The New England Patriots will be starting backup QB Brian Hoyer in this game, which usually means fewer pass attempts and more rushing.
The Patriots are a giant 9.5-point underdog this week, likely leading to an extreme passing game script.
THE BLITZ projects Hunter Henry to be much more involved in his team’s pass game this week (11.2% projected Target Share) than he has been this year (5.3% in games he has played).
Hunter Henry has posted a colossal 42.0 air yards per game since the start of last season: 91st percentile among TEs.
Hunter Henry has been among the top pass-game tight ends since the start of last season, averaging an impressive 33.0 yards per game while ranking in the 79th percentile.
Cons
THE BLITZ projects the New England Patriots as the 7th-least pass-centric team in the NFL (context-neutralized) at the present time with a 58.9% pass rate.
THE BLITZ projects the Patriots to run the 2nd-least offensive plays on the slate this week with 62.6 plays, based on their underlying tendencies and game dynamics.
The New England Patriots have called the 3rd-least plays in football since the start of last season, totaling just 56.6 plays per game.
Hunter Henry’s sure-handedness have declined this year, with his Completion% shrinking from 69.6% to 61.8%.
Hunter Henry’s pass-game efficiency has declined this season, totaling a measly 5.50 yards-per-target vs a 8.55 rate last season.