Game notebook: Snap counts, Stat Lines, Fantasy point totals, and more

Snap counts

Offense: 70 total snaps

Quarterbacks

Bailey Zappe: (70) 100%

Bailey Zappe started his second NFL game on Sunday and helped lead the Patriots to a 38-15 win. New England announced QB Mac Jones would be inactive, indicating it will be Bailey Zappe and Garret Gilbert. Gilbert didn’t see the field Sunday; it was the Bailey Zappe show. If Mac Jones can’t start Monday night, Zappe will continue to start.

Running backs

Rhamondre Stevenson: (54) 90%

Kevin Harris: (12) 17%

Pierce Strong Jr.: (4) 6%

With the absence of starting running back Damien Harris, second-year back Rhamondre Stevenson took the majority of snaps for the second straight week. Stevenson was on the field 90 percent of the time, his highest as a Patriot. Kevin Harris made his NFL debut and was on the field for 12 snaps, carrying the ball three times for five yards. Furthermore, the fourth-round running back Pierce Strong Jr. played one snap, with one carry for five yards.

Wide receivers

Jakobi Meyers: (57) 81%

DeVante Parker: (55) 79%

Tyquan Thornton: (40) 57%

Kendrick Bourne: (4) 6%

Jakobi Meyers led the Patriots in snaps with 57, and DeVante Parker wasn’t far behind with 55. Since Nelson Agholor was inactive, which provided a big opportunity for rookie Tyquan Thornton, who played 47 snaps and scored two touchdowns. Meanwhile, Kendrick Bourne left the game after four snaps with a toe injury.

Tight ends

Hunter Henry: (68) 97%

Jonnu Smith: (30) 43%

Jonnu Smith returned to the lineup this week after injuring his ankle in Week 4. He played 30 snaps, catching two balls for 67 yards, including a 53-yard gain. Hunter Henry played a season-high 68 snaps and had four receptions for 61 yards and a touchdown.

Offensive line

Cole Strange: (70) 100%

Michael Onwenu: (70) 100%

Trent Brown: (70) 100%

David Andrews: (70) 100%

Marcus Cannon: (46) 66%

Isaiah Wynn: (42) 60%

Cole Strange, Micheal Onwenu, Trent Brown, and David Andrews played the full game. In contrast, Isaiah Wynn continued to struggle at right tackle and was benched in the middle of the game for Marcus Cannon. Cannon played 46 snaps which is a season-high for him.

Defense – 70 snaps

Defensive line

Deatrich Wise Jr: (59) 84%

Davon Godchaux: (37) 53%

Daniel Ekuale: (26) 37%

Sam Roberts: (22) 31%

Carl Davis: (22) 31%

Christian Barmore: (20) 29%

Deatrich Wise Jr. led the defensive line with 59 snaps, battling through a shoulder injury. Wise Jr. has constantly led the line in snaps played. Godchaux is next up at 37, followed by Ekuale at 26. Barmore left the game in the first half with a knee injury after 20 plays. That led to increased usage for seventh-round pick Sam Roberts.

Linebackers

Matthew Judon: (49) 70%

Jahlani Tavai: (44) 63%

Anfernee Jennings: (41) 59%

Ja’Whaun Bently: (31) 44%

Mack Wilson Sr.: (29) 41%

Raekwon McMillan: (24) 34%

DaMarcus Michell: (5) 7%

Although Matthew Judon did not start the game, he led the linebackers playing 70% of defensive snaps. Jahlani Tavai’s usage has increased weekly, as he was behind Judon in playing 63% of the snaps. Jennings had a big game as well. When the Patriots went with their big base package, Jennings excelled and was disruptive in the backfield. Mack Wilson Sr. playing time also increased from last week,

Defensive backs

Devin McCourty:(61) 87%

Adrain Phillps: (56) 80%

Kyle Dugger: (52) 74%

Jalen Mills: (51) 73%

Myles Bryant: (50) 71%

Jack Jones: (46) 66%

Marcus Jones (34) 49%

Jabrill Peppers: (2) 3%

No surprise that captain Devin McCourty led the secondary with 61 snaps, with safeties Adrain Phillps and Kyle Dugger right behind him with 56 and 52, respectively. In the absence of Jonathon Jones, Jalen Mills took over at CB1, and surprisedly Myles Bryant was right behind him with 50 snaps. The rookies Jack and Marcus Jones continue to get involved on the defense playing 46 and 34 defensive snaps.

