Kevin McSports

Pats looking for D to step up vs. Jets

Pats looking for D to step up vs. Jets

Mac Jones showed a lot in Week 1. More challenges await (Photo by Louriann Mardo-Zayat)

 


By BUNKY McCOY


• Yes, Mac Jones passed his first NFL test. Yet that wasn’t the biggest takeaway from the
Patriots’ season-opening loss to the Dolphins.


Even after Damien Harris’ ill-timed fumble, Bill Belichick’s defense had a chance to give his
rookie QB a shot to play the Hero Spot and give the Foxboro Faithful even more reasons to
purchase a No. 10 jersey. Instead, Miami melted away the final 3:31 of the game and forced
New England to burn through all three timeouts before the two-minute warning.

Last time we checked, the Dolphins aren’t exactly a high-powered group on offense. Yet there
were the ‘Fins, executing in crunch time and getting the drop on the Pats in their own building and

hand the Hoodie a stinging loss. Blame it on a defense that didn’t respond to the challenge after

Mac stood tall on a day where he took a lickin’ but kept on tickin’.

Mac Jones survived his share of pressure vs. Miami (Photo: Louriann Mardo-Zayat) 


• Remember when Belichick would outsmart the opposing coach? That luster appears to be
Gone Baby Gone.


• Raise your hand if you thought the Red Sox would have something to play for heading into the
final homestand of the regular season. Then, again they looked like Bishop Hendricken back in July.


• Speaking of the Sox, can we just fast forward to next weekend’s series against the Yankees at
Fenway Park?


QUIZ OF THE WEEK: Name the four Red Sox players who have been named World Series MVP
since the team’s first title of this current century. (Answer near the bottom of the column.)


• How can it not pain Patriots fans to see Tom Brady and Rob Gronkowski hook up for two
touchdowns on opening night.


• Look up bizarre in the dictionary and you’ll find a picture of Randy Edsall and the damaged UConn football program which somehow looks like a better fit in the Patriot League.

• Only in America can you get fired from your job two games into the season and pocket a cool
$10 million as part of the buyout clause. See the USC football program and Clay Helton.

• In case you haven’t been paying attention, the New England Revolution went into the
weekend with the best record in Major League Soccer. Too early for Robert Kraft to start
planning a parade around Foxboro Common?


• Is it me or does that final sports betting segment from WPRO’s KevinMcSports Hour at 6-7 p.m. weekdays deserve the Ole Scribe disclose his win-loss record from time to time.?


• Sticking with ‘PRO and point spreads, I’ve got to meet this Bags Munman character, aka the
KevinMcSports Hour’s answer to the “The Swami.” I can’t quite put my finger on it, but I feel
like I’ve heard Munman’s voice somewhere before.


• Kelly Bates is out as a meteorologist at Ch. 10, a parting of the ways that hasn’t sat well with
her loyal fanbase. Come to think of it, who knew local weather people had fanbases?


• LINE OF THE WEEK Part I comes from Derek Jeter when he took to the stage for his Hall of
Fame induction ceremony: “Thank you to all the baseball writers – all but one of you – who
voted for me.”


• LINE OF THE WEEK II comes from Barstool Sports President David Portnoy in response to the
“Tax the Rich” dress worn by New York Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez at the Met
Gala: “But first I’m gonna go have the time of my life partying with them all at the most
extravagant over-the-top party of the year that is essentially a celebration of richness.”


• A politician not taking questions from the press following a press conference where he
announces he’s running for governor? Say it ain’t so, Seth Magaziner.


• Last time I checked, no one from Gov. Dan McKee’s staff resigned this week.


• Good news right out of my Uncle Bunky’s playbook: The former Showcase Cinema at the
Warwick Mall will be making way for Apple Cinemas. And you thought COVID killed the movie
theater industry.


• Huge Mike Stephens fan here, especially as he rose from city recreation director to this surprising role as Providence Police officer. What was Mayor Jorge Elorza thinking anything? Stephens probably thought he had it tough when officiating a college basketball game with Jim Calhoun or Jim Boeheim on the sidelines.


• It’s college basketball preview magazine forecast time. One thought: Nate Watson gets no respect.

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