The Keys to Patriots success
The Patriots need to get their collective head out of their collective ass. This team’s potential is high, but its margin of error is very low. They finished the season with 7 losses. Three of those losses to fringe playoffs (Dolphins x2 and Saints) teams who failed to get in. The other 4 came against competition with better rosters. The common denominator in those games was mistakes and miscues.
Week 1 against Miami was just ugly all around with the penalties mostly, but of course the Damien Harris fumble at the 7 yard line started the mistake train off hot. Then against the Saints it looked as if they forgot the rules of the game all together. Mac Jones was forced into a situation he was not ready for and looked completely over matched turning the ball over three times.
Against Tampa the coaching staff opted for a 56 yard FG that clanged off the upright with less than a minute in regulation. They played not to lose instead of going for it on 4th down. Miscue from the coaches.
Against the Cowboys, well the defense was atrocious. We’ll get to them. However, you still had a chance to win. A pick 6 from Mac was a mistake that didn’t totally cost them. It was the dropped pass from Agholor on the following possession that pretty much sealed it. Cowboys would go on to win in OT.
The Colts game started off stellar with a blocked punt giving the Colts a demanding 14 point lead.
Of course this past weekend in Miami looked like a revert back to week 1 as mentioned. Brandon Bolden with a bone head play. Say what you want about the refs and that personal foul being ticky tack. You can’t go into a player with the crown of your helmet. Judon had another bad roughing the passer penalty. Two turnovers from Mac, couple off side, couple holdings, false starts. A real doozy of shit sandwich.
This offensive just can’t afford to play sloppy football. Their mode of success is ball control and efficiency. When you start stacking multiple negative plays in a drive there is not enough fire power to over come it. Which brings me to my next point.
Slow starts are a death sentence. In the past 4 weeks the Patriots have been out scored 38 -7 in the 1st quarter. That’s including a 7 - 3 lead over the Jags. You’re just not built to win in anything resembling a shoot out. Being forced to throw the ball down 20 points elevates the opportunities for the mistakes and miscues we just discussed. The 2021 Patriots are not disciplined enough to be taken out of their game.
And really what is their game? What’s the identity of this team? I think that will eventually be the fatal flaw for this season. We never got a true answer. It was supposed to be defense, but given the opportunity to make a “gotta have it” play in a “gotta have it” situation this defense has failed nearly every time.
Take both Miami games. In Week 1 after the Harris fumble the Patriots had Miami at 1st and 13. Then 3rd and 8 inside their own 20 with enough time for the offense to get into Nick Folk FG range. Instead Jaylen Mills gives up a soft slant for the 1st down. Again, last week the Patriots make a come back. Down 3. Third and 8 the Patriots play man. Tua rushes for a 1st down.
We saw it all day against the Bills in the 2nd match up with Josh Allen breaking contain left and right or collecting an easy check down. Granted, Josh Allen had some terrific throw. He also two dropped INTs from JC Jackson. Of course the Dallas game was a complete mess, but the game winner to Ceedee Lamb was a got to have it play. Again, Jaylen Mills didn’t have it.
Jonathan Taylor was bottled up for much of the day vs. the Colts right up until you needed a stop in the 4th. What came next? Oh, just 67 yards to the end zone. Night, night.
For the team to play the way they want to play the defense not only needs to limit the points scored, but they need to get off the fucking field on third down! If they can’t do that then the offense needs to hold on to the damn ball. And both sides need to stop with the ridiculously selfish bonehead penalties, Trent Brown taunting.
Don’t even get me started on the special teams. Has Deatrich Wise ever played special teams? Lining up over the center has been outlawed for a decade. There wasn’t a lineman next to him with in 3 feet. Figure it out! THREE blocked punts is the most in the NFL in like 40 years! (an exaggeration)
.. the Patriots’ has surrendered three punt blocks already this year. No other team in the NFL currently has given up more than one. In fact, New England has allowed almost half of all punt blocks in football this season.
If the Patriots play close to perfect football they have enough to beat anyone. They just have not proven to be able to do that against the better competition they faced this season. They will certainly need to sharpen up this Saturday if they have a chance at beating the Bills.
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