Bedard: 2021 Patriots have yet to answer the bell in a big spot - and here come the Bills

The 2021 season debuted the 17-game schedule for the first time, but damn if it didn't feel like it was 37 games. The Patriots themselves were like four different versions this year.

There were the clueless, unprepared Patriots that started 2-4. There were the, "Maybe they're good" Patriots who beat the Chargers (before they missed the playoffs) and shellacked the Browns (before they missed the playoffs). Then there was the, "We think they're good but we were robbed of showdowns against the Titans (injuries) and Bills I (weather)" Patriots.

Finally, there was the, "OMG, we're hideous, look away" Patriots who lost three of their final four games — thank goodness for the Jaguars — and fell like a rock in the span of four weeks from the AFC's top seed and a first-round bye, to No. 6 and a trip to exotic Buffalo for a Saturday night game in 14-degree weather (that's the forecast, and possible snow).

Life comes at you pretty fast ...

So which version of the Patriots are the real Patriots? Which one are we going to get in the postseason? Should we bother to even tune in?

Obviously this was a season like few others. Due to Covid and cap restraints, the 2021 season has been and will be a week-to-week proposition. You never know what you're going to get from any team. Everyone has horrible losses. Some, like the Patriots, lack even one really impressive victory.

Still, come Saturday, Sunday or, now, Monday, anyone can beat anyone in the AFC.

Scared of Josh Allen after the Patriots couldn't get him or the Bills to punt in their 33-21 victory at Gillette just three weeks ago?

You could make a good case that it was only due to the Patriots' defense being horrendous. Here are Allen's stats in his final four games of the season (opponents were the Panthers, Falcons and Jets - combined record of 16-35):

vs. Patriots: 30 of 47 (63.8%), 314 yards, 3 TDs, 0 INTs, 104.4 rating.
The Worldbeaters (3 gms): 54 of 105 (51.4%), 569 yards, 5 TDs, 4 INTs, 67.5 rating.

One of these kids is doing its own thing...

And that leads us into this overriding thought, which has to do with Sunday's predictable 33-24 loss to the Dolphins (so much for all that Bengals trying to get the Patriots talk ...), about this Patriots team and how they enter the postseason ...

Haven't they pretty much revealed themselves to be pretenders at this point?

They've already played three playoff-like games to finish this season, two being at home. In those three games against the Colts, Bills and Dolphins, the Patriots fell behind a combined score of 57-7.

Contenders do that?

Sure, you could understand one, the Colts game after the bye. But ... THREE?! If the Patriots were talented enough, were truly mentally tough as a team, wouldn't they have answered with at least one win in the other two games? Ok, maybe not a win ... but a forceful start to one game?

Nope, couldn't even manage that.

What about the QB?

There's no doubt Mac Jones has had a successful rookie campaign and there's something to build on there.

But his recent splits are almost as poor as Allen's.

Through the Titans game (first 12 games): 268 of 381 (70.3% hot damn), 2,850 yards, 16 TDs, 8 INTs, 2 fumbles lost, 97.1 rating.
Last 4 games: 82 of 137 (59.9%), 932 yards, 6 TDs, 5 INTs, 1 very big fumble lost, 79.7 rating.

Jones definitely played well for stretches in those games. But too often it was too late and after he contributed to a hole for the Patriots. His pick-six on his first pass attempt, and a fumble away from center at the Miami 22 cost the team dearly. Jones was supposed to be the QB who could avoid the big mistake. Too often down the stretch, he's been the one making them.

Let's also toss in that Jones displayed ... let's call it some youthful immaturity on Sunday.

There was the half-heartened effort/pout on the pick-six.

Then there was this sequence, trailing 17-7, when Jones threw a little tantrum at a sideline timeout taken to keep him from taking (another) delay of game penalty — which seemed to have Josh McDaniels exasperated at Jones — and then calling out Kendrick Bourne for running the wrong route on third down after the timeout.

The Patriots don't need their QB, rookie or no rookie, melting down at the worst times. It's not exactly helping the situation. It's one thing for No. 12 and his many, many rings to ream somebody out and throw his helmet. It's quite another for a rookie to do it.

There's also been Bill Belichick's pride and joy, the defense. This was supposed to be a great unit, the one that was the backbone of this team.

This season — especially the later it has gone along — the bone density has been in the ballpark of a centenarian.

