The New England Patriots are among the majority of the AFC teams who are stumbling in the NFL regular season this year. After losing two games in week 1 and week 2, they were trying to somehow avoid the embarrassment of a 0-3 start.
The fixture against the New York Jets was assumed to save them from such a fate as the Patriots had not gone down to them for a straight 14 games, and they indeed nailed down their first win of the season last week by beating the Jets. Following their consecutive 15 wins against Gang Green, they also received a much-needed inspirational gift from one of the team’s front office members.
Joe Judge’s motivational surprise for Patriots players in the locker room
While talking with the reporters on Wednesday, the Patriots wide receiver JuJu Smith-Schuster was spotted donning a light grey hoodie with the vintage “Pat Patriot” logo and a message on the back saying “NO ONE IS COMING IT’S UP TO US”. He later revealed the gift was given by none other than their assistant head coach Joe Judge, in an effort to energize every player in the squad.
However, this is not the first time for the Pats to pull off slogans as the franchise has been known for this tactic through the years. The best-known slogan of the team is “Do your job”, and even former NFL linebacker Jerod Mayo once marked it as the foundation of the Patriots’ success over the years.
Meanwhile, Joe had a significant influence in helping return the Patriots to top spirit. The veteran even injected a dose of optimism in the players during the Pats’ organized team activities in the spring by gathering core members of the special teams’ units. He conveyed the team’s goal of restoring the Patriots, which is battling to carry on its existence following Tom Brady’s departure a few years ago, to the NFL’s elite.
Patriots bounce back with road victory after early home losses
The Patriots started with 0-2 after losing two consecutive games at home to the Philadelphia Eagles and Miami Dolphins. However, they broke the chain in week 3 by clinching a 15-10 win over the Jets. They started the campaign dominantly by ensuring a 10-0 lead.
On the offensive side of the ball, they scored on two of their first four drives, and managed field goal position on a third, albeit they could not run a single play in the red zone. On the defensive side of the ball, they held Gang Green to -6 yards on their first four drives before finishing with a total of 157 rushing yards.
The Jets struggled terribly on the field amid their uncertainty regarding a franchise quarterback following Aaron Rodgers’ injury. Though Zach Wilson, who has been criticized heavily in the last few days, made an 87-yard touchdown drive in the fourth quarter, it was not enough for the team to shine bright on offense.
Gang Green will take on the defending champion Kansas City Chiefs on Oct.2 while the Patriots will face off against the Dallas Cowboys on Sunday. Which team do you think will ensure a win in the coming matches? Tell us in the comments.
