BSJ Game Report: Buccaneers 19, Patriots 17 - Pats drop to 0-3 at Gillette, but impressed

Everything you need to know from the Patriots’ loss to the Bucs in quickie form, with BSJ insight and analysis:

HEADLINES

Patriots come up short: After battling for over 50 minutes, this game between the struggling Patriots and defending Super Bowl champion Bucs came down to one play: the decision, on 4th and 3 from the Tampa Bay 37 with 59 seconds, to kick a 56-yard field goal with a 36-year-old kicker Nick Folk on a rainy night. And then Folk's kick that hit off the left crossbar and was no good to give Tampa a 19-17 victory. Folk had not made a 56-yard field goal since Oct. 17, 2010 — in the thin air of Denver. The loss drops New England to 1-3, and 0-3 at Gillette. The Patriots share the basement of the AFC East with the Dolphins and Jets, and stand two games behind the Bills.

"You know, we had our chances," Bill Belichick said. "Just could have done a couple things a little bit better. It would have – I don't know if it would have changed the outcome, but we just – we just fell a little bit short. I thought our team really prepared well this week, and that's what we've got to do every week and coach a little bit better and make a few more plays and start winning these close games."

Folk said he made from 58 in warmups — Bruce Arians said he saw him kick from 60 — and thought he should have made it.

"This one’s on me for this team. This one’s on me," he told reporters.

Tom Brady subpar in victory: It was equal parts emotion, great plan and execution by the Patriots (spun the dial with pressures and coverages on almost every snap, in a Rex Ryan-esque operation), poor execution by the Bucs, injury issues missing Rob Gronkowski and Giovanni Bernard, and the wet weather that caused Tom Brady to be very, very average in his return to Gillette Stadium. In fact, it looked a lot like some of his final games and years here. Brady never got into a rhythm, the Patriots clearly had a plan for Chris Godwin, and Brady really only trusted Antonio Brown in big spots. Brady finished 22 of 43 for 269 yards, didn't throw a touchdown and had a rating of 70.8.

"Very careful," said Bruce Arians when asked about how Brady played. "He wasn't going to make any mistakes that cost us the game. Crunched in crunch time, the two-minute drive before the half, when we had to have field goals, he got us down the field."

Patriots have to lean on Mac Jones, and he delivers: When Tom Brady has more rushing yards (3, including kneel-downs) than the Patriots (8 for minus-1), you knew the game would be heaped on the QB's shoulders, and with a rookie in his fourth game against the defending Super Bowl champions with shoddy protection issues, that would likely be a disaster.

It was very far from that.

Jones was largely stellar completing 31 of 40 passes for 275 yards and two touchdowns (one interception on a blown protection) for a passer rating of 101.6. More importantly, Jones led the Patriots on two-plus (third was the field-goal drive) that either got the Patriots the lead, or gave them a chance to take the lead. That's a big step for him.

"I think we moved in the right direction," said Jones. "You know, we made plays and played hard the whole game and I turned the ball over. That's one of the problems, you know, turnovers can kill you, and you know if you turn the ball over – If you don't turn the ball over, you have a 90-something percent chance to win, and it's just statistics but I have thought we moved the ball, passing well and the run game needs to improve and we'll come up with ways to do that. I thought everyone fought really hard. It sucks we lost but yeah, look at it, like you said, that we're making some progress."

TURNING POINT

The Bucs were leading 13-7 after an 8-yard run by Ronald Jones late in the third quarter and threatened to pull away from the Patriots as it appeared they had decided to rely more on the power running game against the light Patriots boxes. But the Patriots answered on a 7-play, 77-yard touchdown drive that ended with a 1-yard touchdown pass to Jonnu Smith. The drive was entirely Jones passes and they didn't face a third down. That was a big-boy drive, and the game was on.

SECOND GUESS

Belichick said he didn't consider going for it on 4th and 3.

"I mean, not really," he said.

Not really? Why not?

The Patriots have an old kicker who has battled an injury for a while and hadn't made a kick of that distance since Kyle Arrington was playing corner for the Patriots and it was raining.

But, more importantly, the Patriots players and coaches had battled their asses off to get into that position. If it was 4th and 4 or longer, fine. But I thought Belichick should have gone for the win right there and left no doubt.

THREE UP

Mac Jones: If he doesn't play well, the Patriots get rolled in that game.

Kyle Dugger: Seemed like he was around the ball all night long, and was aggressive and physical. A big step forward for him, too.

Matthew Judon: Had a sack, two QB hits and another tackle for a loss to really bring a playmaking ability to a front that really didn't get much from Dont'a Hightower and Kyle Van Noy.

Honorable mention: Cris Collinsworth for calling Deatrich Wise the defense's best player, and for talking up Ja'Whaun Bentley. Really? Come on, bro.

THREE DOWN

Mike Onwenu: It appeared he was benched (for Ted Karras) for his performance after two holding penalties and a host of other issues. 

Isaiah Wynn: As I feared coming into the game, Joe Tryon was a force in this game and Wynn had issues most of the game. The right tackle Bermuda Triangle wasn't much better.

J.J. Taylor: Love the player and want him to get more opportunities but that fumble that took points off the board is NOT going to help. 

INJURIES

DT Henry Anderson (chest): Did not return.
WR Jakobi Meyers (leg): Returned.
RB Damien Harris (leg): Returned.
CB Jonathan Jones (cramps): Stayed in.

TOP PLAYS

THREE TAKES BEDARD WILL PROBABLY REGRET LATER

Call it a moral victory or whatever you want, but the Patriots got a lot better today and there is a lot of season left. This is the type of loss that can be a huge springboard for the rest of the season. Yeah, they have dug themselves a hole but they weren't getting a bye ever, so what does it matter which seed they get (home-field hasn't been great either). As long as this leads to something and a postseason berth, it was mission accomplished.

You've got your quarterback. You may want big plays and more points and more flash and all that stuff that really doesn't necessarily equate to winning, certainly just four games into his career. But this was a big deal for him, the team and the fans tonight. 

Patriots fans really impressed me tonight. This was certainly different than when Brett Favre returned to Lambeau field, and I think I figured out why pretty quickly. You guys are sports fans. Whether it's the Patriots, Red Sox, Bruins or Celtics, you are about the product on the field and you expect to win. In Wisconsin, they don't have much. Yeah, the Brewers and Badgers are big, but the Packers are like a part of the family. It's a lot more intimate, and there are more emotions involved. You guys are almost professional fans, and Brady being an opponent now means he's on the other side ... until he isn't. Very cool to experience in person.