The New England Patriots bounced back with a big Week 2 win, but it was far from perfect. Shutting down the Pittsburgh Steelers' stagnant offense was yet another confidence boost for the defense, but they're still struggling to stay ahead of the sticks.
The Jacksonville Jaguars looked like a juggernaut in the home opener before falling back to Earth in Week 2. As such, most of their numbers are likely misleading given the limited sample size, but some trends still matter.
On paper, the Patriots should be more than capable of escaping Florida with another win, but paper doesn't win games. With that in mind, let's look at four burning questions that might decide this matchup.
4 questions Mike Vrabel's Patriots must answer ahead of Week 3
Who will step up in the passing game?
Calling the Romeo Doubs experience underwhelming would be a massive understatement. The former Green Bay Packers star has just three receptions for 96 yards, all coming in Week 2.
While that performance may have been encouraging, he fumbled (recovered) and had that ugly drop in the opener. He's the leading candidate to step up in A.J. Brown's absence, but DeMario Douglas also needs to do the same.
How can the defense stop Parker Washington Jr.?
The Parker Washington Jr. breakout is real. The Jaguars' elusive slot receiver has wreaked havoc over the past two weeks, hauling in 12 catches for 181 yards and one touchdown. He averages 15.1 yards per catch, and with Jakobi Meyers dealing with an injury, he might be in for an expanded role.
The Patriots have slid Christian Gonzalez to the interior here and there, but Marcus Jones and Kevin Byard will most likely be in charge of keeping an eye on Washington for most of the evening.
The Patriots are giving up the fifth-fewest passing yards per game, so they will figure it out.
How will the offense split carries out of the backfield?
It took him a bit longer than usual, but Rhamondre Stevenson eventually did what he always does: fumble the ball. He had only six carries in Week 2, and that should continue going forward.
TreVeyon Henderson didn't miss a beat between seasons, and he should be in for an expanded role in his second campaign. He turned 16 totes into 76 rushing yards, averaging a very respectable 4.8 yards per carry. The bulk of that came in a 39-yard explosion, but still.
Will Drake Maye finally get going?
It's a new season, but Drake Maye still seems to be thinking about how things ended last year. He looks hesitant and afraid to make mistakes, which, ironically, only leads to turnovers and erratic decision-making.
Maye will be the best quarterback the Jaguars have faced so far by a significant margin, and with the Jaguars' well-documented cornerback concerns, the table is finally set for him to thrive. He must get out of his own head first, though.
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