Matt Patricia is an easy target, and he probably knows it.
Rocket scientist. Looks like a Deadhead. Failed tenure in Detroit. Some really questionable press conference moments. Trails Bill Belichick everywhere. And a former defensive coordinator trying to make it as an offensive coordinator at Belichick's direction.
Some of it he has certainly brought on himself. Taking the keys of a largely successful offense over two decades and changing a lot of things, for some guys who were heading into their second season, hasn't seemed the brightest idea. But time will tell.
Some of it is unfair. Yes, there are certainly things and playcalls to question. But he's made some good calls as well. This game against the Packers saw some of his better moments, especially saddled with a third-string rookie QB in Bailey Zappe. He also had some questionable decisions that might have cost the Patriots a win against a very average, for now, Packers team.
A look at both sides of the coin via coaches film analysis, before we get into unit grades, gamecharts, player ratings and 5 up/5 down:
THE GOOD (SIX PLAYS)
2Q: 3-3-NE 34 (12:08) (Shotgun) R.Stevenson left guard to NE 38 for 4 yards (D.Campbell; P.Smith).
After a questionable short pass goes for minus-2 yards — man, the Patriots are really not good at these quick WR passes and screens, but they keep trying them — the easiest thing for Patricia to do is call for a pass, possibly a play-action pass. But give him credit. He anticipates the Packers are going to load the box, perhaps bluff a double-A gap blitz, but still calls for a run. He guessed exactly right and the draw play gave Rhamondre Stevenson a beat to read the blocking, David Andrews a chance to get on the linebacker, and they converted nicely.
2Q: 2-5-NE 30 (8:11) (Shotgun) K.Bourne left end to NE 45 for 15 yards (Q.Walker)
This looked to be a new, deceptive play and well-timed by Patricia with the Patriots again ahead of the sticks. This is a situation where the Packers could bring pressure, or be aggressive against the run. Patriots show the run action of a staple play: pull LG Cole Strange and run behind him. But Damien Harris instead flips the ball to Kendrick Bourne on the end around. Not sure if this was planned, but it couldn't work any better for them that two rookies, Quay Walker and Kingsley Enagbare, are both on the side the Patriots want to run Bourne to. Both rookies are completely faked out, leaving a huge alley for Bourne to cut back into for 15 yards. Well-done.
2Q: 3-3-GB 43 (2:34) (Shotgun) R.Stevenson right end to GB 35 for 8 yards (R.Ford).
Another situation where pass is most likely (with a real starter, perhaps having Zappe at QB made Patricia lean more towards this call), but Patricia goes with a run and he correctly guesses the Packers are going to be in man and stack the box. A draw both takes advantage of the Packers' aggressiveness and allows the Patriots to execute key blocks from Isaiah Wynn, Hunter Henry and Nelson Agholor.
3Q: 1-15-GB 25 (4:59) B.Zappe pass short right to D.Parker for 25 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
You expect the Packers to play a little softer here and the play likely was designed just to hit Agholor on a little drag to get some yardage back, but give Patricia credit for using Bourne to go vertical and using playaction on a tough down to do that. That threat leads to a coverage bust from CB Eric Stokes, who was supposed to be in Cover 3 but played man.
4Q: 2-8-GB 30 (12:31) M.Cannon reported in as eligible. B.Zappe pass deep left to N.Agholor to GB 9 for 21 yards (R.Ford).
4Q: 2-5-GB 5 (11:19) M.Cannon reported in as eligible. D.Harris left tackle for 5 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
Again, Patricia goes to playaction and again Stokes busts this play (he's supposed to be in man but plays Cover 3 — reverse of the earlier play; he's a bit lost obviously and his coach lets him know it).
Normally playaction doesn't work on 2nd and 8 (as we'll see), but the Patriots had run the ball five consecutive times. The Packers totally get sucked up by the run action, and that contributes to Agholor being wide open.
On the touchdown play, Patricia wouldn't be criticized for calling a pass play from the 5-yard line, but he sticks with what's working — Trent Brown's run blocking. Nice blocking across the board and nice cutback by Harris.
NOT-SO-GREAT (THREE CRUCIAL PLAYS)
1Q: 2-9-GB 18 (10:31) B.Hoyer pass short left to D.Parker to GB 19 for -1 yards (R.Douglas).
Patriots are going down the field on their opening possession and are completely halted by this play, a WR screen that is a bad call based on the yardage and anticipating softer coverage. Even a run would have been better and kept the Patriots in the game for a touchdown. Third and 10 leads to a field goal. Possible 4-point play.
1Q: 2-8-GB 35 (6:23) (Shotgun) B.Hoyer pass short right to D.Harris to GB 37 for -2 yards (A.Amos).
Another poor call based on the situation. The call is for a pick play/wheel to Harris but the player Henry is supposed to pick (Walker) blitzes and the player in coverage takes down Harris for a 2-yard loss. Hoyer is sacked on the next play, knocked from the game and the Patriots are taken out of field-goal range. A 3-point play.
4Q: 2-6-NE 29 (5:23) B.Zappe sacked at NE 20 for -9 yards (J.Reed).
Here are the positional ratings against the Packers:
OFFENSE
Quarterback (2.5 out of 5)
Between both quarterbacks, this was about as down the middle as you can get: 3 plus plays, 2 minus plays. There wasn't much degree of difficulty on anything Bailey Zappe did, besides just not convulsing in his first NFL action — and that's not nothing. But we don't grade on a scale here. If you are playing in the game, you are graded against an average NFL player at your position. Zappe did fine for what he was asked to do, but he didn't do anything that that stood out either way. He was really flirting with disaster on the final third down in overtime when he spun around, when Hunter Henry was not initially open on a rub route that Nelson Agholor failed to execute. You do not do that unless you are a special athlete. And at 6-0 1/2, 215 with a 4.88 40, Zappe is not that. Will be interesting to see how he does with a full week of reps. His strengths are his accuracy and composure. He lacks much of an arm.
