We all wondered what the Patriots would do in 'starting over' after their second-straight blowout loss to the Saints.
Well, now we know.
It sure seemed like the edict from Bill Belichick to Bill O'Brien in their Monday staff meeting was two-fold:
"We can't block anything worth a damn, so don't get cute. The quicker, the better."
And.
"Our quarterback is out of sorts and his decision-making can't be trusted. Make it as simple and quick as possible."
And O'Brien did his job. It was probably his best work in the small sample size since his return. If the players executed just a little bit better, especially Mac Jones, the Patriots probably walk out of Vegas with a much-needed victory. It didn't happen, because their players are just not enough right now. Some of that is due to injury (QB pressure machines Vederian Lowe and Atonio Mafi). Some of that is due to an accumulation of poor blocking (Mac Jones, Rhamondre Stevenson).
Put it this way: when Ezekiel Elliott is clearly your best offensive weapon - and it's not really close - there are a lot of issues.
And how the Patriots used Jones leaves some very big questions. I mean, look at this passing chart.
There were four passes clearly beyond 10 yards (one completion). O'Brien's plan was fairly clear: few deep drops, few deep routes, repetitive and simple routes, plenty of targets in a 10-yard rectangle with checkdowns.
They clearly don't trust Jones very much, and that's understandable. He even reinforced it with his terrible interception. That excruciatingly slow Drive To Somewhere? That was about a lack of faith in the entire offensive operation, including Jones. They are doing everything they can to NOT speed him up. Run a faster offense, and you run the risk of Jones getting out of control and turning it over. A lot of people will take that as a complete indictment of Jones and use it as evidence that it's over for him. I don't totally disagree, but this is what happens when the pass protection is so consistently poor in the first five games — Jones is that sped up and it would happen to 95 percent of quarterbacks.
But what's the end game with this?
In my opinion, just based on the film and the direction of the offense, the Patriots are attempting triage on the offense and Jones — and are on a week-to-week basis with the quarterback. The passing scheme is so simple at this point that anyone could step in, whether it be Bailey Zappe, Will Grier or, much less likely, Malik Cunningham. There isn't much support in the building for Zappe, and at least some just want to see what Grier can do. Jones' advantage is that he's much more advanced in changing routes and getting out of bad run looks than anyone else, and that's keeping him in his spot.
Jones didn't quite lose the job against the Raiders, but he didn't enhance his grip either. The Patriots could end his reign at any time, and if it was this week, that would not surprise me. There's enough there to send him to the bench, but there might have been enough in the second half to keep him in his spot. Who would be next? I think Grier has more support than Zappe, but that's dependent on practice.
Here are the positional ratings against the Raiders:
OFFENSE
Quarterback (0 out of 5)
The only plus play I had for Jones in this game was the throw to Devante Parker - on the next-to-last play of the game. He's in a very rough stretch, and almost all of it had to do with his lack of protection entering this game. But this is a bottom-line business. If he retains his job, he has to get out of this funk. Maybe his mediocre protection in this game (an improvement) helps it along.
Negatives plays:
First quarter
3-7-NE 17 (2:20) (Shotgun) M.Jones sacked at NE 6 for -11 yards (A.Butler): I put half this sack on him and Atonio Mafi. Jones was locked in on Henry and Bourne in the middle of the field against four Raiders. He should have quickly come off that and drove the ball to his left to Parker.
Second quarter
1-10-LV 29 (9:53) (Shotgun) M.Jones pass short middle to R.Stevenson to LV 25 for 4 yards (L.Masterson): Had the safety in a bind to the left between Cunningham and Bourne. Jones had the shot play to Bourne.
2-10-NE 43 (5:38) (Shotgun) M.Jones pass short right to H.Henry to 50 for 7 yards (T.Moehrig, D.Deablo): Had Bourne or Parker as better options. Don't hate it because it did gain 7 yards, but there were better choices.
2-5-LV 30 (3:48) (Shotgun) M.Jones pass deep right intended for H.Henry INTERCEPTED by T.Moehrig at LV 12. T.Moehrig to LV 34 for 22 yards(D.Parker). LV-T.Moehrig was injured during the play: Just a horrible throw. He can make that throw.
Third quarter
3-8-NE 27 (2:43) (Shotgun) M.Jones pass incomplete short left to H.Henry: Bourne was coming wide open over the middle but Jones was locked on Henry. He's done that more this season than ever.
Fourth quarter
1-10-LV 46 (9:26) M.Jones pass incomplete deep right to T.Thornton: Deep shot was there but Jones threw an awful balloon ball not even close out of bounds.
2-6-LV 17 (5:47) (Shotgun) M.Jones pass short middle to T.Montgomery to LV 8 for 9 yards (B.Young). LV-A.Robertson was injured during the play: Nearly picked off when he had Gesicki wide open in the middle.
Running backs (2 out of 5)
Elliott looks really good and it's getting to the point where they should just go with him. Elliott also made a great veteran decision to abort the handoff on the "sack" with 3:55 3Q. It was a running play, but Bourne missed his block being so late after the snap. ... Stevenson had one really nice 15-yard run where he looked like his old self, but a drop and 1.5 stuffed runs? Puzzling.
Receivers (1 out of 5)
Bourne was good in this game, but all but one of his receptions was pretty simple and some zone work. ... Outside of the final safety, Mike Gesicki actually looked OK. His poor route was the reason why he had to pick that pass off the turf . ... Tyquan Thornton's speed is real on film. I'm starting to doubt whether Jones can throw deep to him on time. ... Hunter Henry's injury looked bad on film - at least a high ankle sprain, if not a knee. ... Devante Parker had one plus catch, but was otherwise garbage, especially that third-down lazy route. Just terrible. He should be benched or cut along with Juju Smith-Schuster. ... I can't believe I want more Pharoah Brown, but I do. If Henry is down, make him the top TE. That's where they are. He can block and had a nice catch with YAC.
Offensive line (1.5 out of 5)
David Andrews, who twice was legally held by Adam Butler (sack and the safety), played really well but he's not getting any push in the run game. ... Trent Brown again graded out well, he's just inconsistent. ... I wonder if Vederian Lowe got hazard pay for having to block Maxx Crosby so many times with very little help. That was unfair. ... Is anyone teaching Atonio Mafi how to handle stunts? Every week it's the same thing. ... Sidy Sow was actually solid in this game, outside his penalty. This was shocking. I don't know what to make of that. I need to see it happen again.
THREE UP
Ezekiel Elliott: He's the team's best offensive player right now. That says it all.
Kendrick Bourne: Nothing extraordinary outside his 36-yard catch-and-run, but at least he's productive.
David Andrews: Only allowed a half-sack thanks to a hold by Adam Butler.
FOUR DOWN
Mac Jones: I don't think this game was much of a step forward.
Vederian Lowe: Dante Scarnecchia would not have allowed Lowe to be on an island like that.
Atonio Mafi: Teams are now targeting with stunts, for good reason.
DeVante Parker: Horrible route, drop and his attitude should send him to the bench. Belichick needs to make an example of someone.