost at home to the Raiders to fall out of the top wild-card spot. The Dolphins saw their winning streak end with a 34-3 loss to the Titans. The Patriots nearly received a gift from the Falcons and Josh Allen (3 INTs), but the Bills recovered to beat Atlanta at home to stay in control of the AFC East with only the Jets left. As of right now, the Patriots would travel to Buffalo in the first round of the playoffs, but a lot of things can still happen.

N'Keal Harry a healthy scratch, Kristian Wilkerson makes everyone forget him: Harry, the former first-round pick who dropped a pass in the loss to the Bills and didn't do much in extended playing time, was a healthy scratch and replaced by undrafted FA Kristian Wilkerson. The second-year receiver had two touchdowns and 42 yards on four catches on eight targets. 

Trevor Lawrence throws three interceptions: The first overall pick looks like he has zero help as he threw balls to Myles Bryant, Kyle Dugger and JC Jackson. Lawrence needs an entire regime change there, and he might not get it. His career will amount to nothing if things don't change quickly in Jacksonville.

TURNING POINT

After holding the Jaguars on the opening series, Mac Jones hit Jakobi Meyers for 16 yards on 3rd and 5, and it was all over from there.

SECOND GUESS

Did Matthew Judon, fresh off Covid, really need to play any snaps in this game considering how he's looked in the last four games? Just rest him.

THREE UP

Mac Jones: Can't draw any conclusions off this game, but at least he was more accurate and in command this game. He was 22 of 30 (73.3%) for 227 yards, three touchdowns and zero interceptions for a rating of 128.1.

Jakobi Meyers: Was a perfect 8 for 8 on catches for 73 yards and a touchdown.

Rhamondre Stevenson: Had 107 yards and two touchdowns on 19 carries as he showed his speed and power once again.

ONE DOWN

Extra point operation: The combination of Nick Folk, Joe Cardona and Jake Bailey combined to miss two extra points (one was aborted). To be the only blemish on the day.

INJURIES

RB Damien Harris (hamstring): Did not return but was on the sidelines in good spirts.

S Adrian Phillips (wrist): Did not return.

TOP PLAYS

THREE TAKES BEDARD WILL PROBABLY REGRET LATER

Yeah, this was nice, but it doesn't mean anything: This was a baby step for team confidence, and they can take a bigger step next week by going to Miami and playing a complete game to get ready for the playoffs.

Goodbye, N'Keal Harry: The Patriots were definitely sending a message to their former first-round pick, who requested a trade in the offseason, and it wasn't good. Barring injury, this will likely signal the end of Harry's Patriots career. There isn't a bigger blow to an ego than a first-round pick getting benched for an undrafted free agent. Make that two (Meyers) Harry is playing behind.

Patriots missed a golden opportunity: If the Patriots just split one of the two games against the Colts and Bills, they would be the top seed in the AFC. I don't want to hear anything about the start of the season. Everything was still in front of the Patriots and even one loss would have given them the No. 1 spot and a bye. Instead, they fell behind 44-7 in the two games and went 0-2. Brutal.