Patriots’ Jacoby Brissett Learned This Key Skill From Tom Brady

The Patriots entered the season with huge question marks about the offensive line, but Jacoby Brissett helped alleviate those concerns in Week 1.

Brissett faced 13 pressures but was sacked only once against the Cincinnati Bengals, per Pro Football Focus. The 31-year-old’s ability to escape the pocket and make plays helped New England earn an upset win.

His play last Sunday showed how much he’s improved since he led the NFL in sacks with 52 when he was with the Indianapolis Colts. He credited three quarterbacks, including a Patriots Hall of Famer, for his development in dealing with pressure.

“I’ve been fortunate to play on really good O-lines. I think that plays a part in it,” Brissett told reporters, per the Patriots. “Understanding football a little bit more, being OK with throwing the ball away. Obviously, your completion percentage takes a hit, but that’s better than a sack and getting into negative yards. I think understanding that more now in my, I guess, older days compared to when I was younger in the league, I think has paid off and watching good quarterbacks do it, honestly. Watching Tom (Brady), Philip (Rivers) and Andrew (Luck) do it in ways to not get negative plays. I think that definitely played a part in it.”

New England faces another test against a formidable Seattle Seahawks defense, but head coach Jerod Mayo expressed confidence in another repeat performance in the pocket from Brissett.