At this point, after 12 games of watching this actually get worse as the season has gone along, I don't have all that many words to set this up. The Patriots are inept on offense across the board at this point, so let's just get into a bunch of plays in the Giants game, mostly notably the three interceptions — with the coaches film analysis to follow:
3-7-NE 29 (10:59) (Shotgun) M.Jones pass incomplete short right to D.Parker (A.Jackson).
This is a 4x1 set with DeVante Parker as the x-so to Mac Jones' left. This was a personnel fail and an execution fail. Giants CB Adoree Jackson is all by himself on that side of the field against Parker. If he had any fear of Parker running by him, or doing a double move, Jackson would give a lot of cushion and be ready to bail. Does that happen? No, because Jackson has zero fear Parker is going to beat him deep. That's problem #1.
Problem #2 is that Parker stumbles coming out of his break, which slows him down and allows Jackson to beat him to the spot.
This slant should be wide open if anyone feared Parker, and if he didn't stumble.
1-10-NE 39 (8:28) M.Jones pass incomplete short left to M.Gesicki (X.McKinney).
This is the first Mike Gesicki play.
Jones sees the Giants are in man to man and changes the route. He's expecting Gesicki to run an out and up. As Gesicki breaks toward the sideline, Jones seems to grasp that Gesicki is not going to run the up. The problem is he's about to release the ball. Jones pulled the ball toward the sideline and high just to get an incompletion. He's not happy with Gesicki.
1-10-50 (7:02) M.Jones pass short right to R.Stevenson pushed ob at NYG 44 for 6 yards (A.Jackson; M.McFadden).
Jones had a chance to throw the post corner to Parker but he takes the checkdown. Not a minus decision for the Patriots, but a big play possibly left on the field.
1-10-NYG 40 (5:57) M.Jones pass incomplete short left to D.Douglas.
Two-man route and Jones throws a good ball, but Demario Douglas doesn't get out of his break either because he was held, he turned the wrong way to the inside first (my bet), or he just got muscled off the play.
3-7-NYG 37 (5:08) (Shotgun) M.Jones pass incomplete short right to T.Thornton.
The cornerback is way off Tyquan Thornton. Jones takes on a 3-step drop before throwing. Does Thornton get off the line quickly? No. Is he ready for a pass when Jones hits his third step? No. Does he take another false step at the top of his route, wasting more time? Yes. This is just terrible. This should be a layup.
1-10-NE 20 (2:01) M.Jones pass short middle to R.Stevenson to NE 27 for 7 yards (A.Jackson)
Three-man route. This will be the same exact play where Bailey Zappe later throws his interception. Remember that. Little different coverage (this is Cover 3) but the free safety, Jason Pinnock, stays very deep (Xavier McKinney is the strong safety on this play). The throw is to Juju-Smith Schuster on the under route while Parker runs a clear out. Despite great protection, Jones just takes the checkdown. Not a horrible decision with 7 yards picked up, but another play left on the field.
2-7-NE 35 (:09) M.Jones pass deep left intended for D.Douglas INTERCEPTED by D.Banks at NYG 43. D.Banks ran ob at NYG 43 for no gain.
Cole Strange gets dusted but Rhamondre Stevenson does a great job picking him out. It's only a two-man route. Once Jones saw the Giants had five in coverage, he just should have thrown the ball out of bounds or run with it. I think he tried to throw it out of bounds, but it obviously wasn't far enough.
2-9-NE 10 (13:24) (Shotgun) M.Jones pass incomplete short left to M.Gesicki.
Second Gesicki play. Same exact concept. The tight end still doesn't run it right but it appeared Jones may have wanted a hold instead of being not happy with Gesicki on this one. The TE didn't really get a chance to run his route.
3-4-NYG 23 (4:39) (Shotgun) M.Jones pass short middle intended for D.Douglas INTERCEPTED by B.Okereke at NYG 19. B.Okereke to NE 26 for 55 yards (M.Jones; S.Sow).
Giants show all-out blitz with LB Bobby Okereke over David Andrews. The center has to respect the possible rush. With Demario Douglas as the RB, he likely has a free release and won't be asked to block. Justin Simmons is unaccounted for here. If he comes, Jones is responsible for that.
At the snap, Okereke drops out but Simmons is still unaccounted for. Jones knows this and is waiting for Douglas, who just watched Simmons run right by him, to turn his head around as the hot receiver. The rookie doesn't do that immediately. In fact, he doesn't turn until Jones' pass is almost to Okereke.
Multiple fails on this play — as usual — but Jones just needs to take the sack or throw it in the dirt to preserve the field goal.
1-10-NE 35 (12:40) B.Zappe pass short left intended for J.Smith-Schuster INTERCEPTED by X.McKinney at 50. X.McKinney pushed ob at NE 32 for 18 yards (T.Thornton).
Zappe appears to kill the original pass play called to run the ball. At the last second, it appears he reloads the play, which tells everyone the original play is back on.
Patriots run the same play as before, when Jones missed Smith-Schuster. This time, McKinney is the one deep safety and the Giants are in Cover 1 with man coverage. Zappe is reading McKinney, who does a good job of hanging back. Zappe throws to Smith-Schuster expecting McKinney to honor Parker's vertical route with some help — and that's what 90 percent of safeties would do that.
McKinney doesn't do that. He is uber aggressive, reading Zappe and makes an Ed Reed-type, sensational play. Not many players in the league make this play. Not a great decision by Zappe, but an even better play by McKinney. Devin McCourty is not making this play.