This Big Offensive Change Clearly Paid Off For Patriots Vs. Bills

FOXBORO, Mass. — The Patriots begrudgingly moved Mike Onwenu out of his natural right guard position ahead of Sunday’s matchup with the Buffalo Bills.

He shouldn’t move back any time soon.

Shifting Onwenu over to right tackle — a major problem spot for the Patriots for most of the last season-and-a-half — helped spur New England’s finest offensive line performance of 2023.

That unit protected Mac Jones better than it had all season, allowing the third-year quarterback to enjoy one of the best games of his career and lead a game-winning touchdown drive as the Patriots upset the heavily favored Bills 29-25 at Gillette Stadium.

“The offensive line, especially, just gave me the time I needed today,” Jones said after the game. “And when I have time, I can read the offense how we’re supposed to. I really appreciate those guys.”

Head coach Bill Belichick called it “one of our most consistent offensive performances of the year.”

Getting a healthy Cole Strange back at left guard after a three-game absence also helped matters. But the biggest boost came from Onwenu, who played well at right tackle early in his career but hadn’t taken a snap there since 2021.

The 2020 sixth-round pick was a significant upgrade over Vederian Lowe, who started the previous four games and ranked as one of the NFL’s worst tackles by multiple advanced metrics. Calvin Anderson also struggled in that spot in Weeks 1 and 2 after Riley Reiff, Conor McDermott and rookie Sidy Sow all took turns there during training camp.

Reiff and McDermott landed on injured reserve before the season, and the Patriots determined Sow was better off at guard, his primary position in college.

“Ultimately, I think everyone thought that was the best thing for us to do at this time.”

Bill Belichick on Mike Onwenu’s move to right tackle

Onwenu, who didn’t play in the previous two games as he nursed a lingering ankle injury, said he began practicing at right tackle early last week.

“It’s been a while, but I practiced throughout the week,” he said postgame. “I put my practice habits forward and just made sure I was all right. … I’m building on it. I’m feeling more comfortable and a little healthier, so I’m just working on that and just doing the best I can do.”

Belichick said last November that Onwenu is “built to play guard … and that’s where we would like to play him, for sure.” So, why finally make that long-awaited change now?

“There are a number of things involved,” Belichick explained Monday morning. “I had a good conversation with Mike after the Raider game (last week), and ultimately, I think everyone thought that was the best thing for us to do at this time. So, we went with it. He had a good week and thought he did a good job for us.”

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Sow started in Onwenu’s usual right guard spot. The 25-year-old and fellow rookie Atonio Mafi have seen substantial playing time this season with Onwenu and Strange both in and out of the lineup.

“Sidy did a good job,” Onwenu said. “This year, we’ve been having a lot of young guys step up and compete. I’m very proud of them and everybody that’s been stepping in.”

The Patriots will need similarly sound blocking up front if they hope to pull off another unlikely win this week. Next up on their schedule is a Sunday afternoon road game against the Miami Dolphins, who sacked Jones four times and neutralized New England’s run game in a Week 2 victory in Foxboro.