Harry hopes to help red zone woes
Banged-up receiver returned vs. Bucs
N’Keal Harry, who returned to action against the Buccaneers after being activated off injured reserve, believes he can still help the Patriots.
PATRIOTS NOTEBOOK
During the 19-17 loss Sunday night, he made one catch for 10 yards, and also drew a pass interference penalty. Most of his snaps were in the red zone, where the Patriots have struggled.
Against the Buccaneers, the Patriots got into the end zone on two of three red zone tries. Against the Saints the previous week, they were 0-for-1.
“I would love to make an impact anywhere, but definitely in the red zone,” Harry said during a video call Monday. “I feel like I could provide a good threat.”
Harry said he was happy to be back after missing the first three weeks, and felt like he and Mac Jones had maintained their chemistry from training camp.
“I don’t feel like we skipped a beat,” said Harry. “Obviously, route-running, a lot of it is timing. I don’t feel like we took any steps backward.”
Harry was also very upbeat about the team despite being 1-3.
“When I look at (Sunday) night’s game, I’m proud of the way we fought. I’m proud of the way we battled as a team. We just have to eliminate some of the errors and some of the small things that can end up hindering us,” he said. “But I feel like the sky is the limit with this team. For us to be able to go toe to toe with them (Sunday) night, I feel like we can go toe to toe with anybody in this league. I think it’s more about us, and how we respond moving forward.”
Slater on penalty
One of the pivotal plays during the loss was an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty called on Matthew Slater in the third quarter. The Patriots had a 7-6 lead, and punted. Slater forced a fumble on returner Jaydon
Mickens, which appeared to be recovered by the Pats, but a flag was thrown on their special teams captain.
He was pushed out of bounds twice en route to getting back in bounds and putting a hit on Mickens. Officials flagged Slater because it was deemed he didn’t get back into the field of play soon enough.
Slater wasn’t happy about the call in the moment, arguing with officials after the costly penalty.
“Obviously, I’m well aware of the rules. I don’t think there’s anybody in this league that’s covered more punts than I have,” said Slater, “so I understand what the rules are. I made a play I thought was within the rules based on how it was being played … but ultimately, that’s a judgment call. You have to live with the call the officials make on the field … it’s just one of those things you wish you could have it back, or wish it wasn’t a flag. It just wasn’t the case.”
Slater said the rule was open for interpretation, and the official made the call he felt was right.
“Everyone assumes when you go out-of-bounds, you immediately have to re-enter the field of play,” said Slater. “It’s never been the way the rule has been officiated … there’s a yardage mark in our minds that we’re coached to play with, you set an angle to return to the field of play.
“I have to try to execute the play better. We’ll learn from it. It’s disappointing ‘cuz I felt like that was a big play in the game.”
Brady encourages Mac post-game
Days before Sunday’s showdown with Tampa Bay, Patriots rookie quarterback
Mac Jones claimed he had never spoken with Tom Brady, his childhood idol. Moments after the Bucs won, they finally met.
Brady greeted Jones, who is 21 years his junior, with a few words of encouragement on the field. The rookie had performed exceedingly well under pressure, completing 31 of 40 passes for 275 yards, two touchdowns and one pick without the aid of a running game. His last drive set up a 56-yard field goal try by Nick
Folk, who clanged it off the left upright and sealed a Pats loss.
Brady kneeled out the clock from there, then found Jones.
“He just told me to keep my head up, and keep working,” the rookie revealed postgame.
Belichick praises son’s play-calling
Patriots outside linebackers coach Steve Belichick has been calling plays since 2019, something his father will rarely acknowledge.
But Bill Belichick made an exception Monday morning during his interview on WEEI’s “The Greg Hill Show,” choosing to highlight Steve in how the Pats held the Bucs to 19 points on Sunday night, their second-lowest total since Tom Brady signed with the team.
“We tried to mix it up on them. I think Steve did a great job of that with the defensive play-calling,” he said. “Players played hard, played well. They have a very good offense. … Tried to give their offensive some different looks, but Tom did a good job spreading the ball around. I thought we covered competitively and held them to some field goals. We all know it’s tough to throw the ball in the red area, just have less space. I thought our guys defended it pretty well.”
Brady finished 2-of-9 for 12 yards inside the red zone, and the Bucs scored one touchdown on their four red-zone trips.
Meyers’s arm talent
Jakobi Meyers completed the longest pass of any quarterback on the field Sunday night, throwing a perfect bomb to Nelson Agholor in the fourth quarter on one of several trick plays unleashed by offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels.
Meyers, who played quarterback in high school, was actually, 2-for-2, for 45 yards passing, while also making a team-high eight catches for 70 yards.
Jones, during his weekly appearance on WEEI’s “Merloni and Fauria” was jokingly asked if there was any concern Meyers was coming for his job.
The rookie quarterback laughed.
“Huh, yeah, Jakobi, he’s got a nice arm. He threw some nice passes last night. He’s a tough dude,” said Jones. “He plays hard. Whatever position he plays, he plays hard and does exactly what the coaches and everyone asks of him. He’s just a great player.
“That’s what I look up to sometimes,” he went on. “You see he’s here working, trying to do the right thing, that’s how I’m trying to be.”
Meyers is now 4-for-4 in his career, also going 2-for-2 last season with a touchdown pass.
Report: Anderson tore pectoral
Henry Anderson may have suffered a torn pectoral in Sunday’s loss to the Buccaneers, according to Ian Rapoport of NFL Network. The Patriots defensive end suffered the injury in the first quarter, and was quickly ruled out with a chest injury.
Anderson is expected to undergo an MRI to confirm the diagnosis. A torn pectoral would mean the 30-year-old’s season is done.
During the first four weeks, Anderson, who was signed in free agency to a two-year, $7 million deal, had three solo tackles in a limited role.