In a Patriots' season that has not delivered in any way, shape, or form - unless you're into pain and suffering - precious few players have exceeded expectations. The ones that have, especially as the losses stack, are teaching a master class in professionalism.
You hear very little from Anfernee Jennings - he will not hold court at his locker - but if you've been watching, it's hard not to notice what he's put on tape this year. He has taken advantage of a snap void created by Matthew Judon and is earning himself more plays and some money as he closes in on his first crack at free agency.
"For me, I feel like my whole career has always been - even in college or high school - about opportunity," Jennings told me this week, his voice barely above a whisper. "Always having to wait for my chance, and so when that opportunity comes, just try to make the most of it and maximize it. Try to stay ready, so I don't gotta get ready. That type of mentality. Being on my Ps and Qs."
Except for Jahlani Tavai, Jennings has been the Pats' best front-seven run defender. But with the inconsistencies of rookie Keion White, the former 26-year-old Alabama product has shown some pass-rushing potential, recording a pair of sacks in Sunday's loss to the Giants. He also had - by my count - five quarterback pressures. Both are career highs.
"I mean, I want to be an all-round, edge player," he said. "Obviously showed I can play the run and, when I get the opportunity, showing I can rush the passer. I want to do that, too."
Jennings has impressed his head coach and teammates alike.
"Well, he's had an opportunity with some of the injuries we've had at that position," said Bill Belichick earlier in the season. "He's had an opportunity to play a lot, and he's definitely stepped up. Sometimes that's what this league's about: getting an opportunity, however, that happens, and taking advantage of it when you get it – Lou Gehrig, Wally Pipp."
Lawrence Guy didn't go in the way back machine like Belichick did, but you could hear the amount of respect he has for Jennings.
"When he had the opportunity, he took full advantage of it," he said. "You actually, from his rookie year to now, the improvement he's done - we can see it in practice - but when you get those reps in the game, you have to show what you did in practice will show up. Physicality in the run game. He can pass rush. He's not a one-dimensional player. He can do both - pass rush and play the run. I feel like he worked on it for so long, and I'm just happy he's been able to show it out there on the field and to get the opportunity to do it. That's a good example of when your number is called; put it out there."
Jennings has already played a career-high 411 snaps (his previous best was last year with 344), and based on how he's performing, that number should continue to grow. The better the tape, the more interest he'll attract league-wide, and while Jennings won't break the bank, he's got the chance at a decent payday. He deserves it.
FLY EAGLES, FLY
Philadelphia did it again. They looked like they were in a world of hurt Sunday against Buffalo, trailing by 10 points at the half, and Josh Allen was far and away the best player and quarterback on the field. But once again, all that meant was the Eagles had the Bills right where they wanted 'em, rallying to win in overtime and improve to 10-1 on the season.
Jalen Hurts spurred the comeback, accounting for a career-high five total touchdowns (3 passes, 2 runs), and has now won five straight games when down by 10 or more points. The last quarterback to do that? Joe Montana in 1989-90. Montana won both the NFL and Super Bowl MVP in '89.
Now comes this weekend and the latest installment of the game of the week, the 49ers coming to Philly for a second time in less than a calendar year, the last being that forgettable NFC title game that saw Brock Purdy blow out his elbow and then backup Josh Johnson get a concussion. That spawned the new NFL emergency QB rule, so that's something, I guess. The Eagles are currently the number one seed in the NFC, and the 49ers are number two.
There is no love between the two sides. San Fran wide receiver Deebo Samuel called Eagles CB James Bradberry "trash" this offseason, even though Samuel finished with just 3 catches for 33 yards (albeit without Purdy for the most part). Samuel doubled down Monday, saying, "I don't regret nothing I said."
Bradberry took the high road in return.
"Of course, I don't necessarily like what he said. I wish he would've used a better word to describe my play, but it is what it is."
Linebacker Haason Reddick took a different tact, precisely what we want if we're being forthright.
"Talk is cheap," he said. "They (San Fran) get to come back in the LInc. It was a lot of boo boos last year, a lot of crying, a lot of what, a lot of this, a lot of that. They get a chance to come back in here, line that s*** up, and prove it again."
Get the popcorn ready.
THE GREATEST SHOW ON SURF
The Dolphins were 8-3 a year ago. They're 8-3 again. This time, it feels different, in part because of the health of the quarterback, Tua Tagovailoa. After considering retirement in the offseason because of multiple concussions, he has played every game, leading an offense that is second in scoring and first in just about everything else that matters. But now comes the real challenge - December football…and beyond.
