DeVante Parker has had a difficult start to the 2022 campaign. He did, though, display some of his big-play potential against the Baltimore Ravens on Sunday.
With the Patriots suffering defeat against the Ravens this Sunday, DeVante Parker stood out with his fantastic performance. Mac Jones repeatedly targeted Parker, who accumulated 156 yards on five receptions. This outstanding performance by Parker is one that is positive, despite the unfortunate loss. He was due for a good performance, and after two tough weeks, he rebounded big time.
Previous to today’s game, Parker had not been performing well in a Patriots uniform, despite number one receiver-level expectations. In the week two victory over the Steelers, Parker was targeted only twice, and zero yards. Prior to today, two of Parker’s four targets had been intercepted- one in Miami and one in Pittsburgh.
It’s hard to just blame these on Parker, though, as play calling issues in the first two games were a big reason why the Patriots seemed to go in the direction of Parker in difficult situations that were unfavorable for Parker. So heading into today, it seemed like there wasn’t perfect chemistry between Jones and Parker, but also that the offensive coaching staff wasn’t utilizing Parker in a way that maximized his effectiveness.
Parker seemingly flipped the switch today and was able to easily get behind the Ravens’ defense. He made great use of his athleticism and excellent route running. Early in the game, Parker had two receptions for 71 yards. Mac Jones sent a pass over the center for his first grab, and his second catch displayed his proficiency as a deep threat. The Patriots were able to move into field goal range thanks to a 40-yard lob from an expert throw by Jones. DeVante was able easily to get past tight defensive coverage and hold on to the ball through heavy contact.
As seen below, DeVante was able to get behind man coverage and evade the defense for a big gain in a situation when the Patriots desperately needed points, as evidence of his speed, athleticism and elite route running:
DeVante’s impressive performance was just three yards off his current best which was achieved in 2019 when he was a Miami Dolphin. Overall, the performance of DeVante Parker today proved important for the Patriot’s offensive performance and will be one that Parker will not soon forget. Hopefully, Parker and the rest of the receiving core will be able to maintain this momentum in next week’s tough matchup against the Packers. If Parker is able to consistently perform like this for the remainder of the season, then I believe that he will be elevated into one of the best receivers in the league.
Most importantly, the emergence of Parker could be a good sign for Mac and the entire offense, and even if Mac ends up being out for an extended period, Parker will be nonetheless an important piece. Like yesterday, Parker needs to be able to set the tone for the offense, and the coordinators need to figure out how to best use him and maximize his role in the offense.
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