5 of the best plays during the Patriots 2023 season

Exactly how much of a disaster the Patriots’ 2023 season became is open to debate. It was either “an unmitigated disaster” or “a total disaster. " But as Helen Keller once said, “optimism is the faith that leads to achievement, " so let's look to the positives from the Patriots' disastrous 2023 season.

Here are 5 of the Patriots' best plays from the last four months. 

Ezekiel Elliott’s called back touchdown in Las Vegas 

Well, it wouldn’t be the Patriots’ 2023 season if we didn’t start with one of the plays actually didn’t go anywhere. Through no fault of their own either. There are questionable calls, and then there are whatever this nonsense was.

Hunter Henry was flagged for a hold. But it was no ordinary hold. Henry was judged to be holding a Tre’von Moehrig, who had grabbed Henry and tried to throw him to the ground, But Moehrig lost that battle by 56 lbs, so he threw himself to the ground instead. 

That negated what would have been a 74-yard touchdown! That would have been 9 yards short of Elliott's longest touchdown reception.

Jalen Reagor's kick return touchdown

Only four kickoffs were returned for touchdowns during the regular season. One of them was run back by Texans fullback Andrew Beck; if there’s a “most hilarious plays of the season,” that might come on top. 

Imagine the irony of the Patriots being one of the teams that managed to do it while their season was in ruins. Consider the extra irony when you know Jalen Reagor only played 30 snaps for the Patriots special teams unit in 2023.

That’s just 10% of the total number he could have been involved with. Reagor returned seven kicks for 221 yards. I think he might be a keeper! 

Mike Gesicki's first touchdown catch 

Now, this one might not technically be a great play, but it’s mildly amusing. Gesicki scored a touchdown for the Patriots on exactly the same that he scored a touchdown with against the Patriots in 2019, when he was a Dolphin. 

You might think if a play-caller knew Mike Gesicki was practically undefendable on a post route near the goal line they’d call that play on a regular basis. But this season was a disaster, remember? And the play calling was a part of that.

Gesicki did catch another scoring pass during the season, but that was more of a drag route at the back of the endzone as the pass protection broke down in front of Mac Jones. 

That time Jabrill Peppers smoked Davante Adams 

The Patriots’ defense was not a disaster this season, but it was asked to do far too much. Jahlani Tavai was one of the few shining lights for New England in 2023. And his interception against the Raiders really sparkled. 

Not only was it an incredible catch, but how it came about indicated how effective the Patriots’ defense was this season. Davante Adams thought he had caught the ball and was about to run downfield, but Jabrill Peppers had other ideas.

He leveled Adams, causing the ball to fly into the air. Tavai reacted to the loose ball by tipping it up in the air to catch it and secure an interception. 

Marte Mapu outmuscling Travis Kelce for an interception 

Mapu had a good rookie season, but he never really fulfilled the promise he showed in college. He ended up playing as a linebacker; in college, he was a ‘tweener, ' flipping between safety, Nickelback, and linebacker positions. At 230 lbs, he is a bit undersized for a Patriots linebacker.

But he demonstrated his ball-hawking tendencies as he picked off Patrick Mahomes in Week 15. Mapu might be better employed as a safety going forward. 

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