Everything you need to know from the Patriots’ loss to the Texans in quickie form, with BSJ insight and analysis:
HEADLINES
Patriots get outplayed: There wasn't a huge difference between the two teams, whether you look at the stats at the end of the first half or the game, but the Patriots just couldn't make any plays on either side of the ball to change the game. The story of the game was the quarterback's lines at halftime. Tom Brady had a 28.8 rating, and Deshaun Watson had a 142.6 rating. And the Texans had enough playmakers to give the Patriots' defense enough trouble. The Texans converted all three of their red zone trips, and the Patriots didn't convert two of their three until the game was largely over.
Offense is officially in a crisis: It's been there for weeks and while we've been writing and talking about it, the shortcomings of this Patriots offense were officially on display to everyone in this game as the Patriots really had nothing outside of Julian Edelman, and James White in the second half. Mohamed Sanu didn't make a difference. N'Keal Harry was in the witness protection program after Brady's interception. It just wasn't good.
Been saying this for weeks now for @Patriots offense. Outside of the physical-12 has trust in 1 guy. Edelman. That’s it...and it’s warranted. Watch ?? below. @MikeGiardi @patspulpit #SNFonNBC #Patriots @RochieWBZ @BenVolin pic.twitter.com/Vf8mbaUqXg
— Dan Orlovsky (@danorlovsky7) December 2, 2019
SECOND GUESS
Well, there's a long list of them, but we'll start with the decision to not go for the two-point conversion, to take the delay of game penalty, and then watching Kai Forbath miss the extra point due to the extra distance.
And then we'll end with the lax approach in the final six minutes. Patriots were obviously just practicing offense down the stretch when they could have, and nearly still, made a comeback.
THREE UP
James White: Thanks to the Texans deciding to cover him with linebackers instead of defensive backs at times, the back came to life in the Patriots offense, tallying eight receptions for 98 yards and two touchdowns.
Julian Edelman: Was his usual self with six catches for 106 and a score. Imagine this offense without him.
Lawrence Guy: Led the team with seven tackles and I'm pretty sure I saw him almost block the last punt. The guy does everything.
THREE DOWN
Bill Belichick: The Patriots didn't compete for a large portion of the game and that starts with the head coach. Also, his defense got a little torched in their pressure packages.
Josh McDaniels/Tom Brady: This isn't their fault because no Patriots team has had this poor weaponry, but I know they'll say they have to figure it out. And then they just couldn't.
Sanu, Dorsett, Watson, Harry & Burkhead: These guys either get paid a lot of money to make plays or were drafted highly, and they didn't have anything tonight. It has to be better against the good teams in this league.
INJURIES
C Ted Karras: Left the game and did not return. Was replaced by James Ferentz and he appeared to do a solid job.
TWO TAKES BEDARD WILL PROBABLY REGRET LATER
It's time for Belichick to spend more time with the offense: I know he's in the position of de facto defensive coordinator with all the staff changes, but this offense is in a crisis so Belichick is needed on that side. Nobody's coming in at this point. It has to get figured out or else this team is headed for an early exit. This offense simply can't move the ball against average-to-good defenses, and has a hard time getting into the 20s against them. They needed 30 tonight, and they were a long way from that.
Brady also has to figure it out: This was basically Brady's tantrum game, as he took out all his frustrations — which are really about his contract and how Belichick built up the defense but left the offense shorthanded — on his receivers and he could be seen basically eliminating Dorsett and Harry as viable targets on the sidelines. Who else does he have? Is he just going to throw to Edelman and White for the rest of the season? Brady needs to do the best work of his career. This team needs a teacher, leader, and GOAT on the field. It's not fair to Brady, but this is what's required.