"This is where you make your money," said Tagovailoa. "Games just like these games this past Sunday (it was actually Friday at MetLife), that's what games are going to start to look like as we sort of travel deeper into December and then early into January. It's going to be closer games, going to be one-score games. It's going to come down to whoever gets the ball last, and you've got to go win the ball game from there."
"Just the later the ball gets, just the later in the season it gets, the more important the games are," said defensive tackle Christian Wilkins. "You've got a bunch of film of guys on teams, so you're not going to trick anybody. People are who they are, and every little bit matters, so hopefully, we'll be gearing up. We've done enough now and built a specific formula that we'll be able to do some good things at this point in the season."
The Fins have a two-and-a-half game edge in the AFC East over the Bills (they'll play each other in the final week of the regular season) but will be challenged before that with a Christmas Eve game against the Cowboys and a New Year's Eve game at Baltimore.
"You obviously want to be – everything really has to be on point," added running back Jeff Wilson. "And the teams you're facing are potential Super Bowl teams. If you look at our schedule, you can see that. We have some real good games on there with some real good contenders. As we keep going, it's not going to get easier, especially when we get into the postseason, the playoffs. Those games are going to be the teams we're facing, and it's going to be win or go home. So to get in that mindset already right now, still with stuff that we have to accomplish and can accomplish through this season, we're just getting ready for it."
Last season, the Fins sputtered late, losing five of their last six, including their only playoff game. They start this year's stretch run with a trip to Washington and play the struggling Commanders.
LOVE IS IN THE AIR
Jordan Love has the Green Bay Packers climbing back into the playoff race. The first-year starter has led the Pack to wins in three of their last four games and has one of the easiest remaining schedules in the NFC. But this weekend, at historic Lambeau Field, Love will face one of his toughest tests in the Kansas City Chiefs. It also might give the young QB some bad flashbacks.
Love made his first-ever start versus the Chiefs in 2021, subbing for a sick Aaron Rodgers. Defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo blitzed the former Utah State star at every turn and had great success, limiting 'the Pack to a late touchdown in a 13-7 win.
"I've definitely been waiting for this game," said Love on Wednesday, adding, "I've watched that tape plenty. So I know the exact kind of looks that they gave us. I'm expecting that they'll have a new flavor of pressure of this week."
Love has had over 300 total yards in three straight games for the first time in his career. In fact, prior to this stretch, the signal caller had never once broken the 300-yard barrier. That streak will be put to the test Sunday night. This Chiefs' defense is better than the one Love faced in 2021. In fact, it's one of the best in the league, allowing just 16.5 points per game (3rd in the NFL) and 4th in sacks, total yards, and passing yards allowed. Spags will bring the heat, but GB head coach Matt LaFleur thinks his QB has shown excellent growth handling pressure, including that turkey day tilt in Detroit.
"There were a couple instances where the pass rush hit home quicker than what you'd like it to, and he got to his check-down on maybe his first hitch," he said. "I thought that was big-time progress in terms of just avoiding a negative play and allowing our offense to stay in front of the sticks."
Love has thrown for more touchdowns than Brett Favre in his first season as Green Bay's starter back in 1992 (18 in 15 games, 13 starts) and has one fewer win than Aaron Rodgers in his first season as starter (2008).
NERD NUMBERS
- The Patriots have scored 13.5 PPG in 2023. That's 31st in the NFL and the worst under Belichick.
- Russell Wilson has the most fourth-quarter TD passes (8) in the NFL in 2023 (0 INTs in 4th quarter). He's the only quarterback with 40+ passes in the fourth quarter with 0 interceptions in 2023.
- C.J. Stroud and Tank Dell have the most pass/receiving yards (709) by a rookie QB-receiver duo through 11 team games since play-by-play data was first available in 1991. Stroud and Dell also have the most comp/rec among rookie QB-receiver duos over that same period since 1991 (47, surpassing Joe Burrow/Tee Higgins and Andy Dalton/AJ Green with 43 each).
- Derrick Henry has accounted for 42.9% of the Titans touches in 2023 (3rd-highest in NFL). He's one of four players with 40+ % of his team's touches in 2023 (Josh Jacobs at 48%, Christian McCaffrey at 43.7%, and Travis Etienne Jr. at 40.1%). However, Henry has averaged his least yards per game (67.2) since 2018.