BSJ Wild-Card Game Report: Bills 47, Patriots 17 - New England's season ends in embarrassing fashion

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

HEADLINES

Patriots put up no defense vs. Josh Allen: If it was one time, you could say the other guy was just better. But for the Patriots to go a second-straight game — and basically the last 10 quarters in three matchups — without making the Bills even punt the ball should leave little doubt that almost all the issues reside with the Patriots' defense. In the last two games, the Bills punted zero times, scored touchdowns on nine straight possessions and on 11 of 18 drives overall. In the last two games, as the Patriots lost by a combined score 80-38, they allowed an average of 8.9 plays per drive and 63.7 yards. Josh Allen threw for 5 TDs and had just four incompletions as Allen was 21 of 25 (84%), 308 yards and zero interceptions for a passer rating of 157.6. Allen also rushed six times for 66 yards. According to PFF: "Rookie Christian Barmore finished with three of the unit's six pressures. Altogether, the Patriots defensive line hit Allen just one time."

Patriots make few adjustments in rematch: The Patriots tried a 5-1 (five on the line with Kyle Van Noy and Dont'a Hightower on the edge with three down DL) to start this game, but there was clearly no improvement overall. Allen was still allowed to roam and do whatever he wanted to. At the end of the day, the Patriots were hamstrung by both a lack of personnel in the backend that could play good man-to-man coverage, and very little pass rush up front with Matthew Judon disappearing in the final five games, and Christian Barmore battling through an injury. The Jonathan Jones injury coupled with the Stephon Gilmore trade left the Patriots without adequate personnel to defend a team like the Bills. When Jalen Mills went on the COVID list and the Patriots were down to players like Joejuan Williams, D'Angelo Ross and Justin Bethel matching up against the Bills. The Patriots never had the personnel to marry the rush and coverage against this Bills team.

Mac Jones shows well - besides the two interceptions: If you just looked at the bottom line and stats, you'd say Mac Jones was not up to the task in his first postseason start as he was 24 of 38 for 232 yards, 2 TDs, 3 sacks and 2 INTs for a 75.8 rating. But I think Jones showed well, and might have answered the cold weather question for good. After the Bills drove the field for a TD to open the game, the Patriots came right back with two huge conversions in third and long, but the drive went from possible TD answer to interception when Micah Hyde make a terrific play to take a TD away from Nelson Agholor. 

Matthew Judon reduced to package role: Judon, who received an annual $13.5 million contract from the Patriots in the offseason and dominated in the first 12 games of the season, had played at least 80 percent of the snaps in 13 of the 17 regular-season games. He won't approach that number in this one as he failed to play the first three snaps of the game — the only game besides Jacksonville returning from COVID he did not start — and was reduced to just playing as part of a package. He totaled one tackle and was credited with one QB hit.

TURNING POINT

Probably very early, when Josh Allen ran for 26 yards on 2nd and 10 during the first possession. At that point you knew not much was going to change from the last meeting.

SECOND GUESS

Belichick electing to punt on fourth down twice:

Early in the second quarter from his own 34 on 4th and 1 down 14-0.

At the end of the next drive, down 20-0, with 4th and 8 at the NE 49.

In both instances, Belchick should have known better than anyone that his defense obviously was going to have no good answers for the Bills this time around. The best options were to go for broke and try desperately to get some points to stay in the game.

He punted both times and the Patriots were still blown out.

ONE UP

Kendrick Bourne: Looked to be the only person on both sides of the ball that was a real difference-maker. He had eight touches for 91 yards and two touchdowns on fourth-down receptions.

THREE DOWN

Bill Belichick: He knowingly left himself thin in the secondary with the trade of Gilmore, and the Jones injury exposed that. He refused to play younger players in the front seven like Josh Uche and Chase Winovich and instead ran it back with much of the same group that was responsible for the Boogeymen demise in 2019 — shockingly, it ended even worse.

Matthew Judon: Another big game down the stretch and he was a no-show. He obviously could be hurt and headed to offseason surgery, but all we can do is go on the information we have — he was not listed on the injury report this week.

JC Jackson: He likes to talk a big game, but he allowed five receptions from six targets for 98 yards — all of which led the team, according to PFF.

Trent Brown: Led the team with four pressures and one sack. Shaq Mason also allowed a sack.

INJURIES

Ja'Whaun Bentley (arm) left and did not return.

TOP PLAYS

Bah ... no.

THREE TAKES BEDARD WILL PROBABLY REGRET LATER

The defensive staff should be embarrassed: I've seen much less talented versions of this defense be able to do their job and execute against good offensive teams (like 2011). That the coaches could not get this group to play better as the season circled around the toilet is an indictment on, yes, the personnel, but also their coaching. A consistent lack of rush discipline was a big issue, as was the interior line that got pushed around even in this game — Bills had 29 carries for 174 yards. Belichick has to take a hard look at this group in the offseason. I'm not sure just installing Matt Patricia (he allowed 41 points and 538 yards in his final game as Patriots DC in Super Bowl LII) is the answer, and he's probably still under contract with the Lions.

Josh Allen is not this good: Don't take the Patriots and Belichick off the hook. Allen has greatly improved and he's become a very good player, but he is not this good. The Patriots allowed him to do that. Don't believe me? As I wrote after the Dolphins loss:

You could make a good case that (Allen's performance) 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.

Forget the offense, the defense needs all the help this offseason: I see people constantly talking about Calvin Ridley ... lol, like that will help you get off the field against the Bills. This defense has some serious issues, and not a whole lot of resources to solve them with. We'll obviously cover all of this in the offseason, but the Patriots need: at least two more man cover corners (three if they trade JC Jackson). two more real run stuffers in the middle of the line, an edge compliment to Judon, two linebackers with speed, a new free safety if McCourty retires. Also wouldn't hurt if Robert Kraft told Belichick he must start playing younger players and stop recycling guys who were responsible for 2019 and '21 end of season debacles.