Patriots
“Lots of people right here really feel that we gave rather a lot to that group, so this win completely means greater than others.”
Jakobi Meyers’ social media profile on “X” has been frozen in time for the final seven months.
The 26-year-old broad receiver’s final publish on the web site got here on March 15, lower than 10 minutes after reviews first sprouted up that the Patriots signed JuJu Smith-Schuster to function Meyers’ alternative on New England’s offense.
“Chilly world lol,” Meyers tweeted.
Meyers was New England’s most efficient receiver in 2022 as Mac Jones’ main security blanket, main the group in targets (96), receiving yards (804), and touchdowns (6).
However New England opted to let the undrafted free agent stroll this previous offseason, with Meyers ultimately signing a three-year, $33 million contract with the Raiders.
Only a day after Meyers put pen to paper, New England handed an similar contract to Smith-Schuster, who they believed may supply a better upside as a poised route-runner and a yards-after-catch machine subsequent to Jones.
However via six weeks of the 2023 NFL season, Meyers has had the final chuckle.
The Raiders’ slot wideout made probably the most of his first assembly towards his former membership on Sunday, reeling in 5 catches on seven targets en path to 61 receiving yards and a landing in Vegas’ 21-17 win over the Patriots.
In a season the place little has gone proper for Invoice Belichick and the Patriots, the choice to let Meyers stroll so as to usher in Smith-Schuster has loomed giant over New England’s offensive futility.
Smith-Schuster missed Sunday’s loss attributable to a concussion. However even when the Tremendous Bowl LVII champion has been out on the gridiron with Jones, Smith-Schuster’s lack of explosive acceleration made him a web unfavourable, particularly out of the slot.
By 5 video games, Smith-Schuster has reeled in 14 passes, however for under 86 whole yards and 0 touchdowns.
Meyers practically equaled Smith-Schuster’s year-long yardage on Sunday, with the reliable receiver now as much as 30 catches, 335 yards via the air and 4 touchdowns in 5 video games in Vegas.
For these protecting monitor, these 335 receiving yards are greater than the mixed yardage for New England’s projected prime wideouts in Smith-Schuster and DeVante Parker (136) up to now this season.
Meyers is on tempo for 85 catches, 949 yards and 11 whole touchdowns, all lofty stat traces that will be welcomed on a woeful New England offense that simply scored its first offensive landing in 12 quarters of soccer on Sunday night.
Meyers let his play do the speaking towards the Patriots, with the NC State product opting to take the excessive street each time the chance has been introduced to twist the knife towards a Patriots group now mired in a 1-5 begin to the 2023 season.
“If something, it made me really feel unhealthy for them as a result of like I stated, I obtained a whole lot of pals, a whole lot of household over there,” Meyers instructed reporters earlier this week of New England’s lopsided loss to the Saints in Week 5. “So I need them to play their greatest ball. I need us to play our greatest ball. It’s actually about inspiring youngsters and all people else that’s watching. I’m gonna go on the market and put my greatest foot ahead, and I hope they do the identical.”
Even after Vegas’ victory over the Patriots, Meyers opted to focus his consideration on his present teammate (and one other ex-Patriot) in Brian Hoyer, who led the Raiders to the win after changing an injured Jimmy Garoppolo within the second half.
“That’s a big-time throw. A giant-time state of affairs,” Meyers stated of Hoyer’s 48-yard completion to rookie Tre Tucker within the third quarter. “That sport meant rather a lot to him, too. Brian was with me over with the Patriots, too. So I perceive what that second meant to him. I’m blissful for him. I’m blissful that he obtained that probability.”
It stays unlikely that even a veteran journeyman like Hoyer would be capable of spark a dysfunctional Patriots offense stricken by a porous O-line, an absence of weapons, and ill-timed penalties.
However a confirmed pass-catcher like Meyers? It’s arduous to miss simply how a lot his presence has been missed on a Patriots offense the place each drive looks like an arduous enterprise.
“Lots of people right here really feel that we gave rather a lot to that group, so this win completely means greater than others,” Meyers told The Athletic’s Vic Tafur postgame.
As for any parting phrases for Belichick?
“Nah, I didn’t get to see him,” Meyers stated. “Nevertheless it’s all good, although.”
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