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The reigning Super Bowl champions, the New England Patriots, got their first preseason game of the year over with by beating the Detroit Lions 31-3 on Thursday night. Though a game in which starters played limited snaps and fringe roster members played most of the bout, there are a few players that had big games.
Three of which stand out, and are all either set to make the roster or are close to it. Here are those three (in no particular order).
Jarrett Stidham – QB
The Patriots have been searching for their young backup to Tom Brady since the Jimmy Garoppolo trade in 2017. Fourth-round rookie, hailing from Auburn, Jarrett Stidham may be the answer after his impressive performance on Thursday night.
The Patriots trotted out Stidham midway through the second quarter; who would play the rest of the game. He torched the Lions, recording 179 yards and one touchdown — to no interceptions — on 14/24 passes. His stat line would have been more impressive had Maurice Harris not dropped two well-thrown deep balls.
For the entirety of the game, Stidham looked comfortable and the best quarterback out of any who played in Detroit on Thursday. He played efficiently, got the ball out quickly, and knew when to scramble. Perhaps, that was because he celebrated his birthday on the same day. Via ESPN's Mike Reiss, Stidham said on his performance,
I had a great time. This is my first NFL experience, getting to play. There are a lot of things to improve on, but overall it was a lot of fun. It was a great experience.
Jakobi Meyers – WR
Jakobi Meyers, an undrafted prospect from N.C. State, was a star in training camp. His budding star status — at least in Foxborough — directly translated into his first NFL action. Though N'Keal Harry and experienced veterans took the field with Meyers, it became clear that Meyers was the star receiver of the night.
Meyers caught six passes for 69 yards and two touchdowns; all team-leading statistics for the game. Both scores were red zone receptions; the first of which with a defender draped over him. The 6-foot-2 receiver wasn't bothered by having to leap up and get it; as he did just that with his secure mitts.
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Meyers has gone from undrafted to being a respectable candidate to make the Patriots' 53-man roster. Despite a full depth chart at the position, Meyers likely won't be wearing another uniform other than the Patriots' one for a while; as he's shown an ability to create whether he's in the slot or out-wide — a necessity for Patriots receivers.
Derek Rivers – DE
Derek Rivers isn't guaranteed a roster spot for the Patriots 53-man roster. But, his week one preseason performance helped him mightily to do so. Of the Patriots' nine sacks from the night, the third-year Rivers tallied a team-leading two. It would have been three if he hadn't made a mental lapse — running directly past Lions quarterback Tom Savage.
In just one half of play, Rivers added to his two-sack night. He also added three tackles and two quarterback hits to his box score stat line. He consistently brought pressure over the edge, making whoever was passing paranoid with the ball in their hands.
Rivers must continue to impress in the preseason. He's produced marginally since the Patriots drafted him in the third round of the 2017 NFL Draft. The Patriots moved him to linebacker — arguably their deepest position group — in 2019 training camp. So far, however, he's shown enough in one preseason game to warrant a spot in the 2019 roster.
It's worth noting that Chase Winovich, a 2019 third-round pick, also impressed off of the edge. The former Michigan man recorded 1.5 sacks and pressured the quarterback relentlessly all Thursday night long.