Running backs (3 out of 5)
Solid game for both backs against a bad run defense thanks to a light line and a rookie LB Quay Walker, who is often late to fit his run. Patriots zeroed in on that. Thought Damien Harris was better overall. ... Stevenson had some blocking issues in this game. He didn't help Isaiah Wynn on the sack that knocked Hoyer from the game and allowed a knockdown to Walker. He also cut back a screen pass when the blocking was set up outside if he stuck with it.
Receivers (2.5 out of 5)
Nelson Agholor may have produced two big plays, but he always seems to have two screwups each game. He dropped Zappe's first real pass. Yes it was low, but it should have been caught. And he completely whiffed on his rub route for Hunter Henry on the final third down of the game. The play was set up well, Agholor just whiffed, Henry was covered and Zappe had to scramble. ... Speaking of Henry, wonder how he feels about playing 49 snaps and run blocking on 30 of them. Normally his pass play to run block ratio is 2:1 the other way. He's played 172 snaps this season, and has nine targets, five catches and 41 yards. ... He was better than Jonnu Smith, the other $12.5-million TE, who was a minus-3 before exiting with a high ankle sprain of his own. ... Let the record show that Kendrick Bourne — and not Lil'Jordan Humphrey — was on the field for the first TD drive of the game and the Patriots still ran 4 times for 30 yards. Look at Bourne's sheet so far this season, what a joke:
He's literally done nothing wrong on the field (in my lay opinion).
Offensive line (3 out of 5)
This line had more really good play than a normal game (17 plus blocks, including a team-high five from Cole Strange), but Isaiah Wynn and Strange really brought the grade down. Trent Brown, David Andrews and Mike Onwenu were all excellent again, which is the norm. ...Not to totally absolve Wynn on the strip sack, but he did get stepped on and it screwed up his pass set. ... On the first play of the second drive of the game, Brown ran the wrong play and Strange got absolutely rocked by Rashan Gary while pulling. ... Strange has settled into a groove where he has some really excellent plays, but for each of those, he has two or three where he's either manhandled, doesn't get the right leverage, or straight whiffs due to being too aggressive. He should still be playing, I'm not worried about him. He'll learn and get better. He needs to play, and the rock-solid three allows the Patriots to let him learn in the job.
DEFENSE
Defensive line (2 out of 5)
Daniel Ekuale (in for Lawrence Guy and a big step back), Davon Godchaux and Deatrich Wise were the biggest reasons why the run defense suffered — and they are now among the worst in the league. ... Godchaux was pretty bad in the first half, but rebounded in the second half. Looked like someone lit a fire under him. At times, he looks disinterested. Ekuale is a gap shooter, that's it. ... It's a lot quieter than most would like (just six impactful plays through four games), but Christian Barmore has played better the last two weeks. He's still adjusting to getting a lot more attention. He's no surprise this year. Teams have a plan for him. His fewest impact plays in a 4-game stretch last year was 7.5 (Weeks 10-13). He didn't announce himself until Week 7 last year vs. Jets (7.5). Maybe he's a slow starter. ... I said this last year for a long time, but thank goodness for Matthew Judon. They really have no edge pass rush besides him, unless Deatrich Wise is playing a fourth-string OT (very quiet vs. Packers).
Linebackers (1 out of 5)
Jahlani Tavai was by far the team's best linebacker in his game, and he gave up two huge plays — that's all you need to know about the state of the linebackers. Bring on Jamie Collins. Hell, might as well call Dont'a Hightower while you're at it. Maybe Tedy Bruschi. ... They just got run over in the run game, which is what happens when Guy isn't there to stand up to double teams.
Secondary (2 out of 5)
Jack Jones, Jonathan Jones and Myles Bryant made a combined eight impactful plays — and some of them were really big. But they also combined for 11 minus plays, also big. ... Jack Jones better keep making big plays, because he gives up his fair share of them too. He's like the Patriots' version of Trevon Diggs — a big play waiting to happen, for both teams. He'll get more consistent with experience. ... He has to have better awareness to jump out on the Christian Watson speed sweep. ... Think the Patriots have to take a look at starting Jones outside and moving Jonathan Jones (two TDs allowed) back to the slot. Not saying they need to do it, but take a look on a drive to see what it looks like. Maybe Bryant and Jalen Mills go to the bench. ... Bryant is better than most give him credit for. Slot guys are an easy target.
FIVE UP
Trent Brown: Flexed after one block before Harris' TD. He should, he's played great the last three games.
Matthew Judon: Best player on this team, week in and week out.
Jack Jones: Probably saved three points with a strip, and had a pick-six. Didn't tackle well at all, but that's a lot of production.
Damien Harris: Was feeling it in this game.
Marcus Jones: Most of his production was due to blocking, so I wouldn't go overboard yet.
FIVE DOWN
Mack Wilson: He and the rest of the linebackers had a rough time with the Packers' ghost motion. It's like they had never seen it before.
Isaiah Wynn: He's getting the QBs killed. Marcus Cannon time.
Daniel Ekuale: Pressed into service, and he could not hold up against the run.
Jonnu Smith: Three negative plays in 17 snaps. Now he's hurt. Not good.
Jake Bailey: Another two bad touchbacks and a crucial 31-yard mishit. He's much better than this.