New England Patriots: 3 Bold predictions for Week 6 vs. Broncos
3. Patriots will have to focus on Melvin Gordon
If Broncos quarterback Drew Lock isn’t under center again this week for Denver, the Patriots will likely have to focus on the Broncos run game spearheaded by running back Melvin Gordon during the Week 6 contest — assuming Gordon is active after a DUI arrest.
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On Wednesday ahead of the game this weekend, Lock participated in practice for Denver for the first time since he suffered an injury on Sept. 20. His status, however, is still unclear ahead of the Week 6 matchup on the road.
In the Week 4 win over the Jets, Denver ran most of the offense through Gordon on the ground without Lock leading the offense while battling back from an injury. In New York, Gordon finished the contest with a team-best 23 carries for 107 yards and two touchdowns on the ground. He also added two catches for 11 yards in the passing attack out of the backfield.
This week in Foxborough, Gordon could once again be the focal point of the Broncos offense and the Patriots defense will be tasked with trying to focus on him and keep him in check throughout the contest.
The good news for New England is that it has had relatively decent luck in defending the run so far in 2020. The Patriots have allowed opposing offenses to rush for 461 yards, which ranks in the top half of the NFL. They have also only allowed teams to run for one touchdown on the ground, which is tied for the best mark in the league.
If Lock does end up playing for Denver on Sunday, that could change things a bit and how the Broncos scheme for the game on the offensive side of the ball. But if he isn’t on the field for the game, New England will have to focus on Gordon out of the backfield.