Three key matchups to watch as Patriots host the Lions

The Patriots will look to turn their season around as they host the Detroit Lions on Sunday afternoon at Gillette Stadium. Prior to the season, this looked like an easy win on paper but with Bailey Zappe most likely getting the start at quarterback, the Patriots will have their hands full trying to keep up with the highest-scoring team in the NFL. The good news is that the Lions defense gives up the most points in the league so there are some areas where the Patriots can take advantage even with a rookie signal caller. Here are the key matchups to watch as the Patriots try to get back into the win column.

Key matchups for Patriots in week five

Patriots safeties/linebackers vs T.J. Hockenson

I mentioned that the Lions have the highest-scoring team in the NFL averaging 35 per game and a big reason why has been their passing game. Believe it or not, Jared Goff is off to a hot start in 2022 leading the NFL with 11 touchdown passes while being fifth in passing yards (1,126). The receivers (Amon-Ra St. Brown and Josh Reynolds) have been good but the matchup to watch this week is the tight end T.J. Hockenson against New England’s safeties and linebackers.

With St. Brown out with an ankle injury last week, Hockenson went off against the Seattle Seahawks catching eight balls for 178 yards and two touchdowns. It will be interesting to see the injury report as the week progresses, but if St. Brown remains out, the Patriots will need to key in on Hockenson. Defensively, their pass coverage has been good all year, especially on the boundaries. It’s the middle of the field and tight ends who have given them trouble. In week three, Mark Andrews of the Ravens had eight receptions for 89 yards and two touchdowns and just last week the Packers were able to hit tight end Robert Tonyan for a touchdown as he got between linebacker Mack Wilson Sr. and the safeties. In all, the Patriots have given up five touchdowns to tight ends this season.

Key matchups for Patriots in week five

Patriots tackles vs. Aidan Hutchinson

The Lions have the league’s worst defense giving up a whopping 35.3 points per game. One player who has shined on a such a dreadful unit has been the #1 overall pick in the 2022 draft, defensive end Aidan Hutchinson. Through four games, the Lions have only generated seven sacks, but Hutchinson has been responsible for three of them. With the Lions not being a great defensive team, the Patriots need to limit the pass rush in order to take advantage down the field.

This will be a test for the entire offensive line but mostly the matchup will take place with the tackles as the Lions like to move Hutchinson around the line of scrimmage. While Trent Brown has been good on the left side, Isaiah Wynn has been a disaster on the right side to the point where they had to dust off Marcus Cannon in the second half last week. If the Patriots cannot contain Hutchinson, it could be a long day for Bailey Zappe and the offense.

Key matchups for Patriots in week five

Patriots run defense vs. Jamaal Williams and D’Andre Swift

After giving up 188 rushing yards to the Ravens in week three, the Patriots defense followed that up by allowing 199 in last week’s loss to the Packers. New England now ranks 26th in the NFL in rushing yards against and allows 5.1 yards per rush (29th), not great. Their reward is a visit from the two-headed monster of Jamaal Williams and D’Andre Swift although it is worth keeping an eye on if Swift can go this week as he sat out their game on Sunday.

The Lions average 5.9 yards per rush and Swift leads the league with an eye-popping 8.6 yards per carry. For his part, Williams is no slouch as he has run for 276 yards and six touchdowns through the first four games of the season. If the Patriots want a chance at winning, they will need to focus on stopping the run as it has cost them each of the last two weeks.