There was a somber mood in New England after the ugly loss to the Jets, but there are reasons to keep the optimism alive.

The Patriots took a beating at the hands of the New York Jets on Thursday, and there were few positives to take away from Week 3. The offensive line was abysmal, the tackling was nonexistent, and the wide receivers were just there.

This was the team analysts predicted the Patriots would be, but Week 1 gave hope that this season wouldn’t be a complete disaster. It still might not be, and we’re taking a closer look at three reasons why hopes for a successful season are still alive.

“Thursday Night Football” Variation
First, let’s look at Week 3. Amazon paid a hefty price to be the exclusive home of “Thursday Night Football.” It hired big names for its studio show, and it has Al Michaels and Kirk Herbstreit on the air. “TNF” still stinks, though. You can probably count on one hand how many great matchups we’ve had on “Thursday Night Football.”

Teams and players also hate it because you don’t get enough time to prepare for the matchup. It’s a mix of walkthroughs and light drills, so game plans often aren’t that complicated. What was lost in New England’s poor performance was that New York wasn’t all that impressive. Sure, Aaron Rodgers occasionally hit perfect throws, but to say the Jets are Super Bowl contenders would be an understatement.

To give the Patriots another excuse, they have a full week of preparation time the rest of the season and should be better prepared.

Easier schedule ahead
The 49ers are excluded from this argument — though San Francisco could be without several playmakers, which would give New England a chance. But the Patriots will face a Tua Tagovailoa-less Miami Dolphins team in Week 5. The Houston Texans will be a tough opponent in Week 6, but the game in London against the Jaguars is very winnable based on Jacksonville’s play in two weeks. A full week of preparation against the Jets at Gillette Stadium is another winnable game. Will Levis is a nightmare waiting to happen, and the Patriots get back-to-back matchups against teams with offensive lines as bad as theirs: the Chicago Bears and the Los Angeles Rams. You can talk yourself into a decent number of wins, and the middle of the season would be an ideal time for Drake Maye to look good against what could be inferior competition.

Possible reinforcements
New England’s wide receiver room needs more energy. It’s laughable on the surface to think that a player with a torn ACL is going to provide that, but Kendrick Bourne has been one of the Patriots’ most consistent wide receivers over the past three seasons. Ja’Whaun Bentley’s absence was felt deeply on Thursday, but the return of Sione Takitaki could help and provide some depth at the position. Cole Strange’s injury status is unknown, but if he can return, it would be a huge boost for the offensive line. Eliot Wolf could also be on the phones for a potential low-risk, high-reward option that could add some life after a deflating loss to the Jets.