Top five reasons Patriots’ fans should be thankful this year

Thanksgiving is my favorite holiday of the year and in the spirit of the holiday, I believe it’s important to assess what we are thankful for. A “full audit,” if you will. At the table, I’ve always said food, family, and football. Nothing beats a whiskey, a football game, and a full belly.  With that, let’s count down what Patriots fans should be most thankful for this season. Spoiler alert: none of these items include Matt Patricia.

Matt, back to film and don’t come out until we tell you to.

What Patriots fans should be thankful for: #5

Kyle Dugger as one of the league’s top safeties

When the Patriots drafted Kyle Dugger out of little-known Lenoir-Rhyne in 2020, I think most fans would be lying if they said they weren’t scratching their heads. Then we saw the film. Then we saw him on the field. While the game did appear too big for him at times as a rookie, he did show flashes. Dugger’s development since been steady and impressive.

Now in his third season, Kyle Dugger is an absolute stud. He can cover in the slot, erase the league’s most athletic tight ends, and is one of the league’s best safeties in run support. Through eight games played this year, he has 34 tackles, one sack, three pass defenses, one interception, and one defensive touchdown on a fumble return.

Last week’s game against the Jets was a great example of the way Dugger can change the game for this team. He had his first sack of the season, two tackles for loss, a pass defense, and nearly caused a Jets fumble with their backs against their own goal line. More crucially, he stuffed Michael Carter on third down and one. This stop forced the Jets to punt and Marcus Jones did the rest.

Kyle Dugger should get his first Pro Bowl nod this year, and it likely won’t be his last.

What Patriots fans should be thankful for: #4

Bailey Zappe as a backup quarterback

Some Patriots fans may have gotten ahead of themselves when enshrining the rookie quarterback out of Western Kentucky. The kid isn’t quite Canton-bound quite yet, but he did come in and play inspiring football in leading the Pats to two much-needed wins against the Lions and Browns. There was a brief quarterback controversy as a result and during the Week 7 game against the Bears, fans at Gillette Stadium even chanted for Zappe to relieve Mac. He did, by the way, and the inspiring football he was playing died off after only a few drives.

Just like that, Zappe Fever had come and gone and Mac Jones was back under center. But still, I’m thankful. Bailey Zappe delivered when the Patriots needed him and led the team to two victories, while also almost upsetting Aaron Rodgers and the Green Bay Packers for a third. But I’m thankful for Zappe in a different way: it sure is nice to know we have a viable backup quarterback.

You can never have too many quarterbacks in this league, and having a backup quarterback that you trust to win games in a pinch is a luxury. Not every team has that, and we were fortunate enough to find him in the fourth round. Maybe he becomes a starter in this league. Maybe that’s not with New England. But for now, should Mac go down again, it’s nice to not absolutely dread our chances of victory. Zappe is only 23 years old and has already shown more promise than several quarterbacks drafted ahead of him.

What Patriots fans should be thankful for: #3

The emergence of Deatrich Wise

Patriots fans have rightfully been shouting from the rooftops about Matthew Judon’s dominance this season. Fewer in the local media, and certainly the national media, have made much mention of Deatrich Wise. The 28 year old defensive lineman is in the midst of his sixth season in the league, and this is by far his finest. Through 10 games, Wise has 37 tackles, six tackles for loss, six and a half sacks, three pass defenses, and two forced fumbles.

He has already surpassed his single season high in sacks and is on pace to shatter his highest totals in several other areas. The first-time captain has seen a snap rate of 79%, substantially higher than his career high in 2020 of 56%. He has delivered consistent solid football opposite Matthew Judon, giving the duo the second highest number of quarterback pressures in the NFL.

For every Vince Wilfork or Richard Seymour, there is a Ty Warren or Trey Flowers. Deatrich Wise is one of those glue guys that helps keeps the unit together and we should all be thankful that he’s beginning to realize his potential as a difference-maker. Signed to a four year, $22 million contract extension in the 2021 offseason, what may have looked like a head scratcher at one point is now looking like another stroke of genius from Bill Belichick.

What Patriots fans should be thankful for: #2

Defensive backs with the last name Jones

I know, the “keeping up with the Jones” is a tired line. But week in and week out, these guys are making plays and I’m thankful. Whether it’s Jack Jones with a pick-six on Aaron Rodgers, Jonathan Jones blocking a punt that leads to a touchdown, or Marcus Jones with a punt return touchdown to beat the Jets, these Jones dudes are balling for New England in 2022.

While it’s unclear what the future holds for Jon, it looks like he has the chops to be a great outside cornerback in this league. Until now, we’ve known him as a tremendous slot corner, but he’s made a leap this year that not all of us saw coming. Speaking of outside corners, fourth round rookie Jack has played lights-out on the outside and boasts the athleticism (and confidence) needed to excel against the game’s top receivers.

Marcus is the cherry on top. Drafted ahead of Jack, the third round rookie was expected to serve as a slot cornerback on a rotational basis and as a big contributor in the return game. After all, he was the best return man in college football last season. He even shares the NCAA record with nine career touchdown returns (six kickoff returns, three punt returns). He showed the NFL in Week 11 that he was worth the third round pick, with a game-winning punt return touchdown with mere seconds remaining on the clock. The future is bright with the Joneses.

What Patriots fans should be thankful for: #1

Matthew Judon as the league’s leader in sacks

On October 26th, I wrote that Matthew Judon could break the NFL single season sack record. At the time, he had 8.5 sacks. He has since added 4.5 more, and is still leading the league.

Judon has been nothing short of incredible. The motor, the contagious energy, and the way he elevates those around him; he is a huge reason the Patriots are a top-ranked defense in the NFL. While he doesn’t seem to get the same national media love as Micah Parsons, TJ Watt, Von Miller, or Myles Garrett, make no mistake: Matthew Judon is as important to this Patriots defense as those guys are to their respective units.

Judon currently paces for over 22 sacks, still well within reach of the single season record. On the Patriots schedule, there are only two games remaining against a Top 10 team in pass block win rate. Both games are against the Buffalo Bills (7th). Other games include the Cardinals (15th), Dolphins (23rd) and Bengals (30th). I expect Judon to hit at least 20, and do believe that things could interesting at the end of the year in terms of the record.

To conclude…

I suppose it’s befitting that this list includes six defensive players and a backup quarterback. This season has been held together by an elite defense and a timely jolt from Bailey Zappe. Here’s to hoping the back half of the season is marked with more notable offensive performances as the Patriots make a playoff push.

Happy Thanksgiving to you and yours!