It's hard to know what to make of the New England Patriots in 2023. The most dominant franchise in the history of the NFL has had more ups and downs over the last five seasons than a roller coaster. The peaks and valleys have been both expected and unexpected at times. The inconsistency though, has people wondering whether this is a 12- 5 team or a 5-12 team.
One thing for sure is that if the team is going to succeed this season, certain individuals carry more of that burden than others. The week 1 matchup against the defending NFC champs is where that pressure begins. These are the top three people in the Patriots organization with the most pressure on them to perform against the Philadelphia Eagles.
Patriots who need to step up in Week 1: 3. Mac Jones, Quarterback
I'm starting here because it's the easiest and most blatantly obvious choice. Mac Jones had one of the best rookie seasons in the history of the quarterback position. He completed roughly 68 percent of his passes for 3800 yards and 22 touchdowns, leading the New England Patriots to a 10- 7 record and a playoff birth. He was the league's Offensive Rookie of the Year and had fans calling him the next Tom Brady.
Saying he regressed in 2022 would be a gigantic understatement. Jones fell off the cliff that Max Kellerman thought Brady would tumble off of, landing face-first at the bottom. Right from the jump he had no semblance of a pocket presence, consistently lobbing balls off his back foot into the opposing team's secondary. His play was so rancid, that a fourth-round rookie quarterback was the biggest breath of fresh air in the stadium. Fans gave a standing ovation for Zappe when he relieved Jones against the Chicago Bears.
While some of the blame falls on the playcalling, much of it still falls on the quarterback himself. Nobody was making him force bad throws into tight spaces. And now he has a new offensive coordinator and new offensive weapons. All of the excuses have been taken away, and his public relations team has pumped him up to ridiculous heights during the off-season. If Mac Jones has a bad season in 2023, it will be his last season with the New England Patriots. He needs to get off to a great start against the Eagles.
Patriots who need to step up in Week 1: 2. Bill O'Brien, Offensive Coordinator
Matt Patricia was still flying towards the door that the team punted him towards when the red carpet was rolled out for their former offensive coordinator. O'Brien was being called a savior by people remembering his play calling from the 2011 season. His high-scoring offense at Alabama had people forgetting all about his tenure as a head coach for the Houston Texans. He was not Mac Jones' offensive coordinator in Tuscaloosa, despite what some ill-educated fans think.
O'Brien has been somewhat of a quarterback guru, with his signal callers having success no matter where he was coaching. College and professional quarterbacks alike have had great success under Billy O. That said, the Patriots' 2023 preseason was not an auspicious beginning to his return. In three games, the Patriots averaged just 12 points and 162 yards of offense per game.
It was just the preseason, and I don't want to give it any more weight than it deserves, but that doesn't mean it deserves no weight at all. The anemic offense and dreadful play of its quarterback are both supposed to be rectified by O'Brien, the offensive genius. It would be naive to think that there is no pressure on him in his first season calling the plays.
If the team does not make a serious playoff run, and the quarterback does not make serious improvements over last year, then Bill O'Brien will likely be carrying Mac Jones bags as they both leave Foxborough. In week 1 against the Eagles, he needs his offense to be exciting, but more importantly effective against a fast and athletic Philadelphia front seven.
Patriots who need to step up in Week 1: 1. Marte Mapu, Linebacker/Safety
One might think that there should not be too much pressure on a third-round pick out of a small school. The fact that Mapu was a third-round pick, and was out of a small school, is exactly why there is so much pressure on the currently positionless player.
The Patriots not only hit home runs with their first two picks of the 2023 NFL draft, they hit record-breaking long balls. The kind allegedly hit by Mickey Mantle. Christian Gonzalez fell out of the top 10, where he was projected by most draft experts, and ended up at 17 somehow. Keion White was projected in the 20's, and the Patriots were able to grab him at 46. When the third round of the draft started, the Patriots had still not addressed wide receiver or offensive line, which were considered two of the most glaring holes on the team.
With pass catchers Josh Downs and Darnell Washington still on the board, and monstrous tackle Dawand Jones just sitting there, New England announced they were drafting a tweener from Sacramento State. Fans collectively said "Who?" so loud that they practically caused an Avalanche in Asia.
Mapu does not have to play like Lawrence Taylor or Ronnie Lott, but the worse the offensive line looks, and the worse the receivers play, the more pressure the rookie is going to feel. He needs to fly all over the field against the Eagles, in on every tackle, and possibly even keep Jalen Hurts from running all over the Patriots if he is going to prove he was worth the pick.
