Frustrating would be the keyword I would use after watching back some of the key plays from Sunday's loss to the Texans.
The consistent theme to me seemed to be a lack of execution. The Patriots just didn't cover it, block it or run it well enough to win the key plays to beat the Texans and a vital game in their postseason chase.
Why the Patriots didn't execute? I can't answer that. You could certainly look at coaching, or just an overall lack of good football players. Maybe it's both.
Whatever the reason, it wasn't good enough last year, and it certainly wasn't good enough on Sunday.
The plays, with video analysis:
SECOND QUARTER
3RD & 4 AT 50(05:28) (Shotgun) D.Watson pass deep right to J.Akins to NE 25 for 25 yards (K.Dugger).
Big play here at midfield. If the Patriots get a stop, they could control the ball the rest of the first half and get the ball to start the second. A double score could make it 24-7 Patriots the next time the Texans touch the ball. Instead, the Texans convert here and score twice to lead 21-10 at halftime. You could call this a 28-point play (from possible +17 to -11).
Not sure if there was a coverage error, but the Patriots doubled Keke Coutee on this play. I did get Jason McCourty in the Duron Harmon deep safety spot, which freed up Devin to spy Deshaun Watson. Would have liked to see Devin help a bit more on Jordan Akins against Kyle Dugger, but perhaps that wasn't possible.
In any event, Dugger is a bit flat-footed off the line is simply beaten by Akins and a great throw from Watson.
3RD & 7 AT NE 28(03:13)
(3:13) (Shotgun) C.Newton pass short right to J.White to NE 28 for no gain (T.Adams) [L.Johnson].
This was my Turning Point after the game, and it remains that way. It's even bigger because on the coaches film we can see there was not a defender on the right side of the field if Ryan Izzo properly picked LB Tyrell Adams. He completely whiffed, White was tackled for no gain, and instead of the ball at midfield to finish off the half with a possible lead, the Patriots have to punt and trailed by 11.
FOURTH QUARTER
Patriots are in business on a long drive after overcoming a ton of bad play previously. They're in the red zone with a chance to tie the game.
Josh McDaniels calls for a version of one of their staple plays — playaction, pull the guard — but there's a problem that might have started before the snap when Newton gives a late Mike identification of No. 32 (Lonnie Johnson). I'm not sure how it's taught for this play, but that's usually the fifth player the line is supposed to pick up.
That doesn't happen here as Wynn blocks down with Joe Thuney pulling. There appeared to be some confusion between Izzo and Jakobi Meyers on who is being blocked.
In the end, Thuney doesn't block anyone, and Michael Onwenu and Izzo both block Watt, and Justin Reid is free to sack Newton.
If Izzo correctly blocks read, Meyers has four yards on his defender and likely scores a touchdown.