New England Patriots vs. New Orleans Saints Preview: Winning 'Formula'?

Can New England Patriots quarterback Mac Jones bounce back from last week's awful performance vs. the New Orleans Saints?

The New England Patriots host the New Orleans Saints from Gilette Stadium on Sunday afternoon in a matchup. Fresh off the worst loss of the Bill Belichick era, the Patriots are in need of a major energy shift from a brutal 38-3 Week 4 loss to the Dallas Cowboys.

The Saints are also looking to end a two-game losing streak after a 2-0 start to the season. New Orleans was upset 26-9 at home by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in Week 4.  

The Patriots must replace two of their best defensive starters in Matthew Judon (bicep) and Christian Gonzalez (shoulder), who were both injured in Dallas and could be out for the season. New England looks to get after Saints quarterback Derek Carr, who played through a shoulder injury last week. Carr completed 23 passes for just 127 yards. 

Mac Jones need to bounce back if the Patriots are to beat the Saints at home Sunday

Quarterback Mac Jones and the offense struggled mightily against the Cowboys. New England is now 31st in the NFL in scoring and has turned the ball over seven times in four games (Tied for 7th most.) New offensive coordinator Bill O'Brien now turns the page in attempt to find the end zone/success vs. New Orleans. 

The Patriots fallen to 1-3 for the third consecutive season and coach Bill Belichick says the winning formula is apparent.

“We’ve played four games: three games we turned the ball over and lost, one game we didn’t turn the ball over and didn’t get sacked and won," Belichick said Monday on WEEI's The Greg Hill Show. "I think we know what the formula is, we’ve just got to do a better job of it."

RECORDS: New England Patriots (1-3) vs. New Orleans Saints (2-2)

ODDS: New England is a 1.5-point favorite vs. the Saints

GAME TIME: Sunday, October 8th, 2023 at 1 p.m. ET

LOCATION:  Gillette Stadium - Foxborough, MA

TV/RADIO: CBS, WEEI

THE FINAL WORD: Offensive coordinator Bill O'Brien had Jones' back, heading into Week 5:

"Mac is here today," O'Brien said. "He’s working very hard to get back on track. And we have a lot of belief in Mac. Mac’s a battler. He’s a competitor.”

---