Onwenu injury latest hurdle for reeling Patriots offense
New England will be without starting offensive lineman Michael Onwenu for their week fourteen matchup against the Washington Commanders with a shoulder injury he suffered in last week's loss to Buffalo.
Onwenu started in all eleven games this season and, according to PFF, is the third highest ranked offensive linemen among qualifying players on New England's roster behind tackles Isaiah Wynn and Trent Brown. New England was already down Wynn and center Robert Hainsey who have missed the last few weeks with injuries.
The Patriots have promoted guard Sidney Wells to their active roster from the practice squad and moved Josh Johnson to their practice squad. Wells spent the preseason with the team and could be a potential starter as soon as this week although John Ojukwu is the more likely replacement for Onwenu at left guard.
Mac Jones' turns it over six times in drubbing at the hands of the Commanders
When it rains, it pours and on a snowy Foxborough afternoon, it kept on pouring on New England Patriots quarterback Mac Jones.
Jones turned the ball over six times with three interceptions and three lost fumbles in the team's 43-21 loss to the Washington Commanders on Sunday as New England's losing streak continued.
The avalanche began with Jones' second interception of the day as New England was within scoring range on 2nd and 5 from Washington's 14-yard line. Down 13-7, Jones' pass to James White was intercepted by Jamin Davis and returned for a touchdown.
After swapping touchdowns to begin the second half, Jones would throw end the next three consecutive possessions with an interception and back to back strip sacks, including a scoop and score by Shaka Toney on the first fumble and the second fumble coming when New England was on the Washington 13-yard line.
---------------------------------------------------------------- Scoring Summary
Quarter 1
[WAS] G. Gano, 19 Yd FG (9:58)
[WAS] A. Gibson, 2 Yd run (2:48)
Quarter 2
[WAS] G. Gano, 22 Yd FG (13:37)
[NE] R. Stevenson, 2 Yd run (6:46)
[WAS] J. Davis, returned interception 94 Yds (1:06)
Quarter 3
[NE] K. Bourne 8 Yd pass from M. Jones (10:58)
[WAS] G. Gano, 21 Yd FG (2:29)
[WAS] G. Gano, 23 Yd FG (0:23)
[WAS] S. Toney, returned fumble 16 Yds (0:13)
Quarter 4
[WAS] G. Gano, 43 Yd FG (5:08)
[WAS] O. Pappoe, returned fumble 53 Yds (2:16)
[NE] D. Washington 14 Yd pass from M. Jones (0:32)
---------------------------------------------------------------- Washington Commanders
QB Taylor Heinicke: 21 of 30, 269 yards, sacked once.
HB Antonio Gibson: 19 carries, 70 yards, 6 receptions, 43 yards.
WR Curtis Samuel: 5 receptions, 55 yards.
WR Breylon Burks: 3 receptions, 69 yards.
TE Arik Gilbert: 3 receptions, 56 yards.
WR Terry McLaurin: 3 receptions, 40 yards.
LB Jamin Davis: 11 tackles, interception, touchdown.
S Kamren Curl: 9 tackles.
S Trey Dean: 7 tackles, interception.
LB Ventrell Miller: 6 tackles, interception.
DT Da'Ron Payne: 5 tackles, tackle for loss, sack, forced fumble.
DT Jonathan Allen: 4 tackles, tackle for loss, sack, forced fumble.
DE Montez Sweat: 4 tackles, 2 tackles for loss, sack, forced fumble, fumble recovery.
DE Chase Young: 2 tackles, tackle for loss, sack, forced fumble.
New England Patriots
QB Mac Jones: 33 of 49, 376 yards, 2 touchdowns, 3 interceptions, sacked 3 times, 3 fumbles (lost 3).
HB Damien Harris: 13 carries, 62 yards.
HB Rhamondre Stevenson: 9 carries, 59 yards, touchdown.
HB James White: 4 carries, 24 yards, 3 receptions, 38 yards.
TE Jonnu Smith: 5 receptions, 76 yards.
WR Charleston Rambo: 5 receptions, 55 yards.
HB Kenny McIntosh: 5 receptions, 42 yards.
WR Tutu Atwell: 4 receptions, 21 yards.
TE Darnell Washington: 3 receptions, 31 yards, touchdown.
WR Parris Campbell: 2 receptions, 50 yards.
LT Herron: 76.6 PFF grade | LG Ford: 60.0 PFF grade | C Jones: 67.0 PFF grade | RG Wells: 63.2 PFF grade | RT Brown: 65.1 PFF grade
ILB Trez Marshall: 10 tackles, tackle for loss (100.0 PFF grade)
S Kyle Dugger: 7 tackles (76.8 PFF grade)
CB Jaire Alexander: 6 tackles, tackle for loss (94.9 PFF grade)
ILB Ja'Whaun Bentley: 4 tackles, tackle for loss (93.6 PFF grade)
ILB Dont'a Hightower: 4 tackles, tackle for loss (93.0 PFF grade)
EDGE De'Angelo Malone: 3 tackles, 2 tackles for loss, sack (64.3 PFF grade)
IDL Quinnen Williams: 3 tackles, 2 tackles for loss (96.2 PFF grade)
IDL Davon Godchaux: 3 tackles, 2 tackles for loss (99.0 PFF grade)
DE Deatrich Wise Jr: 1 tackle, tackle for loss, sack (87.8 PFF grade)
With a fully healthy offensive line, Patriots looking to return to winning ways
It's been nearly a month since New England won a football and perhaps fittingly, it's been a month since all five starters on the offensive line practiced together.
