The Patriots bought wrecked Thursday.
New England discovered itself on the fallacious facet of a whole ass-kicking of their matchup with the New York Jets at MetLife Stadium, which is one thing they readily admitted within the aftermath. The Patriots suffered their most lopsided loss on this matchup since “A Bug’s Life” and “You’ve got Bought Mail” had been dominating on the field workplace, so it is easy to say that issues went poorly.
This is a more in-depth have a look at how every key group fared within the loss, each constructive (do not giggle) and unfavourable:
QUARTERBACK: C-
Jacoby Brissett deserves a medal for the beating he is been taking on the primary few weeks of the season, however the truth of the matter is that there are issues that would have been finished higher by each guys who acquired snaps Thursday.
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Brissett had a pair dangerous misses early on, whereas Drake Maye was almost intercepted after telegraphing the place he was going together with his first ever go try. Are we blaming the QBs for what occurred? Nope, however there are nonetheless requirements that should be met.
WIDE RECEIVERS: C+
The Patriots entered the evening with 85 whole receiving yards from their wideouts on the season and got here one yard in need of matching that whole towards the Jets. DeMario Douglas discovered methods to get open, particularly after he was schemed just a few touches. Ja’Lynn Polk is a dude, he simply wants elevated alternatives. It wasn’t a catastrophe!
(Sure, we’re greedy at straws with that one.)
OFFENSIVE LINE: F-
Is it attainable to expel a pupil for dangerous grades? The Patriots may wish to look into that.
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We do not have to do an excessive amount of explaining right here. New England’s strain fee allowed by three weeks is the Sixteenth-worst of any staff since 2006, per Chad Graff of The Athletic, and was made a lot worse after they gave up seven whole sacks and strain on greater than half of Brissett and Maye’s dropbacks.
PASS-RUSHERS: D
Aaron Rodgers is sort of 41 years outdated and his ankle exploded simply over a 12 months in the past. You would solely sack that man twice?!
The Patriots’ lack of strain is not actually the issue, although. New England lacked self-discipline, which allowed Rodgers to flee the pocket and make performs in area — together with one landing and 9 (!!!) first downs.
LINEBACKERS: D+
Jahlani Tavai and Raekwon McMillan did a nasty job making an attempt to interchange Ja’Whaun Bentley in the course of the protection. It is that straightforward.
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SPECIAL TEAMS: B+
Bryce Baringer is fairly candy!
Baringer had 4 punts downed deep inside opponent territory, setting New England up with stable area place all through all the evening. Joey Slye nailed his lone try. Brenden Schooler and Joe Cardona every had a few spectacular tackles. It wasn’t a nasty evening from Jeremy Springer’s unit.
COACHING: D
Alex Van Pelt is actually calling offensive performs for the very first time. DeMarcus Covington is doing the identical on the defensive facet of the ball. Sure, it should take time for them to search out their groove, however two particular examples stood out as contributing elements to Thursday’s mess.
Covington’s errors associated to his type of protection, as his need to assault the opposition got here again to chew him when Rodgers checked right into a pair of quick-hitters within the face of strain to select up a few first downs. Covington can simply adapt, and there is no motive to suppose he will not, however you continue to would have appreciated to see him make that adjustment mid-game realizing he was down a number of starters.
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Van Pelt hasn’t found out the passing recreation fairly but, and we noticed precisely why on the ultimate third down of the sport for Brissett and the starters. AVP known as for all vertical routes, although they wanted simply 9 yards to select up the primary down. Brissett was pressured to carry onto the ball whereas routes developed, which led to his remaining sack of the evening and a proverbial nail within the coffin. It was four-down territory, so there would have been no disgrace if AVP known as for brief crossers to select up just a few yards and at the very least give his offense a combating likelihood.
The Patriots want higher from nearly each group on the staff, however the teaching employees is likely to be the most important losers all through the primary few weeks of the season.
