A.J. Brown’s high ankle sprain in Week 1, suffered right here in the Emerald City during the season-opening loss to our Seahawks, was initially pegged as a devastating six-week blow for the Patriots. Now, just weeks later, the talk out of Foxborough is that his return isn’t a “rescue mission” but merely a “bonus,” all thanks to some unexpected receiver production after our boys handed them that L.
They Thought They Could Tread Water, But Our ‘Hawks Made a Splash
Remember that Week 1 showdown? Our Seahawks absolutely brought the heat. When Brown went down, everyone figured the Patriots’ receiving corps would struggle, maybe just barely tread water without their star. Turns out, things were “struggles early on,” as the source puts it, but the last two weeks have seen some other guys step up. Romeo Doubs popped off in their win at Buffalo last week, and then on Sunday, DeMario Douglas, Efton Chism III, and Kyle Williams went off in a 45-17 blowout against the Las Vegas Raiders. Suddenly, the Patriots are sitting at 3-2, with a supposedly “favorable schedule ahead,” and they’re acting like they’ve “weathered the storm.” Sounds like they got a little wake-up call in Seattle, didn’t they?
Building Trust After the Brown Out (and the ‘Hawks Win)
Patriots Head Coach Mike Vrabel even said there’s a “chance” Brown could be back at practice this week, sooner than many thought. But the vibe? It’s all about how Drake Maye got “comfortable with his other receivers” and “gain trust” during Brown’s absence. So, our Week 1 victory might have inadvertently pushed their offense to develop some depth. Vrabel sounded pretty pleased, saying the unit “was productive yesterday, they all contributed.” DeMario Douglas snagged a pair of touchdown passes, Kyle Williams hauled in three balls for 91 yards and a touchdown after coming into the game with just two catches for 44 yards on the season, and Efton Chism III kept showing he can make plays. Williams, a second-year ‘X’ receiver, even said, “It felt great. It’s something I needed. But at this point, I’m just trying to be consistent.” Good for him, but let’s be real, a lot of this started because our Seahawks made them fight for it in Week 1.
So, while the Patriots are trying to spin Brown’s impending return as a luxury, we know the real story. Our Seahawks made them earn that depth. They’re facing the Jets in Week 6, looking to keep that “momentum rolling.” But no matter what happens, that Week 1 loss to the Emerald City’s finest clearly set a different tone for their season. Let’s see if their “bonus” actually pays off or if they remember the pain our defense dished out.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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