Chaisson has been a revelation in his inaugural campaign with the Patriots. He's been everything they could've hoped for and more since inking him to a one-year, $3 million "prove it" deal this past March. An 11-2 New England club went on bye atop the AFC standings and with its first division title since 2019 firmly in reach. Chaisson has unexpectedly been at the center of it all.
Over the last few years, the Patriots have lost every member of the dynasty team either by cutting them outright or letting them leave in free agency, becoming the official sign that the best days are in the rearview mirror. That has led fans to hope some of them will eventually return after spending time with other teams, including a beloved cornerback who remains unsigned this season.
One is punt returner Marcus Jones, who now possesses the highest punt return average in NFL history. And that's not even half his story. Jones is also a top slot cornerback, and though he stands only 5'8" tall, he plays much bigger. He's one of the Patriots' top three cornerbacks. Yet, as a punt returner, he exhibits amazing explosiveness. He can take a punt to the house on any given play. And when he does, it's a game-changer.
Being an Atlanta Falcons fan is a curse. This Thanksgiving weekend may have been one of the best weekends of football from the entire league, from massive upsets to incredible performances throughout the weekend, the NFL showed why it is the preeminent sports league in the country. But if you're a Falcons fan, there's always that tinge of disappointment surrounding the weekend because this lowly franchise can't figure out how to finish a very winnable game against the Jets.
That aspect of Henry's offense was seldom more clearly manifested than in the 26-20 away win against the Cincinnati Bengals. In that tilt, Henry provided seven receptions for 115 yards and a touchdown. It was his first 100-yard receiving game this season, and it couldn't have come at a better time for his team. Hunter Henry is consistently good for Drake Maye and the Patriots
However, they nearly beat the Lions last week in a game that went into overtime, with QB Jameis Winston throwing for nearly 400 yards and two touchdowns in Detroit. It looked like that could be a problem for New England's defense, but they might run into bigger trouble now that rookie quarterback Jaxson Dart has cleared concussion protocol and will be the starter on Monday Night.
Throughout the 2024 offseason, it was clear the New England Patriots were going to use the third-overall selection in the upcoming NFL Draft on a quarterback. After the failed experiment with Mac Jones, whom the team picked in the first round in 2021, it was time to find the next franchise quarterback after Tom Brady, and they were fortunate to have a list of options in their grasp.