No, the Patriots aren't dead.
And, yes, you can certainly envision a scenario where the Patriots wind up with a bye, the Chiefs choke away another playoff game and suddenly the New England Patriots Invitational (aka, the AFC championship game) is at Gillette for the third-straight year and sixth time in eight years (holy mackerel). And, suddenly, we're on to the Super Bowl.
But do that, you would have to go on faith with visions of the overachieving 2011 squad dancing in your head.
And you would also have to ignore what we've seen, largely, for the last 14 games.
Put aside talent, health and all that other stuff you can't quantify: These Patriots have struggled for a large portion of this season because their execution has been nowhere near their normal levels. Basically, this team makes a ton of mistakes. We're used to that in the first month of the season on an annual basis. But to have it continually be a problem ... well into December, during important games? Unheard of. That's why you hear a lot of comparisons to the 2009 team.
Sunday's 17-10 loss to the Steelers was just the latest — and maybe the worst — example of these maddening (they have to be for the coaching staff) deficiencies. Before we get into the positional ratings and three ups/three downs, let's go through the lowlights (and this isn't all of them — just the bigger ones) so you can see exactly what has to be cleaned up for another '11 redux to become a reality and discuss the fallout (why and what needs to be done).
OFFENSE
First quarter
3RD & 1 AT NE 32 (07:24): On what would have been a failed pickup if the Steelers weren't caught to two many men, Rob Gronkowski and Marcus Cannon fail to execute the double team.
3RD & 8 AT PIT 46 (01:35): After Cannon gives up pressure to T.J. Watt (this will be a running theme), Brady throws late and poorly to James White to end the drive.
Second quarter
2ND & 7 AT NE 44 (10:33): On the fourth-straight run to open the drive, Sony Michel pops off a 25-yard run, but Trent Brown blatantly holds Cam Heyward when Brown stops moving his feet. A 35-yard penalty makes it 2nd and 17 and kills the drive. Cannon gives up another pressure a third-down pass to White that comes up four yards short.
1ST & 10 AT NE 24 (06:01): Because of pressure allowed by David Andrews, Brady throws late to Gronkowski across the middle and doesn't see Josh Gordon one-on-one deep on a post.
3RD & 5 AT NE 29 (05:25): Another third-down pressure by Cannon.
2ND & 8 AT NE 21 (02:27): Josh McDaniels appears to have a good play called when the Patriots run a tunnel screen for Edelman. But Gronkowski blocks the slot blitzer (you want the defense to do this against a screen) and is late to his block as the play goes for just three yards.
2ND & 9 AT NE 32 (01:14): After a Cannon false start pushes this drive into a long-yardage situation, Brady throws late deep to Edelman on a play with serious chunk potential.
Third quarter
3RD & 6 AT NE 42 (13:11): Gordon drop.
1ST & 15 AT NE 30 (07:17): Edelman illegal formation erases his own 17-yard catch.
2ND & 9 AT NE 36 (06:06): Cannon allows sack to Watt.
2ND & 6 AT PIT 15 (01:43): Gronkowski allows Watt to take down Michel after just 2 yards.
3RD & 4 AT PIT 13 (01:18): Hogan misses his screen block, even though the defender lines up on his outside shoulder.
Fourth quarter
1ST & 5 AT PIT 5 (08:54): Cannon hold.
Final three plays: Brady gave his receivers no chance to catch any of the passes.
DEFENSE
First quarter
2ND & 4 AT PIT 42 (12:51): Jaylen Samuels rips off a 25-yard run as Lawrence Guy gets shoved out of his gap and Trey Flowers doesn't squeeze. Then, Jason McCourty can't get off a block.
__________________
Quarterback (2 out of 5)
Until the interception, this was just another case of Brady playing decent football but not up to his standards -- and certainly not good enough to lift a less-talented team to greater heights. He had a few plus throws to Gordon on a dig, Cordarrelle Patterson on third down and two to Edelman. But the Brady from a year ago would have made a lot more plays in this game. Even with the Steelers having a well-thought-out plan that involved pressuring Brady to speed him up and playing a lot of two-deep coverage with timely doubles of Edelman and Gronkowski. But the interception can't happen, and the final three throws of the game had zero chance of being completed. That's not good enough in a big road game.
Running backs (4 out of 5)
If the Patriots didn't kill themselves with penalties, the backs would have had a lot more production. Rex Burkhead had another good blitz pickup and was the better runner. Sony Michel was fine, but James Develin had a second-straight rough outing.
Receivers (2 out of 5)
Everyone but Patterson had at least one miscue, including Edelman (two penalties, drop), Gronkowski (four poor blocks in a regression game), Gordon (third-down drop) and Hogan (missed block on third down). You're simply not going to play efficient offensive football with that many miscues — I don't care what your gameplan and playcalls are.
Offensive line (1.5 out of 5)
DEFENSE
Defensive line (1.5 out of 5)
Guy (seven impactful plays) was about the only player to bring anything in this group, and that includes Flowers who was largely marginalized for the second-straight game. Wise has completely fallen out of favor and has only played on 17 running plays in the four games since he played a season-high 23 (40 snaps total) against the Titans. This happened to him last year. Brown has apparently forgotten how to two gap. Clayborn is good for a couple of hurries each week and that's about it.
Linebackers (2 out of 5)
With Elandon Roberts (eight snaps) dealing with an injury and the Patriots inviting the Steelers to run with mostly dime, Van Noy was back at middle linebacker, where he has some limitations reading and reacting. His best spot this season has been on the edge. Hightower can only really go forward as a pass rusher or run stuffer.
Secondary (2 out of 5)
J.C. Jackson continues to grow and show his talent, but he did have some issues, including a missed tackle. Stephon Gilmore and Duron Harmon were also standouts, but everyone else was a mixed bag. Jason McCourty had a rough game with a touchdown and four 20-plus plays allowed.
THREE UP
Shaq Mason: Outside of his hold, he played a flawless game.
Lawrence Guy: Had one blown gap, but otherwise was the only person to bring much on the defensive line, including some rare pass rush. He played his ass off. His teammates can't say the same.
Rex Burkhead: Was the most effective skill player for the Patriots and added that great special teams play with Jonathan Jones.
THREE DOWN
Marcus Cannon: Allowed eight of the 11 pressures on Brady. Among the worst offensive line performances I've seen from a Patriot — evoking some Cam Fleming and Jordan Devey outings. I'm surprised he wasn't benched. Was completely dominated by Watt.
Jason McCourty: Allowed four 20-plus plays and a touchdown. Yikes.
Malcom Brown: If Danny Shelton is going to continue to be in the doghouse, then Brown is going to be a lot better than this. Vince Wilfork must be sick to his stomach watching this run defense.