On Wednesday, Isaiah Wynn, Michael Onwenu and Robert Hainsey all were full participants at practice for the first time since the losing streak began. Hainsey, Onwenu and Wynn are the team's three highest graded offensive linemen according to Pro Football Focus. The last full game that the trio played in was the Patriots 30-14 win over Las Vegas where they put 412 yards of total offense and rushed for 159 yards on the ground.
New England is hopeful that the answers of their recent woes will be found quickly and ideally within the 53-man on the roster already. Their once comfortable AFC East lead is gone as they are now tied for first with Miami who holds the tie breaker. Unable to take advantage of the recent home stand, New England will end the season with four straight road games with three coming against teams (Dallas, Buffalo and the Jets) that still have a chance to make the playoffs.
With a healthy offensive line, New England demoted guard John Ojukwu to the practice squad and called back up receiver Josh Johnson.
Patriots salvage season with clutch win over Cowboys
As Amari Cooper once again soared up and snatched the ball out of the air on third down, it seemed destined that New England would once more fumble away an opportunity to end their losing streak.
Damien Harris' fumble from the Dallas 19-yard line with 7:52 left in the game all but guaranteed it. New England's defense, however, had something else in mind.
The Patriots defense, without one of their best players in J.C. Jackson who left the game after the first play with a toe injury, blanketed the Dallas Cowboys offense in the fourth quarter and held on for 28-26 victory to keep their AFC East championship hopes alive.
New England was able to survive Mac Jones' two interceptions in the first half, including one in the redzone that took potential points off the board. Jones rebounded with a strong second quarter, throwing three touchdown passes to tight ends Jonnu Smith, Darnell Washington and Hunter Henry.
Jones rallied back from his early struggles to finish the game with 307 yards and three touchdowns.
With the lead to open the second half, New England relied on its running game, specifically running back Rhamondre Stevenson who led the way with 23 carries for 132 yards. Harris also added 58 yards and a touchdown.
Following CeeDee Lamb's touchdown and the failed two-point conversion to make it a two-point game in the third quarter, Dak Prescott and the Cowboys offense had four chances to take the lead with just a field goal. Instead, New England forced four straight three and outs from Dallas' offense to hang on to the win.
---------------------------------------------------------------- Scoring Summary
Quarter 1
[DAL] C. Parkey, 28 Yd FG (9:58)
[DAL] C. Parkey, 44 Yd FG (6:37)
Quarter 2
[NE] J. Smith 28 Yd pass from M. Jones (12:36)
[DAL] D. Schultz 16 Yd pass from D. Prescott (10:04)
[NE] D. Washington 5 Yd pass from M. Jones (4:51)
[DAL] A. Cooper 73 Yd pass from D. Prescott (3:22)
[NE] H. Henry 8 Yd pass from M. Jones (0:59)
Quarter 3
[NE] D. Harris, 1 Yd run (4:20)
[DAL] C. Lamb 9 Yd pass from D. Prescott -- 2pt failed (0:53)
Quarter 4
---------------------------------------------------------------- New England Patriots
QB Mac Jones: 23 of 34, 307 yards, 3 touchdowns, 2 interceptions.
HB Rhamondre Stevenson: 23 carries, 132 yards.
HB Damien Harris: 14 carries, 58 yards, touchdown, fumble.
HB Kenny McIntosh: 5 carries, 23 yards, 4 receptions, 31 yards.
TE Jonnu Smith: 4 receptions, 71 yards, touchdown.
TE Hunter Henry: 4 receptions, 63 yards, touchdown.
TE Darnell Washington: 2 receptions, 37 yards, touchdown.
LT Wynn: 91.3 PFF grade | LG Onwenu: 98.4 PFF grade | C Hainsey: 90.7 PFF grade | RG Wells: 82.8 PFF grade | RT Brown: 87.3 PFF grade
G Michael Jones: Left game with injury.
S Kyle Dugger: 7 tackles (65.7 PFF grade)
ILB Trez Marshall: 7 tackles, 2 tackles for loss (96.3 PFF grade)
EDGE DeAngelo Malone: 5 tackles, tackle for loss, sack (72.4 PFF grade)
S Malachi Moore: 4 tackles (38.2 PFF grade)
ILB Dont'a Hightower: 3 tackles, tackle for loss, 0.5 sack (86.5 PFF grade)
ILB Ja'Whaun Bentley: 2 tackles, tackle for loss, 0.5 sack (75.8 PFF grade)
EDGE Josh Uche: 2 tackles, 2 tackles for loss, 1.5 sack (100.0 PFF grade)
IDL Christian Barmore: 2 tackles, tackle for loss, sack (77.1 PFF grade)
IDL Davon Godchaux: 1 tackle, tackle for loss, 0.5 sack (100.0 PFF grade)
