BSJ Game Report: Panthers 33, Patriots 30

FOXBOROUGH — Everything you need to know from the Patriots’ 33-30 loss to the Panthers in quickie form:



HEADLINES

The defense was awful again: The Panthers entered the game 28^th in total offense (276.7 yards per game), 30^th in net passing (168.3) and 29^th in scoring (15.0), and obliterated all those numbers against the Patriots defense: 444 total yards, 304 net passing yards and 33 points. Add in 67 percent on third downs, 28 first downs and their usual 140 yards rushing, and you have a truly awful performance by the Patriots defense. They might have given up record points and yards in the opener to the Chiefs, but this was worse because the Panthers and Cam Newton have been inept on offense since going to the Super Bowl in 2015.

Stephon Gilmore is veering into Pabo Sandoval/David Price territory: Four games into this season, the Patriots have played, mostly, with the same four players in the secondary (Devin McCourty, Duron Harmon, Patrick Chung and Malcolm Butler) as last season plus reserves Eric Rowe and Jonathan Jones. One player, free agent Stephon Gilmore, has been added to the group and you don’t need to be a genius to do the math. Gilmore was responsible for at least some of the constant coverage breakdowns so far this season, and he’s been a penalty machine (two huge third-down infractions today) to boot. This is what the Patriots get for $13 million a season?

Tom Brady can’t do everything: Can’t fault the Patriots’ offense in this one. Sure, they only had 16 points into the fourth quarter and had another lull in the third quarter, but they ran the ball well, Brady completed 71 percent of his passes, they converted 50 percent of third downs, and the offensive line did a better job against a tough defense. Down 14 points in the fourth quarter, this had the makings of another Brady-fueled comeback with two fourth-quarter scores. All they needed was a defensive stop to kick the game-winning field goal. This group can’t do that yet.

TURNING POINT

Patriots looked like they were going to steal a win in classic Gillette fashion when Deatrich Wise sacked Cam Newton with 2:11 left on third-and-7, but Stephon Gilmore was flagged a second time for illegal hands to the face and kept the drive alive.

SECOND GUESS

They miss Logan Ryan? The Patriots allowed Logan Ryan to test the free-agent waters this offseason and he signed a three-year, $30-million ($12 million guaranteed) contract with the Titans. The Patriots decided it would be best to sign Gilmore to a contract that pays him $65 million ($31 million fully guaranteed) for five years. Still think this works out for the Patriots in the long term, especially once Malcolm Butler leaves. (Ryan is not a No. 1 corner.) But it looks bad right now.

Toss sweep for a 4-yard loss: Trailing 23-16 late in the third quarter, the Patriots got 16 yards on first down to their 41-yard line and then Josh McDaniels called for a toss play to Mike Gillislee that was dead from the start and lost 4 yards. Patriots punted two plays later, gave up a touchdown and trailed 30-16.

Why not use your timeouts? The Patriots had all three of their timeouts when the Panthers had a first down with 41 seconds remaining at the Patriots’ 34-yard line. The Patriots didn’t call a timeout, the Panthers ran one more play with 11 seconds left, and called a timeout with four seconds remaining. It would have been a miracle, but the Patriots could have left themselves about 30 seconds for a field goal if Bill Belichick elected to use all his timeouts.

THREE UP

Tom Brady: Completed 32 of 45 passes for 307 yards and two touchdowns (104.6 rating). Another stellar day for the QB.

Danny Amendola: Whenever the Patriots need a play, they look for Mr. Clutch. Had three of his six catches on the final drive, including one on third down and the touchdown on fourth down.

Rob Gronkowski: The big fella just keeps doing his thing, with four catches on five targets for 80 yards plus a defensive pass interference.

THREE DOWN

Stephon Gilmore: Twice vacated his side of the field to chase a player and allowed big plays behind him. Toss in two third-down penalties and it was a rough day for the new Patriot.

Eric Rowe: Got plowed over by Christian McCaffrey for an extra 7 yards, and missed a tackle on Devin Funchess that would have made the Panthers punt before halftime. Also hurt his groin again and could be out a while.

Matt Patricia: It doesn’t matter who the players are or what the assistant coaches are doing. He’s responsible for this unit and it’s been abysmal.

INJURIES

Eric Rowe: Went out on the first drive of the second half with an apparent re-aggravation of his groin injury. Wouldn’t be surprised if we don’t see him for a while. Looked bad and he was limping in the locker room after the game.

Elandon Roberts: Went down with an ankle injury with 6:36 left in the third quarter and didn’t return. Didn’t look terrible as he walked in the post-game locker room.

Tom Brady: Looked like he sustained a left shoulder injury in the fourth quarter but, of course, he stayed in the game.

Malcolm Butler: Was shaken up with 47 seconds remaining but stayed in the game.

TOP PLAYS

Brady to Amendola on fourth down

https://twitter.com/Patriots/status/914578619229388801

Panthers screen goes for a 28-yard touchdown, untouched.

https://twitter.com/Panthers/status/914550446911406080

Brady to Gronkowski, 43 yards.

https://twitter.com/NFL/status/914551747065946112

THREE TAKES BEDARD WILL PROBABLY REGRET LATER

It's time to go straight man coverage: Not sure the Patriots can simplify their defense much more, but they have to do something. Stephon Gilmore is at his best when he's playing man coverage. Let's start there, and then let everyone else adjust to Gilmore. He's just not getting what the Patriots are trying to do so it's time to meet him halfway.

Do something with David Harris: So far the communication has been terrible on defense. You know who has been a great communicator in the middle of a defense for his entire career? David Harris. He was inactive today, so it's time for the Patriots either to put him in at middle linebacker, send Elandon Roberts to the bench and move Kyle Van Noy outside, or it's time to release Harris. If he's not going to play, why is he here?

Brandin Cooks needs more touches: Cooks had three catches for 38 yards (on six targets) and a 4-yard rush. That's not enough production for a guy with that skill set. Patriots need to find a way to get him in the vicinity of 10-12 touches per game because he's their biggest playmaker.