The New England Patriots are currently the hottest team in the NFL. While the great defence as well as rookie quarterback Mac Jones get a lot of praise, one important part of their success gets short shrift: wide receiver Kendrick Bourne.

Munich/Foxborough – 35 points scored, ten points allowed. That is the average record of the New England Patriots during the past six games, all of which they have won accordingly.

The main reason, of course, is the opportunistic defence that causes fumbles, catches interceptions and generates sacks, as well as rookie quarterback Mac Jones, who ranks third in the entire NFL with over 70 per cent of passes received.

But one player with an immense part in the success is rarely mentioned: Kendrick Bourne.

Starting woes and free-agency stigma

Though the start of “KB”, as everyone just calls him, was relatively quiet. In this year’s offseason, he signed a three-year, $15 million contract in New England, about half of it guaranteed. Many experts were of the opinion that Bill Belichick was paying too much for this player.

At the beginning of the season, it looked that way, too: Bourne caught only three passes for 27 yards in the first two games. But that also had a lot to do with Jones, who had not yet broken free of the metaphorical training wheels and hardly ever threw passes for more than ten yards.

Bourne had his “breakout game” of all things in the Patriots’ previous loss to the Dallas Cowboys in week six.

On a one-play drive, it was Bourne who nabbed standout cornerback Trevon Diggs and ran away from the safety for 75 yards, his only second touchdown for New England, and ecstasy among commentators Jim Nantz and Tony Romo.

One play after the Cowboys took the lead late, Mac Jones dropped a DIME to Kendrick Bourne

THIS. GAME.

@NFL pic.twitter.com/jF0UkvTz9J

– The Athletic (@TheAthletic) October 17, 2021

The Bourne Dimension

It was just a taste of what Bourne would go on to show for the Patriots and for his quarterback Jones. It was also a spark for Jones himself, who has let the egg-shaped leather fly more and more often since – mostly in Bourne’s direction.

Not only is Bourne a factor on the field, Head Coach Belichick himself sees it that way. “‘KB’ is really productive for us. He brings a special energy to the team all week long,” the 69-year-old praises: “It’s great to have someone like that on the team.”

The receiver gives the Patriots a dimension in the offence that wasn’t there last year, namely a fast receiver on the sidelines who can also regularly win his one-on-one duels. “The Bourne Dimension,” then, is not the sixth installment in the film series of the same name, but an important aspect of the Patriots offense in 2021.

@BournePoly11 going DEEP!

: @NFLonCBS / Patriots app pic.twitter.com/tqzGzW92GY

– New England Patriots (@Patriots) October 24, 2021

Bourne as “Mister Do It All “

Bourne can give the Patriots more than just that, though. Offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels also has him running sweep plays, handing the ball from quarterback to wide receiver, and even throwing passes. In week seven, Bourne threw his first career touchdown to fellow receiver Nelson Agholor.

In the 36-13 loss to the Tennessee Titans, the latest appearance for the Patriots and Bourne, New England’s No. 84 produced his strongest game yet. 61 yards and two touchdowns were to go to “Bournepoly”. In total, he stands at six touchdowns and 726 total yards this season, all of which are already career bests.

He is now a true playmaker. Give him the ball and he’ll do something good with it. On his second touchdown against the Titans, Bourne danced off half the defence on the sideline and turned a play designed to gain 12 to 15 yards of space into a 41-yard touchdown.

That things are suddenly going well also has to do with Bourne becoming more comfortable with his quarterback, Jones. “He has such confidence and knows exactly what he’s doing. When you have someone like that, that confidence rubs off on everybody,” Bourne explained on “NBC. “

For Bourne, Jones’ passes are like “soft pillows “

Before, the former San Francisco 49ers receiver described Jones’ passes like “a soft pillow.” The chemistry between the two is right. One thing that was not evident with Cam Newton last year with any of his receivers.

In the NFL’s top game of Day 13, when the New England Patriots travel to the Buffalo Bills for an important divisional duel, Kendrick Bourne will again matter.

But with the increased confidence with which Mac Jones leads the way and with which he also pulls his receivers and other teammates along, the Patriots are also up to the task.