FOXBOROUGH – The New England Patriots offense appears horrible. However move dashing? One thing particular is occurring there.
Sure, the Patriots appeared sometimes lackluster and outplayed in Saturday’s loss to the Cincinnati Bengals. However within the spirit of the vacations, it is value revisiting the sport to see what labored.
There weren’t many. Let’s move some evaluations.
1 / 4
(Stats: 21-of-33, 240 yards, 2 TDs, 4 sacks, 105.6 passer score)
Mack Jones had a tough begin to the sport, with the Patriots offense spinning the wheels of their dashing recreation. The offense had no enterprise by way of open receivers. Jones was additionally heading in the right direction with a number of photographs within the recreation.
Nonetheless, he had an absolute dime for Tyquan Thornton, who was introduced down.
Jones acquired issues going, particularly when he handed the ball to Kendrick Bourne. There have been instances when it appeared compelled, however it nonetheless labored. Jones actually moved the needle effectively on a few of these throws, particularly the again of the top zone.
A Hail Mary-like contact with Jacoby Meyers? It was good, but in addition fairly fortunate.
Jones did not face a turnover on this one. However flipping his wayward backhand to name an intentional grounder was a horrible play. He is fortunate the officers did not pronounce it flawed on assessment.
Price: C
run again
Ramondre Stevenson had a tough day, however he additionally did not have a lot work to do. After all, it did not assist that the Patriots’ early deficit meant they needed to put the sport away early.
Stevenson lastly acquired an opportunity to select some up. momentum late on the ultimate drive to try to put the sport away. Nonetheless, his day was fully ruined when he struggled on his last run. After the sport, Stevenson admitted that he tried to do an excessive amount of on the play.
Price:D-
Normal receiver
The Bengals went with a smothered, bodily strategy to protection Saturday — and it labored.
Patriots receivers struggled to get open in opposition to press protection at Gillette Stadium. There was a time when Jones had time in his pocket on Saturday. However open receivers have been troublesome.
Aside from Kendrick Bourne, that’s.
Bourne lastly got here out of the doghouse for his greatest recreation of the yr. He almost led the crew together with his lone 29-yard carry (Stevenson went 30 yards on 13 carries).
Bourne made some spotlight reel catches on this one. He went up and linked in triple protection up the center. He went over the again rope of the top zone for a landing. Then he made probably the greatest catches we have seen from a Patriots receiver in years by snapping his fingers.
Price:C (just about all Bourne)
tight finish
The Patriots misplaced their greatest contributor from that group when Hunter Henry was dominated out with an damage. Their backup plan included utilizing Yodny Cajuste because the tight finish.
Jonu Smith made a couple of performs on this one, however not sufficient to disrupt the passing recreation. He caught three passes for 21 yards earlier than being examined for a head damage within the fourth quarter.
Price: D+
offensive line
The Patriots went with the identical offensive line mixture as final week, which means former Jets observe squad participant Connor McDermott was nonetheless at proper deal with (not an excellent factor).
The group had a troublesome day in opposition to the Bengal entrance. Cross blocking was a priority many of the day, with Jones getting stress early and sometimes within the pocket. The Bengals completed with 4 sacks.
The run blocking wasn’t significantly better as Stevenson was given little work.
Price: D
line of defense
Towards a Bengals offensive line that has been very vicious all season, the Patriots have not completed a lot harm up entrance.
Cincinnati had an excellent push within the operating recreation all day and did not deal with a lot stress up the center within the passing recreation.
Nonetheless, that group was a part of a giant second half effort to maintain issues going within the second half.
Price: C-
line assistant
Effectively, here is the place we are able to get optimistic.
The mix of Matthew Judon and Josh Uche is forming for the Patriots protection.
Each rushers added to their sacks on Saturday.
Now there have been some issues. Judon was given a penalty kick. In the meantime, Uche was flagged for unlawful fingers to the face, negating what would have been one other sack for Judon.
Nonetheless, Judon made an important play on Ja’Mar Chase within the second half.
Price: B+
secondary
Saturday was a rollercoaster experience for the Patriots secondary. They beat them early with some good taking pictures. However within the second half, they actually turned issues round to maintain Joe Barrow and the Bengals at bay. Good throw for the shot within the small window he wanted to make the large play.
It was clear from the beginning that the Patriots’ injury-riddled and undersized secondary was a poor matchup in opposition to the Bengals’ trio of star receivers who have been 6 toes or taller.
On the second play of the sport, 5-foot-9 DB Marcus Jones was hit by 6-foot-3 Tee Higgin for a 39-yard acquire. It did not get significantly better from there.
However the secondary additionally took its hits. Devin McCourty jumped on Burrow’s move from middle for a layup. Later, Marcus Jones began the sport when he scored on a pick-six. He additionally got here up with a key restoration.
Price: b
particular groups
It was a troublesome day within the chilly for the Patriots particular forces. Michael Palardi dropped the punt when he went to kick it. He nonetheless managed to save lots of the play and punt it – simply 23 yards. The Patriots additionally favored an ineligible man on the sector for the play.
Nick Faulk missed each of his PATs, and he wasn’t the one one doing it within the chilly. Nonetheless, one of many Bengals missed an additional level that day, Daniel Equale was negated by a private foul.
Marcus Jones had an opportunity to place the Patriots in good place on the ultimate drive, however muffed the punt. It fell harmlessly out of bounds, but in addition destroyed any likelihood of an excellent return.
Price: D