Did not play

QB Garret Gilbert, OL Chasen Hines, OL James Ferntz

Inactive Players

WR Nelson Agholor, S Joshuah Bledsoe, DT Lawrence Guy, RB Damien Harris, CB Jonathan Jones, QB Mac Jones, LB Josh Uche

Noteworthy statlines

Nick Folk ends his streak of 64 straight made field goals inside 50-yards.

Nick Folk missed a field goal. In the third quarter, up 24-6, Nick Folk lined up for a 43-yard field goal and missed wide. Folk owned the NFL record for most consecutive field goals under 50-yards with 64. His last miss was a 45-yard attempt during the 2020 season opener against Miami.

Belichick won his 324th game, tying George Halas for second place in all time wins

It seems as if Bill Belichick reaches another milestone every season, with this one coming in week 5. Belichick won his 324th career win, he now needs one win for sole place of second in the all-time on the list. Belichick is now only chasing Don Shula, who has 347 career wins.

Tyquan Thornton is the first Rookie to score a rushing and receiving TD in the same game since 1998.

Tyquan Thornton scored twice on Sunday, once on a two-yard completion, and then he scored on a 19-yard end in the third quarter. He is the first Patriots rookie with a rushing and receiving touchdown in the same game since RB Robert Edwards did it in 1998.

Rare Rookie to rookie connection.

When Bailey Zappe hit Tyquan Thornton in the endzone, it was the first time since week 18 of the 1993 season that there was a rookie-to-rookie passing touchdown connection. The last pair to do it was QB Drew Bledsoe and WR Vincent Brisby.

Bailey Zappe is the only QB to start his first two games with two wins and a 100+ QBR.

According to CBS, rookie quarterback Bailey Zappe is the only player in the Super Bowl era to start his first two NFL games with two wins and a 100+ quarterback rating in the first two games.

In the last two weeks, the Patriots outscored opponents 67-15.

Since Bailey Zappe took over, the Patriots are 2-0 and have outscored opponents 67-15. That’s an effort due to the offense and defense. Given they have faced poor teams in the Detroit Lions and Cleveland Browns.

The Patriots haven’t allowed a rushing touchdown from an opposing running back all season.

Since the start of the season, New England has not given up a rushing touchdown to an opposing running back. They have faced some talent at the position with Najee Harris, Aaron Jones, A.J. Dillion, Jamal Willaims, and Nick Chubb. The Patriots have allowed two rushing touchdowns, but those were to Quarterback Lamar Jackson and Wide receiver Christian Watson. The longest the Patriots have gone without allowing a running back to score on a touchdown run is eight games in 2019.

Where the Patriots lead in NFL

RB Rhamondre Stevenson is 10th in carries (87), 7th in yards (448), 10th in YPA (5.1), T4th Big runs (3), 4th in Broken tackles (12)

WR DeVante Parker is 2nd in the NFL in Yards per reception (21.2)

WR Nelson Agholor is ninth in yards per reception (16.1)

WR Jakobi Meyers is tenth in receiving yards per game (80.3)

TE Jonnu Smith has the second longest reception (53) and is sixth in 20+ yard plays (4)

LB Matthew Judon is tied for second in sacks (6) and tied for fourth in Quarterback hits (12)

CB Jalen Mills and Jack Jones are tied for ninth in interceptions (2)

K Nick Folk is tied for tenth in points scored (45)

CB Marcus Jones is fourth in yards per kick return (24.4)

Fantasy football Patriots point totals

RB Rhamondre Stevenson – 25.1 points

WR Tyquan Thornton – 21.3

QB Bailey Zappe – 18.36

TE Hunter Henry – 16.1

New England Patriots defense – 13.0

WR DeVante Parker – 10.4

WR Jakobi Meyers – 10.0

TE Jonnu Smith – 8.1

K Nick Folk – 7