Week 2 Patriots vs Jaguars: Who gets the game ball from New England’s 31-20 loss?

The New England Patriots suffered their first defeat of the 2018 season earlier today: New England went on the road and was beaten 31-20 by the Jacksonville Jaguars. It was a lackluster performance by the reigning AFC champions in all three phases of the game – but one that still had at least some silver linings. Let’s take a look at three of them.

QB Tom Brady

Despite being under constant pressure especially early during the contest, Brady was still able to deliver a solid performance. He was not perfect by any means, but the future Hall of Famer again was the reason why the Patriots were in the game up until almost the very end. Along the way, the 41-year old completed 24 of his 35 pass attempts for 234 yards and a pair of touchdowns – while also converting a third down at one point on a 10-yard scramble.

RB Sony Michel

The numbers – 10 rushes for 34 yards and one catch for seven more – tell only half the story when it comes to Sony Michel’s NFL debut. Going against one of the league’s top defensive fronts, the 31st overall selection of this year’s draft displayed some of the traits that made him a first-round pick: he was powerful as a runner, and used all over the formation. Certainly an encouraging first step from the Patriots’ future number one running back.

RB James White

While Michel’s performance was encouraging, James White’s was actually productive: the Patriots’ primary receiving back was the team’s most potent offensive playmaker today and finished with seven receptions for 73 yards and three carries for 11 yards. Serving as Tom Brady’s safety blanket and primary target in the passing game, White helped keep the passing game on track even when others failed to step up.

With all that in mind, who is your choice for this week’s game ball?