We already did this in Game Report, but might as well post it again.

Ladies and gentlemen, the 2021 Boogeymen:

Week 1 vs. Miami — Patriots trail 17-16 and after a Damien Harris fumble with 3:31 left, Miami runs out the clock on the Pats D.

Week 3. vs. New Orleans — Patriots make it 21-13 with 9:22 left. Defense allows a 75-yard TD drive that takes up 6:45.

Week 4. vs. Tampa — Patriots lead 17-16 with 4:34 left. Defense allows FG drive.

Week 6 vs. Dallas — Patriots lead 29-26 with 2:11 left. Patriots allow 55-yard FG drive to force overtime where they lose.

Week 15 at Indy — Patriots trail 20-17 with 2:21 left. Defense allows a 67-yard TD run.

Week 16 vs. Buffalo — Patriots make it 26-21 with 7:37 left. Defense allows a 13-play, 75-yard TD drive that took 5:07 to finish off the game.

Week 18 at Miami — Patriots make it 27-24. With 1:56 and two timeouts left, the Patriots have the Dolphins in 3rd and 8 from the Miami 42. Matthew Judon runs right by Tua Tagovailoa who scrambles for 11 yards to essentially end the game.

The defense has been front and center in Patriots collapses going on three seasons now:

1-3 2021
1-3 2020
2-4 2019

These final four games have had the feel of 2019 Patriots, whose season ended with a wild-card weekend loss to the Titans.

That reminds us of something from earlier this season ...

It was supposed to be a bit different this season, especially with Matthew Judon signed to a big contract. He delivered, for a while, in a big way. After going sackless in the opener against Miami, Judon put up 12.5 sacks in the next 12 games.

In the last four games, Judon has zero sacks (but plenty of blown edges while QBs and RBs run right by him at the worst time, and penalties).

Add in the fact that sensational rookie Christian Barmore left the game on a cart with a knee injury (reports are that the initial prognosis seems not dire), and the Patriots are entering the postseason with no reliable pass rush.

The same problem that plagued the Boogeymen in 2019 (besides feasting on questionable opponents) — a lack of impact players and negative plays caused in the front seven — has resurfaced ... with much of the same cast.

And that leads us into Belichick and his band of merry coaches.

Exactly what are they doing over there? The defense can't ever get off the field as Steve Belichick barks out questionable play calls. The special teams have been a weekly disaster with bad punts (another terrible touchback by Jake Bailey on Sunday, and Gunner Olszewski letting a punt roll 15 yards) and egregious penalties to extend drives (Lawrence Guy this time). And the offense starts, stops and sputters more than my snowblower.

Of course, it could just be the talent. This Patriots defense seems razor-thin this year and that lack of depth (just keep Josh Uche and Chase Winovich doing absolutely nothing ... that's fine) seems to have allowed the defense to wear down ... again. Oh, let's also note that The Great Run Defense Revamp of 2021 centered by Davon Godchaux has been a complete failure. Duke Johnson and Phillip Lindsay, last seen on the NFL scrap heap, combined for 157 yards and 36 carries on mostly belly runs. Those were gut checks for this defense, and they sucking wind.

After the last four games (three losses) and all that's gone wrong, I'm reminded of this scene in Apollo 13:

As the Patriots enter the postseason with a whimper, what do they have on this team that's good?

Nick Folk ... he's pretty good inside 53.

The running backs and offensive line are pretty damn good.

Hunter Henry and Jakobi Meyers are very reliable.

Adrian Phillips is always doing something good.

I think after these losses in three of four games ... that about covers it.

No, these Patriots are not entering the postseason with much confidence, and they shouldn't be. They don't make enough big plays on offense. They don't create enough negative plays on defense, which looks slow against semi-talented offenses. The special teams are a shell of their former self.

Basically, similar to the re-entry sequencing of Apollo 13, a lot needs to go right for this team to make much noise in the postseason. They need to start faster, play with a lead, get a few turnovers, don't make any themselves, get a few more stops to give the offense more possessions.

Sure, that could happen in the topsy-turvy AFC. Absolutely. The heat shield held, and the chutes opened for Apollo 13. Miracles do happen.

But I wouldn't hold my breath. Patriots have failed to do those things when it really counted this season (and the two before this). Sunday was just the latest and final example.