Patriots snap counts: DeVante Parker, Tyquan Thornton see fewer opportunities against Bills

Notes and thoughts on the Patriots’ snap counts from their 29-25 win over the Bills.

The New England Patriots’ upset win over the Buffalo Bills saw contributions from players all across the skill position depth chart. A total of 10 players touched the ball — all but one of the 11 combined wide receivers, running backs and tight ends active for the 29-25 victory.

That being said, opportunities were uneven divided between those players. That was particularly true at the wide receiver position. While Kendrick Bourne and Demario Douglas rose to the top of the group, playing 56 (93%) and 37 (62%) of a possible 60 offensive snaps, respectively, the other wideouts saw uneven usage.

Two players among those stand out in particular, because Week 7 marked a sharp decline in action: DeVante Parker and Tyquan Thornton.

Parker entered the Buffalo contest having played an average of 86.3 percent over his five active games. Versus the Bills, however, that number decreased to just 58.3 percent: he was on the field for 35 snaps, third among the team’s wide receivers, and turned his lone target into an 8-yard reception.

Thornton, meanwhile, was on the field for 41.6 percent of snaps during his season debut against the Las Vegas Raiders last week (25 of 60). Versus Buffalo, however, he played just three total snaps, or 5.0 percent. He ended the game with one 2-yard catch.

The snaps played by Parker and Thornton last week were distributed to the aforementioned Douglas, as well as practice squad elevatee Jalen Reagor: the former first-round draft pick played 25 snaps (42%) and caught an 11-yard pass, primarily as an outside receiver in the mold of Parker.

How the Patriots will use their wideouts moving forward will be interesting to see. Based on their performances versus Buffalo, Bourne and Douglas should continue to see prominent action even after JuJu Smith-Schuster returns from his concussion. Parker and Thornton, meanwhile, appear to be question marks — something that is also true for Reagor and rookie Kayshon Boutte.

As for the other usage-based takeaways from the Patriots’ win over the Bills, here is our weekly snap count report.

Offense

Total snaps: 60

QB Mac Jones (60; 100%), LG Cole Strange (60; 100%), C David Andrews (60; 100%), RG Sidy Sow (60; 100%), RT Michael Onwenu (60; 100%), OT Trent Brown (57; 95%), WR Kendrick Bourne (56; 93%), RB Rhamondre Stevenson (39; 65%), WR Demario Douglas (37; 62%), WR DeVante Parker (35; 58%), TE Hunter Henry (30; 50%), TE Mike Gesicki (30; 50%), WR Jalen Reagor (25; 42%), TE Pharaoh Brown (23; 38%), RB Ezekiel Elliott (21; 35%), WR Tyquan Thornton (3; 5%), LT Vederian Lowe (3; 5%), RB/WR Ty Montgomery II (1; 2%)

*denotes starter

After shuffling their lineup over the first six weeks of the season, the Patriots appear to have found an offensive line configuration that works. Whereas left tackle Trent Brown missed one three-play drive because of a knee injury — he later returned — left guard Cole Strange, center David Andrews, right guard Sidy Sow and right tackle Michael Onwenu went wire-to-wire in what was New England’s best O-line performance of the season.

Quarterback Mac Jones was a benefactor of the play and stability in front of him, playing possibly the best game of his career against a talented Bills defense. He also played 100 percent of snaps after spending the last three weeks either getting pulled early or replaced by rookie Malik Cunningham on a handful of package plays.

Elsewhere it was business as usual. The Patriots used all three of their tight ends extensively, and they delivered a fitting performance on “National Tight Ends Day.” Rhamondre Stevenson, meanwhile, was the clear RB1; Ezekiel Elliott again served as a rotational back alongside him.

Defense

Total snaps: 71

S Kyle Dugger (71; 100%), S Jabrill Peppers (70; 99%), LB Ja’Whaun Bentley (70; 99%), ED Anfernee Jennings (69; 97%), DE Deatrich Wise Jr. (68; 96%), CB J.C. Jackson (64; 90%), CB Myles Bryant (54; 76%), DT Christian Barmore (45; 63%), LB/ED Jahlani Tavai (43; 61%), CB Jack Jones (42; 59%), CB Jonathan Jones (36; 51%), DT Davon Godchaux (35; 49%), DT Lawrence Guy Sr. (29; 41%), S/CB Jalen Mills (21; 30%), S Adrian Phillips (17; 24%), DE Sam Roberts (16; 23%), LB Mack Wilson Sr. (15; 21%), LB/S Marte Mapu (10; 14%), DT Trysten Hill (4; 6%), S/WR Matthew Slater (1; 1%), S Brenden Schooler (1; 1%)

*denotes starter

With Josh Uche and Keion White both out due to injury, the Patriots had only one traditional edge defender active against the Bills. He ended up playing 69 of 71 snaps: Anfernee Jennings delivered a three-down performance and looked good as both a run defender and pass rusher in the most extensive action of his four-year career.

