Damien HarrisMac Jones

Mac Jones can’t save the Patriots crumbling Evil Empire

Bill Belichick

When Tom Brady walked off the field for what appeared to be the final time in Foxboro in January of 2020, NFL fans rejoiced, believing the Evil Empire’s run was over. There was a pick-six to Logan Ryan of the Tennessee Titans and suddenly that’s how the reign ended, with a whimper. 

 

But fear not, because Brady would find a new home in Tampa Bay and that would finally be the final nail in the New England Patriots’ coffin. Or would it?

 

The Patriots would once again prove to have more lives than a cat, finding a new golden boy in the form of first round pick and Alabama star, Mac Jones. The LEGO-like figure turned in an impressive rookie campaign, tossing 22 touchdowns to only 13 interceptions while completing 67.6% of his passes. 

 

All of that amounted to a 10-7 record and yet another trip to the playoffs. They just won’t go away, will they? However, a frigid Buffalo Saturday night proved to be too much, as Josh Allen and the Buffalo Bills sent the Belichick boys back to the unofficial Dunkin’ Donuts capital of the world in embarrassing fashion to the tune of a 47-17 rout. 

 

A whimper, indeed. 

 

Many positives were taken out of the Patriots 2021 season, but will 2022 be the year where bad drafting and decision making finally catches up? Let’s talk through it, like any good support group would do. Just remember, this is a safe space. 

 

The Patriots aren’t scary anymore

 

That’s really all it boils down to. Remember as a child when you’d go to the circus (that used to be a thing kids), the clowns were scary. Mascots at events were scary too. But like mascots, you eventually realized that clowns are just like your neighbor who insists on slamming the same car door 100 times before finally going inside.

 

They are real people. Underneath all that makeup or mascot head is a person just as miserable as you being stuck out in the heat on a Florida summer’s day.

 

Eventually people realize that they have to face their fears and when they do, suddenly it isn’t so bad anymore. The 2022 Patriots are just that. Instead of focusing on the last 20 years, let’s focus on the present. After all, the windshield is bigger than the rearview mirror for a reason. 

 

This season the Patriots enter a season with an offense in disarray, a coaching staff that seemingly has the same four people filling all the major roles, and a quarterback most likely due for regression as a result. 

 

Scary, huh?

 

The offensive coaching staff is primed to be a collaborative effort between a rocket scientist and the guy that chose to run QB sneaks on his own(!!) goal line. Mac Jones doesn’t stand a chance. Don’t forget that every team in the AFC East got better too, as with each passing day the likelihood that Nike Belichick is actually the one running this team grows. 

 

The Patriots through the betting lens

 

Here’s some advice. DraftKings is offering +105 on the Patriots under 8.5 win total. Take it and run. 

 

Now in the grand scheme of things, preseason results are overrated and mostly unnecessary, but based on all reports, the offense is discombobulated at best. We now have training camp and the preseason as evidence of that. But don’t worry, the defense has problems too. Have you seen that secondary? This isn’t your parent’s Patriots, so don’t treat them like it. 

 

In fact, let’s get crazy. FanDuel is offering +380 on the Patriots to finish last in the AFC East and we should take it. It may sound insane, but I already told you the other three teams got better. There’s a real chance those other three aren’t “Keeping up with the Joneses,” but rather surpassing them convincingly. We’ll see whether I’m right in January.

 

However, if you want, although I advise against it, Jones is +8000 to win the MVP on Caesar’s. If the team is to have any success this year, it will be because of that. In that case, Jones might be Coach of the Year as well, because there’s no way this current offensive staff can put him in that position alone. 

 

In my estimation, the team’s offensive MVP outside of Jones will be newly acquired receiver DeVante Parker. Based on my assumptions so far, the Patriots will be behind often and forced to throw late in games. If Parker can stay healthy, a big if, then he’ll be plenty productive in garbage time, meaning we should be able to cash the over 695.5 season long total at DraftKings for a price of -115.

 

On the defensive side of the ball we look to Matthew Judon to build off his big 2021. We’ll stay at DraftKings and take a shot on the over 10.25 total sacks for +100. Considering he just had 12.5 last year in this same defense, it only makes sense to double down. Plus, he’ll need to wreak havoc off the edge to prevent this secondary from completely falling apart. 

 

I was previously excited to watch rookie receiver out of Baylor, Tyquan Thornton, but he was recently placed on injured reserve, set to miss at least four games. He’s my rookie to watch, especially since the Belichick draft classes typically leave a lot to be desired. Keep an eye on him for prop bets once he returns.

 

All of this brings us to our BetBasics Best Bet, which I’m sure you can see where this is going by now. I believe the Patriots will be bad in 2022 and often playing from behind. This is the exact reason why we are going to lock in the under on rushing yards for Damien Harris.

 

Now this is a great opportunity. FanDuel is offering a line of 775.5 for a price of -124, but DraftKings is giving us 825.5 for a price of -130. That’s a 50 yard value for almost the same price. Now that is one quality infomercial-like deal from our friends over there.

 

Lock it in and make it reign.

The 2022 Pats are like ordering a cup of coffee from your favorite neighborhood Dunkin’. Sometimes it’s good, sometimes it’s bad. The problem is that you ordered the same thing as always and that uncertainty makes you uneasy about going back. But the brand is what constantly draws you back in, and the Patriots brand is strong.

 

If any other team put together a roster like this with a coaching staff in disarray, would they receive the same benefit of the doubt? Obviously not. So don’t be surprised when the almighty brand lets you down. It’ll be a long season in the New England region, meaning WEEI will be a must listen.

 

Don’t worry though Pats fans. The Celtics season opener is only 41 days away.

author
Nick Brinkerhoff
Sports Journalist
Hello there, I’m Nick Brinkerhoff, a New Jersey native with enough sarcasm and attitude to show I’m not from New York. Despite being Jersey born and bred, I’m a diehard New York sports fan (Jets, Nets, Rangers, Mets) who has seen plenty of losing, but my sports betting ability will hopefully continue to balance those scales. I have season tickets to the Jets but believe it to be more character building than bad asset management. Althoug
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