The New England Patriots opened their 2024 preseason with a disappointing loss, squandering a 10-point advantage against a backup quarterback. The performance exposed areas of concern while also highlighting some promising contributors as they prepare for their Week 2 matchup against the Pittsburgh Steelers.
Among the positive takeaways was left tackle Will Campbell, who showed improvement from a rough postseason. After struggling significantly in Super Bowl LIX, where the Seattle Seahawks recorded eight pressures and a sack against him, Campbell demonstrated stronger pass protection and technique, particularly in the first half of the opener. He did have some issues late in the game, including two penalties and allowing a sack, but the overall effort reflected improvement following a focused offseason on strength and skill development.
Edge rusher Gabe Jacas also impressed in his NFL debut despite limited snaps. Having missed the spring training program due to contract negotiations and delivering mixed results in camp—sometimes struggling with play recognition—Jacas made the most of his 19 snaps by recording a sack and a tackle for loss. Given the Patriots’ depth concerns at the edge rusher position, Jacas’s showing offers a promising step forward as the team assesses whether he can take on an expanded role moving ahead.
Cornerback Christian Gonzalez was another standout, having recently signed a contract extension before the season opener. Facing a combination of man and zone coverage looks against the Seahawks, Gonzalez did not allow a single reception in his 10 coverage snaps and broke up one pass. His solid performance helped stabilize the Patriots secondary during a challenging debut.
On the other hand, the Patriots’ offense struggled with key players in critical moments. Quarterback Drake Maye’s performance deteriorated in the fourth quarter, with all three of New England’s possessions ending in interceptions, including a costly late pick that sealed the loss. Maye himself described the mistake as “just unacceptable.” Despite optimism about his progress in his third professional year, there are lingering concerns over his decision-making, as his recent five-game stretch includes a 60 percent completion rate with a near even touchdown-to-interception ratio.
Wide receiver Romeo Doubs had a rough start to his Patriots career, highlighted by a critical drop on a wide-open second-and-14 target late in the game. That miscue led to an interception on the following play. Doubs had shown promise at the end of training camp but now faces pressure to regain form and establish consistency as a key target for Maye.
Left guard Alijah Vera-Tucker, acquired in the offseason, appeared to struggle at times with pass protection as well, allowing a team-high four pressures. Recovering from a torn triceps that sidelined him for the previous season, Vera-Tucker’s rustiness was evident despite overall improvement along the offensive line.
Looking ahead, several players could influence the Patriots’ offense and defense in the coming weeks. Running back TreVeyon Henderson returned to practice after an ankle injury and could add a speed element to the backfield that was missing against Seattle. Wide receiver Kyle Williams is expected to play a bigger role following A.J. Brown’s high ankle sprain, especially as the team seeks to bolster its receiving corps beyond Doubs and Mack Hollins. On defense, safety Jaylen Reed might see more action beyond special teams as the Patriots fine-tune their sub-packages; his skill set may better suit the team’s preferred three-safety looks compared to alternative options.
With the Steelers on the horizon, the Patriots appear to be a team still balancing potential and inconsistency as they aim to build momentum in the early stages of the season.