Four most important Patriots players in Week 4 matchup
The Patriots’ schedule doesn’t get any easier in Week 4 as they travel to Dallas for a game against the 2-1 Cowboys.
The Patriots are sevenpoint underdogs in the matchup. Here are four players who need to step up for a Patriots upset.
RB Rhamondre Stevenson
Ezekiel Elliott’s return to Dallas is the better story (even if he claims he’s treating this like any other week), but the Patriots pretty desperately need Stevenson to get going.
Stevenson, who averaged 5.0 yards per carry last season, has seen that number drop down to 2.9 in 2023. He averaged 2.1 yards after contact last season and is picking up just 0.8 yards after contact through three tames.
“Looking back at the game … there wasn’t much yards there. It was tough yards,” Stevenson said Wednesday. “I appreciate those yards. I love those yards. I think I had a pretty good game. But I need to get back to making people miss and breaking some tackles.”
There’s no reason to believe that Stevenson won’t get rolling soon. He was one of the NFL’S best running backs in 2022 and hasn’t been helped out much by his offensive line. But this is a get-right game for him. The Cowboys’ defense ranks last in defensive success rate allowed against the rush with a 50.8% figure. To put that into context, the Patriots’ defense ranks sixth at 33.3%. The Patriots’ offense is 16th at 39.8%.
RT Vederian Lowe
The Patriots made a switch at right tackle in Week 3 with Lowe replacing offseason addition Calvin Anderson, who missed most of the summer on the non-football illness list.
Lowe struggled in his first career start as a pass rusher, letting up five total pressures, including a QB hit.
We’ll find out Sunday if Lowe sticks at right tackle, but if he does, he faces a tough matchup against Cowboys defensive end Demarcus Lawrence, who primarily lines up on the defensive left.
Lawrence, 31, has 11 pressures through three weeks, per PFF. He’s PFF’S fifthhighest graded edge defender behind the 49ers’ Nick Bosa, the Browns’ Myles Garrett, the Steelers’ T.J. Watt and his teammate Micah Parsons.
It will be all hands on deck against Parsons, who Patriots head coach Bill Belichick actually compared to Lawrence Taylor from an athleticism standpoint this week in an eyeopening admission. But the Patriots can’t allow Lawrence to beat them either.
Lawrence didn’t play against the Patriots in Week 6 of the 2021 season, but Randy Gregory had two sacks in that game.
OLB Matthew Judon
Judon has at least one sack in each game this season. Some have come quite a bit easier than others. He had an unblocked sack Week 1 against the Eagles and essentially just downed Zach Wilson after the Jets quarterback had sacked himself in Week 3. But he also made impressive plays Week 2 against the Dolphins and with a key safety Week 3 against the Jets to put up numbers on the stat sheet.
The Cowboys’ offensive line is banged up with center Tyler Biadasz, guard Zack Martin and tackle Tyron Smith all missing practice time this week, so Judon has another chance to eat this Sunday. Seven of Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott’s 15 interceptions last season came under pressure.
The Patriots rank seventh in pressure rate while ranking fourth in blitz rate.
They have a loaded group of pass rushers with Judon, Josh Uche, Keion White and Deatrich Wise. They did lose defensive tackle Daniel Ekuale to a torn biceps, which could lead to more snaps in pass-rush situations for Christian Barmore and Sam Roberts.
CB Myles Bryant
Even if the Patriots can get cornerback Jonathan Jones back from his ankle injury, Bryant will likely continue to start in
New England’s secondary. If rookie cornerback Christian Gonzalez shadows Cowboys wide receiver Ceedee Lamb, that means he’ll likely be playing heavily in the slot in the Week 4 matchup. That would put Bryant outside against either Brandin Cooks or Michael Gallup.
Both are tough matchups for Bryant. But the fourthyear pro held his own in Weeks 2 and 3 against Dolphins and Jets. He’s allowed 11 catches on 14 targets for 117 yards with one pass breakup through three games. Belichick praised him for his performance last Sunday against the Jets.
“Myles had a couple really good reads, and took away a couple routes that (Zach) Wilson didn’t end up throwing that if he had thrown them, they might’ve been picked off,” Belichick said Monday.
Bryant can’t get beat by Cooks, Gallup or any matchups he might have against Lamb.