How Jerod Mayo’s Patriots Can Turn Their Season Around by Following Washington Commanders’ Playbook

Nidheesh | 12/10/2024
Jerod Mayo

The Patriots and the Commanders are at opposite ends of the spectrum ahead of Week VI NFL matchups. While the Commanders, under coach Dan Quinn, have recorded 4 wins in 5 games, the Patriots, led by new coach Jerod Mayo, have only managed 1 win from 5 games.

Adding to the Patriots’ worries, they had a disastrous 2023-24 season, recording just 4 wins in 17 games. The Commanders shared a similar fate, with 4 wins and 13 losses. 

What has turned things around for the Commanders this season? The first factor is their improved offensive line, resulting in high scoring. Interestingly, the Commanders have scored the most points among the 32 NFL teams, with a tally of 155 points, averaging 31 per game.

After starting the season with a 20-37 loss to the Buccaneers, the Commanders bounced back with a 21-18 win over the Giants, a 38-33 win over the Bengals, a 42-14 blowout against the Cardinals, and a 34-13 victory over the Browns in Week 5.

Jayden Daniels’s impressive performance has also been a big factor, leading to high scores and keeping opponents in check.

A high-scoring team can always put pressure on opponents and maintain a psychological edge. This is what the Commanders have achieved in their last 3 games.

In contrast, the Patriots are among the lowest in terms of scoring, with just 62 points from 5 games, averaging 12.4 points per game. Their highest (20 points) came against the Seahawks, where they lost the game 20-23. The Patriots have also conceded 102 points, compared to the Commanders’ 115.

Despite being known for their defense, the Patriots need their offense to fire up under Jerod Mayo if they want to end their losing streak. Notably, the QB race between Jacoby Brissett and Drake Maye has now been settled, with Mayo choosing Maye for the Sunday game against the Texans.

Although there is talk of a rookie leading the Patriots, they can take confidence from how Daniels has boosted the Commanders this season. The aggression shown in scoring by the Commanders is a key area the Patriots should address.

Will the Patriots follow the Commanders’ high-scoring strategy? It’s clear that their lack of scoring is a major issue, and the Commanders’ model has successfully tackled this, resulting in a winning streak.

Post Edited By: Nidhi
Dan Quinn Jayden Daniels Jerod Mayo New England Patriots Washington Commanders

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Nidheesh

A passionate sports buff, Nidheesh is in his eighth year in the media industry. While he prefers to watch the sport without picking favorite personalities, he loves Tom Brady, Patrick Mahomes, Peyton Manning and Aaron Rodgers - for the intensity and competitiveness they bring into the game. He was a fan of The New England Patriots during The Tom Brady era, and is curiously following Kansas City Chiefs quest to achieve a new dynasty. An avid consumer of podcasts and interviews, Nidheesh enjoys watching The Pat McAfee Show, Colin Cowherd Podcast, Let’s Go Podcast and Omaha Production, led by Peyton Manning. He is also interested in exploring the personal lives of players, to know them better as a human. From Gisele Bündchen to Taylor Swift - He follows what’s up with the celebrities and keeps a track on their journey. Outside work, Nidheesh enjoys watching films, reading good books, listening to his tracklist, traveling to mountains and his most favorite hobby is walking.

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