New England Patriots

3 worries for New England Patriots fans in Week 4

Updated Mar. 4, 2020 12:46 p.m. ET

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Jimmy Garoppolo (10) of the New England Patriots. Credit: David Butler II-USA TODAY Sports

Going into every week, New England Patriots fans must acknowledge they have some worries. It’s best to get these out of the system before flipping on the television Sunday afternoon.

With that in mind, here are three worries for New England Patriots fans in Week 4’s hosting of the Buffalo Bills:

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3. Quarterback health (and depth)

The No. 1 worry for Patriots fans this weekend that we must clear out of the way first is the questionable health at quarterback, and in turn, another week of paper-thin depth at the most vital position.

We know for a fact that Rex Ryan has been dreaming about this all week: pressuring an inexperienced quarterback from all angles early and often in this AFC East tilt. Unlike Tom Brady, who has been studying and playing against complex blitz packages for over a decade and a half, both Jimmy Garoppolo and Jacoby Brissett are inexperienced when it comes to recognizing NFL schemes and adjusting.

The hope is that both Garoppolo and Brissett will be healthy and ready to go in Week 4. But an accompanying worry is that one won’t be able to suit up at all, which would mean another week with Julian Edelman being a snap away from taking over the reins of the offense.

Let’s switch focus to the Bills’ offense for the next worry entering Week 4…

LeSean McCoy (25) of the Buffalo Bills. Credit: Timothy T. Ludwig-USA TODAY Sports

2. LeSean McCoy and Tyrod Taylor running all over the field

The Bills may have the worst-ranked passing attack in all of football right now, but they are fully capable of winning games via the ground game. They did it just last week against a stiff Arizona front seven, with McCoy ripping off 110 yards and Taylor adding in some long runs of his own.

Of course, it all starts with the guys up front. We’ll be looking to Alan Branch and Malcom Brown to stuff McCoy in the first quarter, not letting the elusive ball carrier see much daylight.

In terms of defending Taylor, Jamie Collins will probably play some type of spy role in obvious passing downs. It worked well last week on his pluck of Brock Osweiler over the middle of the field, and it could work well against on Sunday in the event of Taylor tucking and running for a first down.

To sum up this worry, it’s up to guys like Branch and Brown up front as well as the linebacking corps (headed by Collins) to prevent the worry of McCoy and Taylor torching the Patriots’ defense with their legs.

Last but not least is the worry that a confident, high-riding Patriots team will…

Bill Belichick, head coach of the New England Patriots. Credit: David Butler II-USA TODAY Sports

1. Fall victim to a trap game

As a Patriots fan, this is an exciting time. Despite the absence of a Brady throw or even a Rob Gronkowski catch this season, the team is 3-0 after beating the heavily-favored Cardinals in Week 1, a pesky divisional opponent the following Sunday and an above-average AFC team.

However, this is not the time to get complacent by any means. Sure, a loss in Week 4 wouldn’t be the end of the world (many expected a 2-2 start before Brady’s return), but divisional wins are huge in terms of both the end-of-year standings/tiebreakers as well as momentum in general. There’s nothing better than beating a divisional rival, especially one coached by Rex Ryan.

So Patriots fans should be prepared for their team to underperform to some degree in this game. At least, this writer must acknowledge that worry since the majority of Musket Fire’s content this week has been so positive.

Stay tuned tomorrow morning for another edition of our Sunday Morning Thoughts piece in which the writer sketches out his thoughts while lazing in bed on a lazy Sunday morning.

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