Everything you need to know from the Patriots’ loss to the Saints in quickie form, with BSJ insight and analysis:
HEADLINES
What a disaster: Well, let's go through some of it:
Rushing offense? Bad.
Patriots averaged 2.9 yards per carry on 17 carries, and Damien Harris had as many rushes as Mac Jones, and was outgained by the QB 28-14.
Passing offense? Bad.
Jones posted a 55.2 rating with three interceptions. One came via the Saints pass rush because the offensive line was a sieve and nearly got Jones killed. One glanced off Jonnu Smith's hands (second drop of the game for him) and into that of Malcolm Jenkins that made it 21-3 to start the second half. Oh, and Smith couldn't block either.
Rush defense? Ok, but atrocious when the game was on the line.
In a 21-13 game with 9 minutes, the Patriots defense allowed the Saints to hold the ball for almost seven minutes and 13 plays — and just two were pass attempts — before scoring a game-clinching touchdown. The final SEVEN plays of that drive were running plays.
Pass defense? Eh.
It was decent for the most part, but they still made Jameis Winston look like a mature, veteran NFL QB (13 of 21 for 128 yards, two touchdowns, zero interceptions, 110.8 rating). Patriots did allow Winston to throw one up into the end zone while he was being hit and Marquez Callaway somehow caught for a TD over Jonathan Jones.
Special teams? Atrocious.
Jake Bailey was bad on punts again, and had one blocked. He also kicked out of bounds again. The Patriots had at least two special teams penalties and allowed the dangerous Saints punt returner to posted 25 yards on his first return to set up New Orleans' first touchdown.
Other than that, Mrs. Lincoln, how was the play?
Oh, hey, the weather was nice. So there's an up.
James White might be done for season, career: White had a third-down carry early in the second quarter that, what else, picked up a first down. As he was tackled by Demario Davis, White appeared to sustain a serious injury to his hip. Nearly the entire Patriots team came over to the Saints' sideline to show respect for White before he was carted off the field. He'll be 30 next season and coming back from a serious injury. This could be it for him.
TURNING POINT
The Patriots, thanks to two missed Saints field goals, still had a chance to steal this game in the fourth quarter after they finally put up a touchdown on a Jones pass to Kendrick Bourne made it 21-13. With the crowd amped, the Patriots stopped the Saints' ground attack for 3 yards on the first two plays. But after a New Orleans timeout, Winston completed a well-timed pass to Deonte Harris against, who else, Jalen Mills to convert and keep the drive going.
SECOND GUESS
With epic failures in all three phases of the game, you have to wonder if the Patriots were indeed distracted about the looming Tom Brady storylines. If that's the case, does Bill Belichick have his kind of team?
Oh, and also, with all the money and draft capital the Patriots have used in the front seven, how are they left with elevated practice squad player Jahani Tavai playing huge snaps at middle linebacker in this game?
THREE UP
WR Kendrick Bourne: Was one of the few free agents to deliver today with six catches for 96 yards and a terrific touchdown that displayed great effort.
LB Matthew Judon: Put him in that category too, with 2.5 sacks.
K Nick Folk: Well, at least he keeps making his kicks.
THREE DOWN
TE Jonnu Smith: He was terrible in just about every facet of the game.
The offensive line: This is three games worth of Mac Jones getting his head bashed in. What happened to the Patriots' line that was really good?
Josh McDaniels: That red zone series that stalled and elected boos — two Brandon Bolden runs, and a screen to Smith — ... we're going to need to see the tape of that.
INJURIES
RB James White (hip): Did not return after being carted off with a serious injury.
LBs Ja'Whaun Bentley and Dont'a Hightower: No announced injuries, but both sat out for long stretches.
TOP PLAYS
No.
THREE TAKES BEDARD WILL PROBABLY REGRET LATER
It ain't over yet, but this is going to be a challenge: Patriots will likely drop to 1-3 unless they pull a stunning upset against the Bucs, which means they'll have to go 10-3 the rest of the way, as we laid out this morning.
Can the Patriots beat anyone with consistency other than the Jets? The Patriots were 2-4 to finish 2019, 7-9 last season and are 1-2 to start this season. That's 10-15. I'm afraid to look to see how many of those were against the Jets. An inconvenient truth, but the Patriots haven't been a consistent winner since the middle of the 2019 season. That's a long time ago
What home-field advantage? The Patriots are now 0-2 at Gillette this season, and against two middling teams. What happened to holding serve on the road, and dominating at home?