Bedard's Breakdown - Offense: J.J. Taylor states his case to get real shot at third-down back

Ezekiel Elliott complicates things for Taylor, but Elliott is not a true third-down back. He can do it at times and against certain matchups, but the Patriots need all the speed and explosiveness it can get on the field. Taylor at least gives them that option. A potential trio, at times, of Tyquan Thornton, Demario Douglas and Taylor actually makes the Patriots somewhat quick.

Bill Belichick heaped praise on Taylor this week.

"J.J. has just gotten better every year," Belichick said. "He works extremely hard, very diligent guy. Had a couple good things in pass protection, which with his size is always a little bit of a challenge, but he’s a tough kid and strong for his size. So, that’s an area that he’s really grown in and just in general in the passing game. I thought he did a good job with the screens and some of the catch-and-run opportunities. He’s always been a good ball carrier and physical runner for his size. I mean he’s not little, he’s short, but he’s a thick, strong kid.

"His versatility, handling punts, playing on the kickoff team, playing on all three downs offensively, his versatility, he wasn’t able to do that three years ago. So, his versatility and his overall skill in the passing game, both of those have improved."

The Patriots should give Taylor a real shot for once. With the film against the Packers, they might not get him back if they choose to release him.

PLAYER RATINGS

QUARTERBACK

Thought Mac Jones did fine in this game - nothing more or less. Two really good throws with pressure to Kendrick Bourne. His scramble in the red zone was the right call and a smart play. Needs to connect on the Henry incompletion, but he may have been steering him away from contact - ok in the preseason. His batted pass needed to be thrown in the second window after the RPO. Want to see better touch from him in the corners of the end zone, and better throws to the left sideline. These are areas he needs to improve. ... Made slightly more plays than he missed with two throws against pressure, the TD scramble run and throws to Firkser, Pitts and Webb. But he had two poor throws to Tre Nixon, another was a hospital ball into triple coverage. Zappe is still slow processing in a traditional Patriots offense - he was better in Patricia's dumbed-down attack. Has to stop hanging onto the ball.

RUNNING BACK

Stevenson and Taylor were outstanding in this one. ... Harris didn't register. If he and Strong weren't draft picks, would they be on this team? Not a whole lot of flashes there.

RECEIVERS/TIGHT ENDS

Kendrick Bourne had the great leaping third-down catch, but his run and pass blocks may have been more impressive. If the Patriots knew Bourne would show up this much stronger, think they bother with Juju Smith-Schuster? I think I'd rather go with Bourne as the 2, or at least have them share time. ... DeVante Parker needs to come up with that Jones pass. Of course, the Patriots need someone with speed to run that route. ... Malik Cunningham did not show well as a receiver. Kayshon Boutte showed a tad more juice in this one. The TD was not special - it was terrible defense - but Boutte is much closer to being a WR fill-in than Cunningham, who seems like a practice squad candidate. ... Smith-Schuster has not flashed all summer. A little bit in the red zone. ... After dropping his chance in the first game, Matt Sokol showed well as a blocker in this one. ... Douglas flashed on his two plays, but appeared to suffer a right shoulder injury on his WR screen.

OFFENSIVE LINE

Overall, I still think the pad level of this group is subpar. Is it due to lack of practice time? Coaching? I can't tell you. But outside David Andrews, the pad level is poor. They were slightly better on duo blocks this week. ... Andrews and Trent Brown were solid in this one, despite the falls start from Brown. ... I can live with Atonio Mafi if he needs to start, or as the top guard backup. He has issues, but they are correctable. ... This was a very rough outing for Sidy Sow. He looked more like a guard in this one. Patriots need Conor McDermott and/or Calvin Anderson back. ... Mafi, Stueber, Reiff, Ferentz and Sow were a combined -26 in my grading. ... Reiff did handle some stunts well, which will enhance him in the eyes of the coaches.

THREE UP

JJ Taylor: He displayed a total all-around game. It's now or never for him.

Kendrick Bourne: Why does he need to be a supporting character? Why not give him a starring role with a QB who obviously likes him?

Rhamondre Stevenson: He's ready for the season.

THREE DOWN

Sidy Sow, James Ferentz, Riley Reiff: In the words of someone around here ... Stink, Stank, Stunk.