Giants Country

Behind Enemy Lines: 5 Questions with Patriots Country Reporter Mike D'Abate

Let's check in with Patriots Country reporter Mike D'Abate regarding some burning questions about the Giants' next opponent.

Patricia Traina

Behind Enemy Lines: 5 Questions with Patriots Country Reporter Mike D'Abate
Behind Enemy Lines: 5 Questions with Patriots Country Reporter Mike D'Abate /
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For the first time since he became head coach of the New England Patriots, there's a lot of uncertainty surrounding Bill Belichick and the Patriots.

From the identity of the starting quarterback to Belichick's future, New England is in the midst of one of its worst seasons ever as they visit an equally struggling Giants team.  

What will they do this weekend when the Giants come to town? Let's check in with Patriots Country reporter and Locked On Patriots podcast host Mike D'Abate to find out. 

Which quarterback do you think Belichick is leaning toward, and why?

Much to the chagrin of many Patriots fans, it appears Mac Jones is the front-runner to get the nod on Sunday. While he has struggled mightily, the Pats have wisely exhibited caution in deciding whether or not to demote him.

Bailey Zappe has only completed ten passes for 104 yards and an interception during three appearances in relief-duty. Despite Will Grier’s veteran savvy, he has yet to take an in-game, competitive snap for New England this season.

Lastly, rookie Malik Cunningham has largely underwhelmed in his limited duties, save for leading an exciting, game-ending drive in the Pats’ preseason opener against the Houston Texans.

As such, Cunningham has mostly remained a mainstay on the Pats’ practice squad. Jones may be far from perfect. However, he may be their best option in the room.

Where has it gone wrong for the Patriots this season?

It truly has been a season to forget for the Patriots. While most will point to poor production from Mac Jones and the quarterbacks, the Pats have played undisciplined football, leading to self-inflicted problems on the field.

Still, the team’s futility on offense has been their biggest obstacle. New England is in dire need of productivity on offense. Entering the bye week, the Patriots offense ranked No. 31 in the NFL, averaging 14.1 points per game.

The blame for that type of output goes far beyond the quarterbacks. The team’s receivers have massively underachieved, except rookie Demario Douglas and veteran Kendrick Bourne, who is on season-ending IR.

New England’s offensive line has undergone several personnel changes and has been inconsistent when blocking for the run and protecting the pass. Perhaps most surprising has been the Pats' struggles on special teams — a unit from which Bill Belichick has prided himself on a strong performance.

Despite having greater talent than their 2-8 record would indicate, the Patriots have not been able to play at a satisfactory level with any consistency.

If you’re the Giants, what player or position group do you have to worry about and why?

Despite a slow start, the Pats’ running backs have been their best offensive positional group. Rhamondre Stevenson has logged 126 carries for 482 yards (3.8 yards-per-carry) with three touchdowns. Veteran Ezekiel Elliott has been a solid compliment, running the ball 68 times for 331 yards (3.7 yards-per-carry) and two touchdowns.

With both Stevenson and Elliott having found their rhythm over the past couple of weeks, the Pats runners have the chance to be a bright spot in a sea of dismal performances on offense — especially against a Giants defense which (despite having a talented front seven) ranks 29th in the league, allowing 135.1 yards-per-game and 30th in yards-per-carry at 4.8. Should Stevenson start to break tackles early, it could mean a big day for the Patriots runners.

What is the X-factor in this game?

Staying in rhythm with the previous question, New England’s success in this game may come down to whether their offensive line can provide adequate protection for Mac Jones while blocking for the running game. The O-line has been plagued with both injury and inconsistent play.

The Pats rank No. 27 in the NFL in pass-blocking efficiency at 81.1 percent — though it should be noted that they have improved when blocking for the running game. Ill-timed injuries to tackles Riley Reiff and Trent Brown have caused the Pats' o-line to undergo several lineup changes.

Their decision to move lineman Mike Onwenu from guard to tackle on the right side has been smart. Still, the lack of dependability from younger players, such as left guard Cole Strange, has often led to costly fissures in the line’s protection.

If Dexter Lawrence plays on Sunday, the task of containing him will be a huge test for the line's interior, especially for Strange and rookie right guard Sidy Sow.

This is not game-related, but what’s your gut feeling about Belichick’s future with this team? Do you think the Krafts might move on from him, or does he have enough equity to chase Don Shula’s record?

It is almost inconceivable for Patriots Nation to imagine Bill Belichick leaving the New England Patriots for a reason other than retirement. However, that possibility cannot be discounted. With their Week 10 loss to the Indianapolis Colts, New England dropped to 2-8 for the first time since Belichick’s first season as coach in 2000. The Patriots are now 0-6 in non-division games and remain the NFL's only team without a win outside their division.

Still, no one should ignore that Belichick is considered one of the greatest coaches in NFL history. The 71-year-old has coached the Patriots for 24 years, guiding them to six Super Bowls, and last month became just the third coach in pro football history to record 300 victories.

If Robert Kraft is to move on from Belichick, he must be 100 percent certain that the coach being brought in to replace him is the right choice. In that vein, Belichick should and will remain in New England.

Unfortunately, the harsh reality is that the Patriots will again be outside the AFC playoff picture after 2023. While the Krafts respect Belichick’s accomplishments, they will not base their decision on sentimentality. If they feel that a new voice is needed at the helm, seeing the Pats and Belichick part ways would not be shocking. 

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Patricia Traina
PATRICIA TRAINA

Patricia Traina has covered the New York Giants for 30+ seasons, and her work has appeared in multiple media outlets, including The Athletic, Forbes, Bleacher Report, and the Sports Illustrated media group. As a credentialed New York Giants press corps member, Patricia has also covered five Super Bowls (three featuring the Giants), the annual NFL draft, and the NFL Scouting Combine. She is the author of The Big 50: The Men and Moments that Made the New York Giants. In addition to her work with New York Giants On SI, Patricia hosts the Locked On Giants podcast. Patricia is also a member of the Pro Football Writers of America and the Football Writers Association of America.

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