Patriots Add A.J. Brown for Super Bowl LX Rematch as NFL Opens 272-Game Season Wednesday
Updated
Updated · Yahoo Sports · Sep 9
Patriots Add A.J. Brown for Super Bowl LX Rematch as NFL Opens 272-Game Season Wednesday
2 articles · Updated · Yahoo Sports · Sep 9
Summary
A.J. Brown gives New England the true No. 1 outside target it lacked in last season’s Super Bowl loss to Seattle, with Bucky Brooks expecting Drake Maye to feed him early in one-on-one matchups.
3.4 yards per route against press coverage during Brown’s four years in Philadelphia underscores why Brooks sees him changing the Patriots’ offensive math; Brown is also one of four NFL receivers to average 75 yards and 15 yards per catch.
Seattle’s offense should keep its Shanahan-style wide-zone base under new coordinator Brian Fleury, but Brooks expects more throws to running backs and tighter-end targets to spread attention beyond JSN.
Jahmyr Price is set to share the backfield rather than handle a full RB1 load immediately, with Brooks saying a heavier workload is more likely by midseason in a committee approach.
Wednesday’s opener is the NFL’s first midweek season kickoff in 14 years and the first Super Bowl rematch to start a season in a decade; Patriots defender Nicky Manuwari and Tre’Veyon Henderson are inactive.
Will A.J. Brown be the missing piece that finally cures Drake Maye’s lingering playoff turnover woes in this high-stakes Super Bowl rematch?
How will the Seahawks' mysterious running back committee actually distribute high-value touches to rookie Jahmyr Price against New England?
Could Seattle’s intentionally vanilla training camp offense be masking deeper struggles with Brian Fleury’s new system rather than hiding strategic wrinkles?