The New England Patriots beat the Buffalo Bills.
This would have felt like the norm in the mid 2010s, but it was anything but on Sunday afternoon, when the Patriots ended a four-game losing streak to the Bills in a 29-25 victory.
It might be hard to believe, but the 2023 Patriots, who were off to one of the more horrific offensive starts to a season ever, took on one of the NFL’s best. And they won.
This week flashed some 2021 Patriots and vintage Mac Jones with the team controlling the entire game and likely boosting their confidence moving forward. After a slow start to the year, and some changes that should have happened much sooner, the Patriots find their needle pointing upwards for the next stretch of the season.
Here are this week’s three standout stars that helped lead the Patriots to victory over Josh Allen and the Bills.
First Star: Mac Jones
Mac Jones led the Patriots on a game-winning drive, and even more importantly, he finally managed to do so when his defense gave up more than 24 points. He also finally beat a team with a winning record and a top starting quarterback.
Jones managed to complete 83 percent of his passes, going 25-of-30 and throwing for 272 yards with two touchdowns, including the game winner to Mike Gesicki in the final 30 seconds of the game.
He was engaged, animated and looked like the same player we saw coming out of college as a first-round draft pick. The team truly rallied around him knowing this was an important statement game.
Jones was essentially flawless with a 126.7 passer rating. If the team can continue to protect him in the pocket and they play their two most electric receivers, Demario Douglas and Kendrick Bourne, over DeVante Parker and JuJu Smith-Schuster, we could see a bounce-back second half to the season.
Jones’ best skills were highlighted, and even though things aren’t perfect around him in terms of offensive weaponry, he managed to get it done with the current lineup.
All the team needed was good offensive line play.
It’s a shame that it might be too late in the season to make a complete turnaround, barring a historic comeback. This Patriots team is too banged up and will likely be out of the playoffs.
Second Star: Demario Douglas
Demario “Pop” Douglas was electric yet again and continued to prove why he is the team’s best wide receiver. His release, hands, and route-running are elite, and he is statistically one of the most efficient route runners in the entire NFL.
In this game, the Patriots listened yet again and played Douglas in more snaps. The rookie sixth-round draft pick responded by leading the team with 99 all purpose yards. He was electric as a returner, receiver and rusher.
Despite Douglas’ smaller frame, he is proving to many across the league why they need to fear him. Mac Jones has clearly been loving his new target, finding him early and often. Douglas was the main catalyst for the offense, and he allowed Kendrick Bourne to get favorable matchups leading to a productive game from him as well.
Third Star: Mike Onwenu
I went back and forth between Kendrick Bourne, Christian Barmore and Anfernee Jennings for the third star of the game, but this one had to go to Mike Onwenu.
Fans called for the Patriots in the spring to move Onwenu to right tackle and let the rookies play right guard. The team finally did so in Week 7, and they looked the best they have looked in nearly two seasons.
Shocker.
Onwenu was stout and handled the pressure almost perfectly. Former Patriots legendary offensive line coach Dante Scarnecchia, who was inducted in the Patriots Hall of Fame over the weekend and invited to the game as a guest of honor, must have some magical presence or something.
Just his presence alone this week had the offensive line looking like a prime unit once again.
