There are four changes the Patriots could make in their Week 13 matchup against the Colts

The Patriots will bring an old-school atmosphere to Gillette Stadium on Sunday.

For the second time this season, the Patriots will add variety and wear their red retro Pat Patriot jerseys.

Here’s what else could change for the Patriots when they take on the Colts at 1 p.m. ET.

New look offensive line

The Patriots won’t have the same offensive line three weeks in a row.

Left guard Michael Jordan has struggled this season, but it was still pretty surprising that the Patriots released him while claiming guard Lester Cotton off waivers from the Dolphins. Jordan started 11 of 12 games this season. He was injured in the only game in which he was not in the starting line-up.

Rookie Layden Robinson, who trained as a left defenseman, is the favorite to start in Jordan’s place. It would be Robinson’s first appearance as a left defender in the regular season. Although he played 20 snaps at right guard in the preseason, this season he played exclusively at right guard.

Robinson has played much better as a run blocker this season and has struggled in pass defense. The fourth-round pick hasn’t started since Week 9, so the Patriots will have to hope the potential position change and time off helps him.

The Patriots could also have a new starter at right tackle. Demontrey Jacobs was benched late in last Sunday’s loss to the Dolphins for Sidy Sow.

Jacobs allowed two sacks, a QB hit and six hurries and was penalized twice in 50 snaps. Sow didn’t allow any pressure and wasn’t penalized in 20 snaps.

Sow hadn’t played properly since last season’s preparation. He was then moved back to his natural position as guard.

Runs designed for Drake?

When asked this week, Patriots rookie quarterback Drake Maye appeared open to the possibility of carrying the ball on planned runs.

“I think there’s a time and a place for it,” Maye said. “I think a third-and-short or a deficit in the red zone or goal line or maybe a QB draw, something like that.” I think there’s definitely a place for that when you look at the defenders or defenses can keep myself busy with variety and just have to do my part to slow down once I’ve reached the distance. I definitely think there’s a time and a place for it, but at the same time getting the ball in Mondre (Rhamondre Stevenson), AG (Antonio Gibson) and (JaMycal) Hasty’s hands is better than mine.”

Offensive coordinator Alex Van Pelt also welcomed the idea, saying there was a possibility the team could have used Maye on scheduled runs against the Dolphins last week. The plays just weren’t called.

“As a quarterback, can he run the ball on designed runs? Absolutely. Will we use them? Yes, absolutely. We had them last week,” Van Pelt said. “I’m not going to ask him to do it in the middle of the ride on the first and tenth laps. But if there’s a high-leverage situation where we could use his legs to our advantage and the offense’s advantage, we’ll definitely do that. He runs enough. As a passer, he takes the hits in the pocket. So I just try to keep him as healthy as possible. But when the time comes and we need a play and we think that’s the best play to get him to carry the ball, then we’ll do that.”

Secondary help?

The Patriots could get a boost at safety in Jabrill Peppers.

Peppers was limited in training due to a knee injury. He said this week that he was hurting after the Patriots’ Week 4 loss to the 49ers.

He was arrested the following Saturday and pleaded not guilty to assault, strangulation and drug charges in a domestic incident at his Braintree home. The Patriots ruled him out in Week 5, then he was placed on the commissioner’s exempt list. He was delisted on Monday and coaches listed him as “day-to-day” upon his return.

Peppers’ legal situation and his upcoming trial, which is scheduled to begin Jan. 22, will not prevent him from playing in a game, according to head coach Jerod Mayo.

The Patriots weathered the storm without Peppers, going 2-6 but getting solid production from rookie Dell Pettus, 2023 third-round pick Marte Mapu and veteran Jaylinn Hawkins, but Peppers was in last season and in four games one of the team’s best players this season.

Fellow starting safety Kyle Dugger had trouble communicating last week. The Peppers’ return could boost Dugger’s game.

Putting Peppers back on the field before full details of his case become known in January seems risky, but the Patriots need to feel comfortable enough with Peppers back on the practice field and in the facility.

We’ll find out on Sunday whether Peppers feels physically good enough to play.

Back to school?

The Patriots haven’t faced a bigger rushing threat at quarterback this season than Anthony Richardson, the Colts’ second-year pro.

The 22-year-old quarterback has completed just 47.1% of his passes for 1,402 yards this season, with five touchdowns, seven interceptions and a league-high 15.6 yards per completion. He also carried the ball 61 times for 335 yards and three touchdowns. At 6-foot-1 and weighing 220 pounds, he ran a 4.43-second 40-yard dash at the NFL Scouting Combine last April.

The last time the Patriots faced a mobile quarterback, in their win over the Bears in Week 10, defensive coordinator DeMarcus Covington introduced the “Longhorn package” with special teams star Brenden Schooler as the QB spy. It would make sense to use this strategy again this Sunday against the Colts on third down and obvious passing situations.

Schooler has played a total of eight defensive snaps this season and has two sacks and three total pressures. He is an All-Pro talent on special teams and also ran a 4.43-second 40-yard dash at his pro day in 2022. At 1.80 m and 100 kg, he has a solid size to play in midfield.

The Patriots have other safeties they can use in the spy role like Pettus, Marte Mapu and Hawkins. But why mess with a good thing? Schooler was great in that role in Week 10 and added another sack last week against the Dolphins.

There are four changes the Patriots could make in their Week 13 matchup against the Colts

ByAmelia Journalton

New look offensive line

By Amelia Journalton

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