Four places Patriots must step up to bounce back Week 8 vs. Jets

Patriots head coach Jerod Mayo called out his team this week. Let’s see how it responds against the Jets.

Mayo called the Patriots “soft” after losing 32-16 to the Jaguars. He walked back those comments Monday, but many Patriots players said this week that they’ll still use them as motivation this week.

Asking the Patriots to beat a talented Jets team might be a step too far. But they can certainly be more competitive than they were past the first quarter last Sunday against the Jaguars.

Here are four areas where the Patriots need to step up in tough matchups.

WRs Kayshon Boutte/Kendrick Bourne

The Jets have one of the top cornerback groups in the NFL in Sauce Gardner and D.J. Reed outside and Michael Carter in the slot. Patriots slot receiver DeMario Douglas should be able to exploit his matchup against Carter, who’s returning from injury, but Boutte and Bourne could have a tougher time against Gardner and Reed.

But the Patriots do need production out of their entire wide receiver corps. And the pressure is on this week for Boutte, who spoke out this week that he wants more opportunities.

“For me personally, in the game, I get frustrated when I’m not getting thrown the ball knowing that I’ve caught every ball that’s thrown to me this season,” Boutte said this week. “So, I just feel like I would always go to the sideline and demand the ball. So, whether it was that deep ball – I asked for that. The Texans game, I asked for that. So, I feel like I shouldn’t have to really ask.”

Boutte does deserve more opportunities. He’s led Patriots receivers in snaps over the last two weeks and caught four passes for 92 yards on just five targets. Boutte has yet to drop a pass this season, and he has catches of 40 yards and 33 yards in the Patriots’ last two games.

It’s dangerous to target him against Gardner or Reed, but it might be worth it given rookie quarterback Drake Maye’s connection with the LSU product.

Bourne is the veteran leader of the wide receiver group, and he’s getting healthier by the week. He has just four catches for 29 yards in three games this season and is due for a breakout.

C Ben Brown

Brown has probably been the Patriots’ top offensive lineman — especially in the passing game — since emerging as a surprise starter in Week 6. Now he must face off against Jets defensive tackle Quinnen Williams, who’s having a down season but still comes with explosive potential in the middle of New York’s defense.

One thing to watch on the offensive line: There’s the potential that the Patriots could finally break their streak of having a different combination every week.

Here are the Patriots’ offensive line combinations this season:

Week 1: LT Chukwuma Okorafor/LG Michael Jordan/C David Andrews/RG Layden Robinson/RT Mike Onwenu
Week 2: LT Vederian Lowe/LG Jordan/C Andrews/RG Robinson/RT Onwenu
Week 3: LT Caedan Wallace/LG Jordan/C Andrews/RG Robinson/RT Onwenu
Week 4: LT Demontrey Jacobs/LG Sidy Sow/C Andrews/RG Robinson/RT Onwenu
Week 5: LT Lowe/LG Jordan/C Nick Leverett/RG Onwenu/RT Jacobs
Week 6: LT Lowe/LG Jordan/C Brown/RG Onwenu/RT Jacobs
Week 7: LT Jacobs/LG Jordan/C Brown/RG Robinson/RT Onwenu

Lowe returned to practice this week, but Robinson has been out.

If Lowe can play, expect him at left tackle with Jordan at left guard, Brown at center, Onwenu at right guard and Jacobs at right tackle in a repeat of the Week 6 combination.

If Lowe and Robinson both can’t go, then it will likely be an eighth different combo with Jacobs at left tackle, Jordan at left guard, Brown at center, Sow at right guard and Onwenu at right tackle.

Entire front seven

The Jets’ offensive line has been solid but unspectacular this season, especially compared to the Patriots’ unit. But the Patriots need to prove they can stop the run and actually get after Jets quarterback Aaron Rodgers while containing him in the pocket.

Defensive end Keion White described some of the Patriots’ defensive issues this week.

“We’re just really trying to find our way of, like, clicking and fitting together, and defense is a big thing about, like, bonding and knowing where your teammates are going to be and trusting your teammates,” he said. “And if we haven’t practiced together all offseason, all things like that, like we’ve done with the people that we’re missing, then it’s hard to find that chemistry midseason. So we’re still trying to find our way in the midst of everything, and I feel like that’s what you guys are seeing on the field.”

In the front seven, defensive tackles Jaquelin Roy and Eric Johnson weren’t with the Patriots this summer, and linebackers Christian Elliss and Raekwon McMillan have taken on bigger roles. It would be helpful if the Patriots can get something out of linebacker Sione Takitaki sooner than later.

CBs Jonathan Jones/Marcus Jones

Unfortunately, the Patriots only have one Christian Gonzalez. This is a week when they could use three of him while facing Jets receivers Davante Adams, Garrett Wilson and Allen Lazard.

The Patriots could choose to have Gonzalez shadow either Adams or Wilson. If they simply play sides with Gonzalez and Jonathan Jones and have Marcus Jones in the slot, then things could get ugly inside. Last week, Adams and Wilson primarily shared the slot roles. Marcus Jones is just 5-foot-8, and both Adams and Wilson would be mismatches.

Even Jonathan Jones, who’s 5-foot-10, could have trouble against any of the three Jets receivers.

This, in theory, is a good week to play zone, but the Patriots’ defense has given up wide swaths of space in zone this season.