It doesn't make any sense. Not at all.
How long have I been studying the Patriots defense ... over a decade? Something like that. I've seen all kinds of iterations of this defense, from personnel, coverage, scheme, pressure packages.
And after watching Sunday's defensive debacle — the first time a Bill Belichick defense has never forced a punt, and if Josh Allen was really on his game, it would have been over at halftime — I can't recall a more wretched performance. That goes from the approach, gameplan, playcalls (yeah, brilliant dropping Christian Barmore into coverage as the Mike linebacker on a crucial pay), to the physicality, pass rush and discipline.
It was, as far as the Patriots and Belichick go, an abomination.
I've seen far less talented versions of this defense — 2011 being the prime example — play world's better than this group, which is a collection of veterans steeped in experience, high draft picks and big-ticket free agents. There is simply no good reason why this group played like this. You can complain about the secondary departures all you want (and I have). You can say how some guys are slow (they are). But that's no explanation for how they played against the Bills.
That leads me to two beliefs.
No. 1. If the Patriots meet these Bills again in the playoffs, they are going to play much better and quite possibly win AFC East Armaggeddon III. Why? Well, they can't play any worse, they were still one play from taking the lead, and they have three years worth of film to show each and every player what NOT to do against the Bills' best stuff.
And, No. 2. I'm not sure that's going to happen because the way the Patriots have come back from the bye and played in the last two games — collectively — it could mean something has fundamentally changed with this team and there may be no way to correct it this season. It could be a 2022 course and attitude correction.
It's completely puzzling.
The Patriots could very well rebound. They could (should) have been embarrassed by Sunday and that's the kick in the ass and punch in the face they need to win the final two games and head upward for the postseason where anything can happen in the AFC. That would make it a redux of 2018, when the Patriots had two bad back-to-back losses to the Dolphins (Gronk kickoff coverage meet Jakob Johnson's punt block in Indy) and Steelers, and then finished with two wins and kept rolling all the way to their last Lombardi Trophy. Ok, so we're not expecting that ... just some sort of rebound.
But, then again, why didn't that happen as a result of the Colts' loss? One bad performance in a big game is one thing. Two stinkers against playoff foes? The Dolphins loss in 2018 was a complete fluke. This is something very different. And troubling.
If the Patriots don't rebound, then you have to question all of the new additions and their buy-in. In the Patriots' defensive scheme, you can't be half in. You can't do your job 3 out of 4 plays. You have to do it well all the time. And that is not happening.
Matthew Judon, the crown jewel of the offseason, was absolutely awful and was zero factor on Sunday. It was like he was playing in a different football game, and continued his below-average play over the last four games.
Davon Godchaux should, really, be benched for good. He occasionally makes a play, but I can provide 10 more examples where he's rushing up the field or out of his gap leading to easy plays by the opponent.
Kyle Dugger is great when things are straightforward and he can show off his athletic ability. When he has to make a read or judgment call, like when Isaiah McKenzie ran so close to Dugger on the final drive twice that he could reach out and touch him, and Dugger just did nothing ... he looks no better than a rookie in his first few games.
Christian Barmore, even when he has issues, still has way more good plays than bad, but the Patriots need him to be right 95 percent of the time. It's more like 80 percent.
Dont'a Hightower is fading and fast. He can make plays if they are in a 4-yard box between the guards. Otherwise, you might as well play with 11.
And there are the defensive playcalls, that looked straight out of the Dallas game. Whatever happened after that, it needs to happen again. Like yesterday. The Patriots' coverage calls were so scared and bland for a good portion of the game that it was like they were working off the Madden '96 video game (Steve Belichick was slamming that B button).
This is the list of guys who are doing their job with regularity, like real Patriots:
Kyle Van Noy
Lawrence Guy
Daniel Ekuale (bench Godchaux for him)
Jamie Collins
JC Jackson
Devin McCourty
Adrian Phillips barely misses the cut because he's only great in the robber role, or when he's playing the run against a bad QB.
That's it. It doesn't take a rocket scientist to know what almost all of them have a common.
They've played a lot of games here. They've won a lot of games and titles. And they are true Patriots. The rest are pretenders until they actually do something.
And judging from the last two games, and especially Sunday, they aren't going to be doing that this season.
Here are the positional ratings against the Bills:
OFFENSE
Quarterback (1 out of 5)
In the final total, I had Mac Jones for seven plus plays (two were scrambles) and 14 minus plays, with four coming on the final drive. The tipped interception was a half-beat late. It was on him, not just a great play by AJ Klein. There were four minus decisions, and missing Jakobi Meyers open deep on the first play on the drive before halftime was a huge miss. As the game went, Jones' mechanics fell apart and could be an issue for the balance of the season. His upper and lower body became detached, leading to many more errant passes.
Running backs (4 out of 5)
Damien Harris was sensational once again but had two big errors that cost the team — not picking up the blitz on the third-down sack to start the game, and his fumble/stuffed run. ... Brandon Bolden had a bad drop. Need to mix in JJ Taylor.
Receivers (2.5 out of 5)
No one could get open against the Bills, and Hunter Henry had three questionable routes where he again failed to get his head around in time as Jones was looking for him. ... No clue why Kendrick Bourne didn't get more targets. Perhaps Jones just didn't want to live on the outside. It's probably because Jones was pressured 38 percent of the time. Too much. On the other side, Allen could have sat in a rocking chair. Easy to play QB with no pressure. Hard to play with it.
Offensive line (2 out of 5)
Very mediocre outing by the group, starting with David Andrews on the first series (sack, stuffed run). This was probably his worst game of the season. ... Shaq Mason was outstanding. From there, it went Isaiah Wynn (good rebound game), Karras, Brown (stupid and huge taunting penalty), Andrews.
DEFENSE
Defensive line (2.5 out of 5)
The lack of rush integrity in this game, for this team, was startling. It was like watching the Browns. Just a complete trainwreck, starting with Godchaux and Judon. ... Van Noy, Guy and Ekuale were all terrific. Everyone else had issues. A lot of them. ... I've heard some chatter about the Patriots' pass rush being good enough in this game. It was not. Half the Patriots' "pressure" came way late or really wasn't pressure as Allen moved to make a play, not to avoid a rush. 21% pressure is atrocious.
Linebackers (2 out of 5)
Jamie Collins generally goes a good job, but he's no longer in his prime and was a key culprit on the 4th down throw to Stefon Diggs (moved out of his lane for no reason), and the 4th down run by Allen. Collins 3 or 4 years ago makes that play and the Patriots win the game. He's still better than Hightower, and these kinds of games expose Bentley as being limited.
Secondary (2 out of 5)
A lot of the issues with this group can be attributed to a pathetic pass rush that either a) took too long, or b) allowed Allen to move freely, which changed how they could cover. If there is a rematch, I'd bet my house that the Patriots' defense will be MUCH more physical with the Bills' receivers, tight ends and running backs. The Patriots looked like they were playing a flag football game. ... With so many off-script plays, Dugger was lost often and had one of his worst games. A lot of teaching points for him on there. ... Not one of Phillips' best games either.
THREE UP
Kyle Van Noy: About the only guy on defense who consistently did a good job.
Damien Harris: Best player on offense.
Shaq Mason: Dominating performance. Again.
FIVE DOWN
Matthew Judon: The Patriots are paying him way too much money to be a no-show now. He has to be hurt.
Mac Jones: In the biggest games, his decisions and mechanics need to be much cleaner.
Kyle Dugger: The game got fast and sped up, and he looked like a rookie.
Davon Godchaux: Would not be surprised if he's inactive or benched this week.
David Andrews: The captain in the middle had a rough game.