Fan Notes from the Patriots’ loss to the Cardinals

One other week, one other loss, one other last rating that isn’t indicative of how the sport performed out. The Arizona Cardinals wanted this recreation so as to preserve their playoff hopes alive, and so they delivered. The New England Patriots, then again, regarded like their common, pungent selves.

1. I’m guessing there are a number of followers on the market who nonetheless discover themselves pissed off by what we’re seeing with this group, and I get it. I actually do. Nevertheless it’s been roughly the identical music and dance with the 2024 Patriots all season, and with solely three video games left, it ain’t altering. So we might as effectively get pleasure from it and try to have the benefit of the little moments.

2. I’ll say, although: it’s pretty exceptional how impossibly constant the Patriots have been of their skill to lose video games every week. You often see groups implementing completely different recreation plans, altering their technique, tweaking rosters, going run-heavy one week and pass-heavy the following. Not the Pats, although. Each Sunday, with out fail, they be certain to overlook blocks, negate large performs with penalties, deal with poorly, drop passes, and put themselves in an insurmountable gap early sufficient so the remainder of the sport is kind of taking part in out the string. It’s nearly poetic, in a bizarre, masochistic approach. I don’t assume any group, within the historical past {of professional} soccer, can persistently flip a possible first-and-goal right into a missed 50-plus-yard discipline aim try the best way these Patriots can.

3. I feel the massive concern for me, a minimum of one which represents a semi-departure from the same old points I harp on each week, is that I didn’t get the sense that the Patriots have been all that ready to play this one. Coming off a bye, with two weeks to arrange, they simply didn’t appear able to play at any degree.

4. And whenever you mix the same old nincompoopery with a recreation like yesterday’s, the place it type of had a “simply a type of video games” really feel to it, there was simply no shot New England was profitable this one.

5. You recognize what I’m speaking about. Each group experiences video games like this, poor play and penalties apart, the place the whole lot simply appears to go the opposite group’s approach. The Cardinals fumbled twice however recovered them each, one by an enormous fats man in the long run zone for a TD. A possible game-changing decide was referred to as again on a wildly questionable Roughing the Passer penalty. Drake Maye hit Boutte in stride, however he bobbled it and it went proper into the palms of a Cardinals defender. Typically you simply have video games the place the bounces all favor one group. Typically it favors your group. Couple that with the Patriots being a horrible soccer group, and right here we discover ourselves.

6. However let’s concentrate on the constructive right here right this moment. I actually don’t know what number of extra methods I can say that the O-line is horrible and the group has no self-discipline. Possibly I’ll give myself an early Christmas current and never kind the phrases “Vederian Lowe” for the remainder of the yr.

7. Though actually as I used to be writing that final observe, I additionally realized that there are solely so some ways you’ll be able to write “Drake Maye” and “Christian Gonzalez.” So possibly I would like to stay with the adverse for a short time longer so as to meet my phrase rely.

8. And since I’m staying adverse, I’ll have fun Festivus a bit early this yr and air what are in all probability my three largest grievances of 2024, O-line play and psychological self-discipline apart:

9. One, Kyle Dugger STINKS. Possibly his ankle is shattered and he’s taking part in by it whereas additionally taking part in out of place and discovering himself pressured to play a number of roles attributable to lack of depth and harm all whereas concurrently moonlighting as a vigilante who fights crime. By which case I’ll give him a go. However he’s on the market whiffing tackles, taking horrible angles, getting smoked on cuts, and never residing as much as that large contract he received this offseason.

10. Two, if the Patriots have confronted a 3rd or fourth and fewer than a yard and referred to as a single Drake Maye QB sneak all yr, I actually can’t bear in mind it. I’d wish to assume that one of many extra cell and athletic quarterbacks within the league would be capable of take a snap and fall ahead for 3 ft. Possibly I’m flawed and he’ll get stuffed behind this line. However possibly show it by calling a QB sneak, simply as soon as, for the love of Tebow.

11. Three, when this group wants a cease to get again in it, that’s nearly at all times the a part of the sport the place as an alternative they offer up a 38-play, 97-yard scoring drive that takes three weeks off the sport clock. It’s not even like they’ll’t give up a primary down and completely must pressure a three-and-out; they simply want to forestall a rating and provides the offense the ball with a bit time on the clock to try to do one thing with it. And it’s in these clutch moments the place the D is at their absolute worst. And once more, that every one goes again to psychological self-discipline and toughness. AKA teaching.

12. I haven’t referred to as for Jerod Mayo’s job as soon as all season and I’m not about to start out now. He inherited a nasty group and is studying on the job at one of many hardest positions there may be. My large hope for him is that he’ll look again on 2024 and understand that he spent a lot time making an attempt to show that he wasn’t Invoice Belichick that he forgot to be Jerod Mayo, and this offseason he’ll discover his footing and his fashion.

13. One of many few actual regrets I’ve about this season is how few persons are watching the Patriots play, and thus lacking absolutely the masterclass that Christian Gonzalez places on week in and week out. It’s not simply his bodily skills and the best way he roughly erases each receiver he covers. It’s how he learns from the occasions he will get beat and solely makes a mistake as soon as.

14. Excellent instance of that — early on this recreation, Gonzalez received caught on a rub route with Harrison coming throughout the center, which changed into a 23-yard catch and run. It was a really well-executed play that put McBride in Gonzo’s face and sprung Harrison for an enormous acquire. The Cardinals tried operating it two extra occasions yesterday after that one; Gonzo beat the rub the primary time to keep up protection, and the second time he learn the route pre-snap and bumped Harrison on the line to disrupt the timing. That 23-yard reception was certainly one of two passes Harrison caught on the day, on six makes an attempt, two of which have been PBUs in the long run zone.

15. I’m legitimately questioning if Drake Maye is flourishing regardless of the help he’s getting from the teaching somewhat than due to it. The issues he does greatest – accuracy, pocket mobility, creativity, skill to improvise – are all parts he delivered to the desk already or happen after the play inevitably breaks down.

16. His play of the day was that absolute dime he threw to Kenrick Bourne, which then arrange a nifty shovel-pass to Douglas to make it a two-score recreation. Each week, I’m grateful I get to a minimum of take some good away from this group, and it’s at all times one thing that Maye does or continues to do.

17. I actually imagine that the Patriots are in actually fine condition to develop into contenders inside two years. I genuinely assume that, all homerism apart. What’s going to maintain me awake at evening, although, is whether or not they squander this chance and mismanage their approach out of a probably generational expertise.

18. I additionally really feel like Antonio Gibson hasn’t gotten sufficient credit score as he quietly places collectively an excellent season. Gibson would as soon as be thought of a classic Invoice Belichick signing: a powerful veteran misused underneath different methods who is flourishing right here. However since Belichick is now not right here, and since no person cares in regards to the Patriots anymore, he’s going unnoticed and uncelebrated.

19. Talking of Belichick: Better of luck down in North Carolina, coach. I at all times type of thought that UNC soccer was the redheaded stepchild of the Tar Heel sports activities program, given how robust the opposite applications are. However all that simply modified.

20. The Patriots have now misplaced 4 straight, with the Payments, Chargers, then Payments once more on the slate to complete out the yr. I’m undecided if that Week 18 matchup goes to be

21. The true pleasure, although, is on the prime of the 2025 NFL Draft. There are at present six 11-loss groups, which implies the Patriots might find yourself choosing as excessive as first total and as little as like ninth, relying on how the remainder of the season shakes out. I feel New England has another win left in them, so the query is the place 4-13 will land them. And what they’ll do with that decide.

22. However extra in regards to the draft later. Three video games left within the season, then that’s all she wrote.