Fan Notes from the Patriots’ 30-17 loss to the Cardinals

One other week, one other loss, one other closing rating that isn’t indicative of how the sport performed out. The Cardinals wanted this sport with a view to maintain their playoff hopes alive, and so they delivered. The Patriots, alternatively, appeared like their typical, 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 crew, 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 could as effectively get pleasure from it and try to get pleasure from the little moments.
2. I’ll say, although: it’s pretty outstanding how impossibly constant the Patriots have been of their means to lose video games each week. You normally see groups implementing totally different gameplans, altering their technique, tweaking rosters, going run-heavy one week and pass-heavy the subsequent. Not the Pats, although. Each Sunday, with out fail, they be sure that to overlook blocks, negate massive performs with penalties, sort out 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 crew, within the historical past {of professional} soccer, can persistently flip a possible first-and-goal right into a missed 50-plus-yard subject aim try the best way these Patriots can.
3. I feel the large subject for me, not less than 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 had been all that ready to play this one. Coming off a bye, with two weeks to organize, they simply didn’t appear able to play at any degree.
4. And whenever you mix the same old nincompoopery with a sport 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 successful this one.
5. You recognize what I’m speaking about. Each crew experiences video games like this, poor play and penalties apart, the place every part simply appears to go the opposite crew’s approach. The Cardinals fumbled twice however recovered them each, one by an enormous fats man ultimately 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 fingers of a Cardinals defender. Generally you simply have video games the place the bounces all favor one crew. Generally it favors your crew. Couple that with the Patriots being a horrible soccer crew, and right here we discover ourselves.
6. However let’s concentrate on the constructive right here as we speak. I actually don’t know what number of extra methods I can say that the O-line is horrible and the crew has no self-discipline. Perhaps 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 notice, I additionally realized that there are solely so some ways you possibly can write “Drake Maye” and “Christian Gonzalez.” So perhaps I would like to stay with the detrimental for a short time longer with a view to meet my phrase rely.
8. And since I’m staying detrimental, I’ll have fun Festivus just a little 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. Perhaps his ankle is shattered and he’s taking part in via it whereas additionally taking part in out of place and discovering himself pressured to play a number of roles on account of lack of depth and damage all whereas concurrently moonlighting as a vigilante who fights crime. During which case I’ll give him a move. However he’s on the market whiffing tackles, taking horrible angles, getting smoked on cuts, and never dwelling 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 definitely can’t keep in mind it. I’d prefer to assume that one of many extra cellular and athletic quarterbacks within the league would have the ability to take a snap and fall ahead for 3 toes. Perhaps I’m incorrect and he’ll get stuffed behind this line. However perhaps show it by calling a QB sneak, simply as soon as, for the love of Tebow.
11. Three – When this crew wants a cease to get again in it, that’s nearly all the time 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 will’t give up a primary down and completely must power a three-and-out; they simply want to forestall a rating and provides the offense the ball with just a little 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 each 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 foul crew and is studying on the job at one of many hardest positions there may be. My massive hope for him is that he’ll look again on 2024 and understand that he spent a lot time attempting 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 instances he will get beat and solely makes a mistake as soon as.
14. Excellent instance of that – early on this sport, Gonzalez received caught on a rub route with Harrison coming throughout the center, which became 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 instances yesterday after that one; Gonzo beat the rub the primary time to take care of 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 considered one of two passes Harrison caught on the day, on six makes an attempt, two of which had been PBUs ultimately zone.
15. I’m legitimately questioning if Drake Maye is flourishing despite the help he’s getting from the teaching quite than due to it. The issues he does greatest – accuracy, pocket mobility, creativity, means to improvise – are all parts he dropped at 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 sport. Each week, I’m grateful I get to not less than take some good away from this crew, and it’s all the time one thing that Maye does or continues to do.
17. I actually consider 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 night time, although, is whether or not they squander this chance and mismanage their approach out of a doubtlessly 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-about a classic Belichick signing: a powerful veteran misused underneath different programs who is prospering right here. However since Belichick is now not right here, and since no one 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 all the time type of thought that UNC soccer was the redheaded stepchild of the Tarheel sports activities program, given how robust the opposite packages 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 actual pleasure, although, is on the prime of the 2025 NFL Draft. There are presently six 11-loss groups, which suggests the Patriots might find yourself selecting as excessive as first general and as little as like ninth, relying on how the remainder of the season shakes out. I feel New England has yet 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.