The edge spot opposite him was manned by linebacker Jahlani Tavai, who again played a move role in the mold of ex-Patriots Dont’a Hightower or Kyle Van Noy: 20 of his 43 snaps came on the line of scrimmage, with 19 off it (plus an additional four in the slot). Deatrich Wise Jr., who also had a high workload at 68 snaps, factored into the mix as well: he moved all over the line, and played in an edge spot as well.

Elsewhere in the front seven, the Patriots gave Mack Wilson and Marte Mapu some select snaps to help spy Bills quarterback Josh Allen. While Ja’Whaun Bentley was the main man in that role, the two backups also took the field for 15 and 10 snaps, respectively.

In the secondary, J.C. Jackson served as the de facto CB1. The rest of the cornerbacks —Myles Bryant, Jack Jones, Jonathan Jones, and hybrid Jalen Mills — were used on more of a rotational basis. The Joneses usage was likely a product of their injury history: Jack just returned from injured reserve, whereas Jonathan was questionable to play in the game after sustaining an ankle injury in Week 6.

Also seeing action on defense were two core special teamers. With the Bills in desperation mode on the game’s final snap, the Patriots put special teamers Matthew Slater and Brenden Schooler on to help tackle on a potential lateral. It was Slater’s first defensive snap since a 2020 win over Arizona, and the first of Schooler’s two-year career. He made the most out of it, recovering a game-clinching fumble.

Special Teams

Total snaps: 24

WR/S Matthew Slater (19; 79%), S Brenden Schooler (19; 79%), LB Chris Board (19; 79%), LB/ED Jahlani Tavai (18; 75%), S Adrian Phillips (17; 71%), RB/WR/KR Ty Montgomery II (15; 62%), LB Mack Wilson Sr. (15; 62%), S Cody Davis (15; 62%), TE Pharaoh Brown (13; 54%), LB/S Marte Mapu (12; 50%), K Chad Ryland (12; 50%), ED Anfernee Jennings (9; 38%), DE Deatrich Wise Jr. (9; 38%), DT Lawrence Guy Sr. (9; 38%), S Kyle Dugger (7; 29%), S Jabrill Peppers (7; 29%), P/H Bryce Baringer (7; 29%), LS Joe Cardona (7; 29%), OT Michael Onwenu (5; 21%), G Sidy Sow (5; 21%), OT Trent Brown (5; 21%), OL Jake Andrews (5; 21%), G Atonio Mafi (5; 21%), CB Myles Bryant (4; 17%), DE Sam Roberts (4; 17%), WR/PR Demario Douglas (1; 4%), CB Shaun Wade (1; 4%)

With Cody Davis returning from the physically unable to perform list, he took over his usual role as the Patriots’ personal punt protector. In addition to those duties, the veteran basically filled the role played by since-released Ameer Speed.

Adrian Phillips, who had previously held the protector job during Davis’ absence, was pulled off the punt coverage team entirely. He did manage to keep his regular high workload as part of four other units, though.

Did not play

QB Bailey Zappe

After a one-week stint as the Patriots’ inactive emergency quarterback, Bailey Zappe was back on the game day roster. However, with Mac Jones going wire-to-wirer in a close contest, he spent the entire day watching from the sidelines.

Inactive

OT Calvin Anderson, WR Kayshon Boutte, QB/WR Malik Cunningham, QB Will Grier (emergency QB), WR JuJu Smith-Schuster, ED Josh Uche, ED Keion White

The Patriots’ list of inactives included four players dealing with injury. Edge defenders Josh Uche (knee, foot) and Keion White (concussion) missed their first games this season, whereas wide receiver JuJu Smith-Schuster had to sit out a second straight with a concussion. Fellow wideout Kayshon Boutte was a healthy scratch from Weeks 2 to 6, before missing Week 7 with a hamstring ailment.

The other inactives were all healthy scratches, including emergency quarterback Will Grier.