Patriots likely to catch huge break in Week 3 matchup vs Saints

A hot start out of the gates in 2021 would do wonders for the New England Patriots’ confidence after they finished 7-9 and missed out on the playoffs last season.

Luckily for head coach Bill Belichick, he’ll get three exploitable matchups to kick off the campaign, as the Patriots will open at home against Miami in Week 1. Though the Dolphins are an up-and-coming team, Belichick has historically feasted vs young quarterbacks.

The Patriots will then hit the road to face the Jets in Week 2. Despite showing signs that they’re turning the corner, the Jets probably won’t be a match for New England. Belichick’s side figures to be heavy favorites in that one.

After that, New England will face arguably their toughest test of the early slate when they welcome the Drew Brees-less Saints to Gillette Stadium in Week 3.

Even without their longtime face of the franchise, the Saints and their loaded roster will present a stiff matchup for the Patriots. However, Belichick and Co. might catch a break in that one. Star receiver Michael Thomas likely won’t be available to play.

The Patriots should beat the Saints in Week 3 if Michael Thomas isn’t available.

In a fairly shocking turn of events, Thomas underwent surgery in June on the same ankle that limited him to just five games last season. It’s unclear why the three-time Pro Bowler waited so long for the procedure, but the Saints are placing him on the reserve/physically unable to perform list (PUP), where he projects to spend at least the first six weeks of the campaign.

So long as Thomas is held out through Week 3, that would be a huge boost for the Patriots … and it just might give them the edge in the matchup. After all, all-world talents like Thomas are more than capable of taking over a game, and the Saints’ WR corps is extremely thin behind him.

The Saints are so desperate for help, in fact, that they just signed former Patriots wideout Chris Hogan to a one-year deal. Assuming Hogan is healthy for that game, you better believe Belichick will gameplan to neutralize the two-time champ as a potential threat.

Anyway, back to the bigger picture. Thomas’ potential absence would leave Alvin Kamara as the only skill-position player on New Orleans that should worry the Patriots. Though as elusive as they come, Belichick should be able to construct a scheme that restricts the 26-year-old superstar’s ability to break big plays.

Assuming the Patriots escape the first two weeks without a catastrophic injury, they simply have to take advantage of the opportunity Thomas’ injury has presented them. This isn’t the same Saints team of years’ past. They just lost their franchise QB to retirement, were unable to re-sign some key free agents, and will be down one of their superstars.

Regardless of the result, we’ll know a lot about the Patriots after this game.

Patriots made the right move by not trading for Deshaun Watson

Considering how the Patriots immediately upgraded their long-term outlook at quarterback, they should be applauded for not acquiring Deshaun Watson.