New England Patriots
It’s hard to gauge right now, largely due to injuries, how good this team will be by season’s end. But this much is clear: they’ve got the right people leading it.
Patriots running back Rhamondre Stevenson has rushed for touchdowns in each of his last two games. Barry Chin/Globe Staff
October 16, 2026 | 8:03 AM
4 minutes to read
Welcome to Season 15, Episode 6 of the Unconventional Preview, a serious yet lighthearted, nostalgia-tinted look at the Patriots’ weekly matchup …
I wish I knew how to properly allocate the praise, but it’s remarkable and, yes, surprising that the multiple issues that Drake Maye was struggling with just three weeks ago — accuracy, decision-making under pressure, poise, confidence — have been resolved.
After the 35-6 loss to the Jaguars in Week 3, it was reasonable to wonder if it would be a long time before Maye looked like the confident and aggressive quarterback who finished second in the 2025 Most Valuable Player balloting in his first full season as starter.
Well, here we are in Week 6, with the Patriots hosting the Jets, and all of Maye’s powers have been restored to 2025 levels. He won AFC Offensive Player of the Week after leading the Patriots to a 29-26 win at Buffalo in Week 4, then followed that up by lacerating the Raiders’ pass defense with 374 passing yards and 4 TD passes (plus one more rushing) and last Sunday’s 45-17 route.
It’s a credit to Maye’s resilience and apparent mental toughness that he pulled out of his rut so fast. And it’s a credit to the coaching staff that they knew how to prevent the young quarterback’s struggles from lingering and even festering.
It’s hard to gauge right now, largely due to injuries, how good this team will be by season’s end. But this much is clear: they’ve got the right people leading it.
Kick it off, Borregales, and let’s get this one started …
Patriots cornerback Christian Gonzalez has missed the last two games with a shoulder injury. – Gary McCullough
THREE PLAYERS I’LL BE WATCHING NOT NAMED DRAKE MAYE
Rhamondre Stevenson: In his sixth season and 75 regular-season games into his career, Stevenson already counts as one of the most accomplished running backs in Patriots history. He’s not necessarily recognized as such, in part because his story is still being told, and in larger part because fumbling issues have led to him spending portions of his career on the doorstep of the dog house if not temporarily exiled inside of it. But Stevenson — who was an integral and (in this space, at least) unheralded part of the rout of the Raiders, contributing 85 scrimmage yards and a touchdown — has a chance to hit some impressive milestones in the next couple of weeks. Stevenson needs 104 rushing yards to join Sam Cunningham (5,453), Jim Nance (5,323), and Tony Collins (4,647) as the only Patriots to run for 4,000 yards with the franchise. And he needs two rushing touchdowns to tie Collins and Curtis Martin for sixth place in franchise history with 32. Stevenson has delivered at least 100 yards and two touchdowns three times in his career, so it’s not out of the question Sunday.
David Bailey: The No. 2 pick in the 2026 NFL Draft, Bailey tallied three of the Jets’ eight sacks in their 17-12 victory over the Browns last Sunday. Jets historians and those that just like to chuckle at YouTube compilations of the franchise’s biggest draft blunders will note that Bailey, a 6-foot-3-inch, 251-pound edge rusher, now has five more sacks than Vernon Gholston, a looks-the-part-but-can’t-play-it Ohio State defensive end selected No. 6 in the 2008 Draft, provided in 45 career games. Maye shredded the Raiders’ defense in 2025 fashion when he had a clean pocket Sunday, finishing with a perfect 158.3 quarterback rating when he wasn’t pressured. It’s imperative for the Jets that Bailey makes life in the pocket stressful for Maye and a Patriots line that may be without left tackle Will Campbell.
Christian Gonzalez: Heading into the Raiders game, the Patriots appeared to be one more injury at cornerback from pulling Ty Law out of the 2001 celebration to take a few reps. Gonzalez and fellow starter Carlton Davis were out, as were backups Karon Prunty and Channing Canada. That left a makeshift group that included 5-8 Marcus Jones, Charles Woods and practice-squad promotee Kindle Vildor. All three Did Their Jobs (say, there might be a slogan there — will workshop it) remarkably well given skeptical outside expectations. But it’s a blessing to have Gonzalez back against the Jets after he missed the past two games with a shoulder injury. Garrett Wilson (31 catches on 42 targets, 374 yards, 3 TDs) is by far quarterback Geno Smith’s favorite target — he accounted for 104 of the Jets’ 182 receiving yards against the Browns. Gonzalez is exceptional at taking away an opponent’s favorite weapon. His presence should allow a blossoming Patriots pass rush time to get to Smith.
Romeo Doubs could not hold on to a potential touchdown in tight coverage during Sunday’s win over the Raiders. – Matthew J. Lee/Globe Staff
GRIEVANCE OF THE WEEK
Romeo Doubs has the reputation of being an excellent contested-catch receiver. And while he’s had his moments for the Patriots, too often the positives are interspersed with plays in which his hands seem to be actively trying to contest him making the catch. Doubs has been charged with four drops this season, the most egregious altering the tenor of the game in the opener against the Seahawks. He’s a talented receiver who will slot into a more suitable role once A.J. Brown is back in the huddle. But in the meantime, it would help the cause if his hands would stop conspiring against him at inopportune times.
FLASHBACK!
We won’t dwell on the details of this one, but let’s just say that the Patriots’ 28-21 loss to the Jets in the 2010 division round may rank as the most regrettable lost opportunity of the two-decade dynasty that doesn’t involve a Manning brother. All these years later, it’s almost as stunning as the loss itself to realize that the Jets haven’t made the playoffs since.
PREDICTION, OR CURTIS MARTIN IS FIRST AND FOREMOST A PATRIOT TO ME …
Pick to click in the Patriots passing game on Sunday? How about rookie tight end Eli Raridon, who, with no offense to Hunter Henry, might establish himself as the Patriots’ best tight end before we know it. Put him down for a touchdown, maybe even two. Patriots 31, Jets 15.
Chad Finn
Chad Finn is a sports columnist for Boston.com. He has been voted Favorite Sports Writer in Boston in the annual Channel Media Market and Research Poll for the past four years. He also writes a weekly sports media column for the Globe and contributes to Globe Magazine.
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