The New England Patriots had yet another rough loss, where they almost won, almost made plays and almost looked good.
It’s never easy for your favorite team to lose, but over the last few seasons, we have seen more almost games from the Patriots. It keeps us hanging on the seat for dear life, just to watch them fall short in the end.
Buy Patriots TicketsWith that said, it wasn’t all bad from the Patriots in Week 2. Let’s take a look at the three standout stars for the team in their second straight loss in the season.
First Star: Christian Gonzalez
Rookie cornerback Christian Gonzalez continued to make plays on the field, both in coverage and as a tackler against the run.
He grabbed his first NFL career interception, and with Jonathan Jones and Marcus Jones both out, he helped slow down Dolphins All-Pro wide receiver Tyreek Hill.
The former Oregon standout has shown the pure athletic abilities and coverage skills that made him a first-rounder in 2023. The Patriots have already seen a return on their investment in the first two games with Gonzalez looking as good as advertised.
Second Star: Mac Jones
Jones may not have made the plays to win the game when it mattered most, but neither did anyone else on the Patriots. Jones has consistently looked good the past two weeks, despite being 0-2.
The majority of the struggles have come from the lack of protection up front from the offensive line and the poor separation from wide receivers not named Kendrick Bourne.
Jones has struggled to have time to decipher the defense, but he has shown flashes of improvising to extend plays and make great throws on the run.
All of those things considered, Jones went 31-of-42 with 231 passing yards, one touchdown and one interception against Miami. He also carried the ball for 25 yards. He’s the second star due to his consistent performance that I believe kept the team in the game for longer than they should have been.
Third Star: Myles Bryant
Myles Bryant is an infamous name for many, but he played very well with six tackles, including two for a loss and one pass breakup. Bryant was thrown into the game plan and held his own against an elite offensive opponent.
He had some miscues in coverage, which led him to being the third star instead of the second, but there was promise shown in his performance.
With that said, here’s to hoping Marcus Jones and Jonathan Jones return from injury in Week 3, ahead of another tough matchup against New York Jets receiver Garrett Wilson.
