Van Pelt's Creativity is Key as Patriots Face Jaguars in London

As we move past the Patriots' loss to the Texans, it's time to focus on what lies ahead: a crucial matchup against the Jaguars in London. While there's been plenty of debate surrounding Drake Maye's debut performance, I remain firm in my analysis after gathering insights from respected voices like Greg Cosell and Chris Simms. Evaluating Maye's performance one game at a time, the Texans game is in the rearview mirror, and now, with 11 games remaining, the focus shifts to the next challenge.

One thing that everyone should agree on is this: offensive coordinator Alex Van Pelt needs to get more inventive with his playcalling. This Sunday’s game against Jacksonville is not just important; it's critical for both teams. For head coach Doug Pederson, it's a must-win to avoid hot-seat conversations, while Jerod Mayo’s “program” in New England is at risk of spiraling even further off track.

Of course, Maye’s debut came with a few understandable limitations. The offensive line was reshuffled yet again, and Houston’s defense is notoriously fast. Van Pelt was right to prioritize getting Maye comfortable in his first NFL start — a conservative game plan was expected under the circumstances. You can't throw a young QB into the fire too soon, and Van Pelt acknowledged that this cautious approach was part of the plan. "Getting him comfortable in his first start was most important for us," Van Pelt told reporters.

However, Van Pelt may have played it too safe, leaving Maye without a single designed run, which would typically be part of most offensive scripts to ease a young quarterback into the game. With the Patriots now sitting at 1-5, it’s time for Van Pelt to expand his playbook, especially when facing a Jacksonville team ripe for exploitation.

This matchup against the Jaguars presents a golden opportunity for the Patriots to get creative. Despite boasting defensive talent like Arik Armstead, Josh Hines-Allen, Travon Walker, and the potential return of cornerback Tyson Campbell, the Jaguars defense has been a weak spot this season. They currently rank dead last in both overall defensive DVOA and pass defense DVOA, though they’re more effective against the run, ranking 16th.

To be fair to Jacksonville’s new defensive coordinator Ryan Nielsen, his unit has faced a gauntlet of tough quarterbacks like Tua Tagovailoa, Josh Allen, C.J. Stroud, and a red-hot Caleb Williams. Yet even with that context, Nielsen’s defense has been riddled with penalties, blown coverages, and missed assignments, all signs of a team still adjusting to a new scheme after Mike Caldwell was fired. The Jags finished 2023 ranked 10th in defensive DVOA, but that stability has evaporated.

In theory, this should be a chance for the Patriots to take advantage of a disorganized defense. But one obstacle remains: New England’s offense lacks the kind of creativity that other teams have used to exploit Jacksonville’s defense. That’s where Van Pelt needs to step up.

If the Patriots are going to avoid a long flight home with a 1-6 record, Van Pelt must dig deep into his bag of tricks. It’s time to get creative, whether it’s through dynamic play designs, unpredictable formations, or incorporating more RPO (run-pass option) packages to maximize Maye’s mobility. Jacksonville’s defense is struggling, and this is a golden opportunity for Van Pelt to show that New England can still keep their season alive.
The Patriots' offense, led by coordinator Alex Van Pelt, needs to get creative against the struggling Jaguars defense in a must-win game in London. After a conservative game plan in Drake Maye’s debut, Van Pelt must dig deeper into his playbook to take advantage of Jacksonville’s weaknesses.Heading into their Week 7 matchup in London, the Patriots are at a crossroads. A creative offensive approach from Alex Van Pelt is essential if they hope to expose the Jaguars’ weak defense and turn their season around. Here's why Van Pelt needs to get creative — and how this matchup could decide the fate of both teams.