When preparing for the next opponent, it's clear which players you'll have to account for on both sides of the ball, and this week will emphasize their defense continuing its dominance against a high-powered Jaguars offense.
It starts at the top with quarterback Trevor Lawrence, who has a strong arm and can continue plays with his legs. Making matters worse is his explosive group of wide receivers, led by Jakobi Meyers and Brian Thomas Jr.
Considering the Patriots have a history with Meyers, since he started his career in New England, they know him well enough to prepare for him better than most teams. They're also facing an underwhelming Thomas Jr. at this point, as he is still hoping to have a bounce-back year that landed him on the trade block.
But those two receivers might not be the biggest problem for the Patriots' defense on Sunday afternoon. Instead, it looks like it will be fourth-year pass catcher Parker Washington, who has had an impressive start to the 2026 season.
He might not be as well-known as his teammates, but he's already recorded 12 receptions for 181 yards and a touchdown through the first two games, averaging 15.1 yards per catch. That's a stat line only the league's best receivers could rival, which could be problematic for the Patriots.
Parker Washington looks like the top wide receiver on the Jaguars right now
Since joining the Jaguars as a sixth-round pick in 2023, Washington has improved his game every year and become an increasingly valuable part of Lawrence's offense. He had the best year of his young career in 2025, recording 58 receptions for 847 yards and five touchdowns, cementing himself as a reliable target for his quarterback.
Because Thomas had a down year, Washington had the opportunity to step up in his place and earn Lawrence's trust, which is evident through the first two games this year.
He's already been targeted like a clear WR1, and it's hard to imagine that changing anytime soon, which means the Patriots will need to properly prepare for him far more than they probably would have any other season since Meyers joined the team.
Obviously, they will still need to account for him, since they know better than most how good he can be. But now that he's dealing with a thumb injury, Washington will likely have a more prominent role on Sunday, and given his shiftiness and speed, the Patriots' defense will need to be ready.
Fortunately, it looks like they'll have Carlton Davis III back in the lineup alongside Christian Gonzalez, giving the secondary the kind of edge they'll need in a matchup like this. The recently made highest-paid cornerback in the league could shadow Washington on Sunday if Lawrence continues to use him like a top-tier player.
If not, there's greater comfort in knowing Davis is covering him instead, and he will hopefully shut him down and help prevent Lawrence's explosive play.
The defense has done a good job so far, limiting the reigning Offensive Player of the Year, Jaxon Smith-Njigba, in Week 1, and Gonzalez followed by completely eliminating DK Metcalf from last week's matchup against the Steelers.
The cornerback and his defensive teammates will need to replicate that this week to give the Patriots a real chance at their first road win of the season. Otherwise, the doom and gloom felt from their Week 1 win will feel like nothing compared to what will be said if they take another loss ahead of a tough battle against the Bills in Buffalo next week.
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