The Patriots could not get again within the win column Sunday, struggling a heartbreaking 15-10 loss to the Miami Dolphins at Gillette Stadium.
New England was begging to present the sport away, and did simply that with a gradual and painful decline all the best way to the bitter finish. How did the hometown workforce fumble issues away?
We’ll let you know the story by means of some takeaways from an unsightly afternoon in Foxboro, Mass.
COACHING DISASTERCLASS
The Patriots could not get out of their very own manner all through the vast majority of the afternoon, making one mistake after the opposite — largely from the sidelines.
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New England primarily gave a possession away within the first quarter, being known as for too many males on the sector after forcing a punt and letting Miami restart its possession — which is on Jeremy Springer. The Patriots then known as a timeout previous to a vital third down within the pink zone in the course of the second quarter, solely to run the ball for a brief achieve and miss a chip-shot discipline purpose — which is on Jerod Mayo. It will get higher, proper? No, as a result of after an eight-yard run to open their penultimate collection of the primary half, they selected to throw it twice from deep inside their very own territory earlier than punting the ball away — which is on Alex Van Pelt.
DeMarcus Covington wasn’t noticeable, which is the perfect factor you might say concerning the employees as a complete.
NEW COMBINATION, SAME RESULTS
Vederian Lowe, Michael Jordan, Nick Leverett, Mike Onwenu and Demontrey Jacobs made up a fully new offensive line mixture Sunday, however the outcomes had been about the identical as they have been.
New England gave up two sacks on first two drop backs of the sport, whereas permitting Jacoby Brissett to get hit a complete of 9 occasions. Leverett, specifically, struggled all through the sport, giving up a sack, quarterback hit and hurry, whereas being known as for a false begin and holding all within the first 4 drives of the sport. The uncommon quintuple-single!
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KEEP BENCHING RHAMONDRE
Rhamondre Stevenson was technically benched Sunday, but it surely was a type of benchings had been the teaching employees felt obligated to make a participant sit for one collection after a string of unfortunate/sloppy performs.
New England cannot complain, although, as a result of it labored. Stevenson acquired three consecutive touches within the second offensive collection of the sport, taking the ultimate one 33 yards to the top zone for a formidable landing. He completed with 89 speeding yards on 12 carries earlier than leaving with an harm within the fourth quarter, displaying precisely what individuals anticipated to see coming into the season.
BRENDEN SCHOOLER FOR MVP
Brenden Schooler (primarily) blocked each a punt and a kick in opposition to the Dolphins, arriving so early on the latter that the kicker did not even trouble to swing his leg. The Patriots have been fortunate to maneuver from Matthew Slater to Schooler, with all the particular groups unit taking a significant step ahead in 2024.
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WHAT IS AVP DOING?
Mayo has been adamant that he desires to lean into the run sport, but it surely seems as if Van Pelt did not get the message. The Patriots averaged 7.1 yards per carry by means of the primary three quarters, however solely ran the ball a complete of 15 occasions in that stretch.
New England ought to by no means end with extra passing makes an attempt than rushes, particularly in a sport the place it was in full management early on.
WHAT IS A CATCH?
Ja’Lynn Polk appeared to attain the go-ahead landing within the remaining two minutes, however that ever-present catch rule got here again to chunk him. The Patriots rookie appeared to get his second foot down behind the top zone, however let his heel drop to ultimately see the ruling of a landing be reversed.
Will we ever study what a catch is?
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