Everything you need to know from the Patriots’ loss to the Chargers in quickie form, with BSJ insight and analysis:
HEADLINES
Patriots change QBs, but it doesn't change much: Did Bailey Zappe play better than Mac Jones? After an awful first half and with no turnovers, you could definitely make that argument. Zappe had his moments in finishing 13 of 25 for 141 yards, 5 sacks and a 68.9 rating, including a nice pass to DeVante Parker out of the end zone, and a couple of nice moves to get out of pressure on third down. But at the end of the game, it didn't amount to much because so much else on this offense is broken — the line was terrible, there was a 12-men in the huddle and a delay of game penalty — and Tyquan Thornton dropped a nice deep pass. If anything, this just reinforced the entire Patriots offensive operation is, in the words of Jabrill Peppers, "ass."
Patriots have chances late but protection/Zappe kills them: Patriots had 2nd and 5 from the NE 48 near the end of the third quarter and Zappe took a killer 11-yard sack late in the down. On the next drive, the Patriots got to the LAC 28 thanks to a big Thorton reverse. But Zappe was sacked on third down and Ezekiel Elliott blew a blitz pickup on fourth down.
"That's totally on me," Zappe said. "I have to understand where we are on the field. ... I tried to do too much and that's on me."
Stevenson suffers major injury: The offense's best player, Rhamondre Stevenson, appeared to sustain a season-ending knee or ankle injury when Mike Onwneu, who had probably his worst game as a pro, whiffed on block and Stevenson was taken down awkwardly on a hip-drop tackle.
Weather contributes to awful football game: It rained fairly heavily throughout the game with intermittent windy conditions and it helped contribute to one of the sloppiest offensive games you've ever seen. The receivers had big ball issues, the QBs weren't very accurate. You expect that from the Patriots, but the Chargers entered with the 8th-ranked offense.
Patriots
— Boston Sports Info (@bostonsportsinf) December 3, 2023
Are the first team EVER, in the Super Bowl era, to allow 10 or fewer points in 3 consecutive games and lose them all
just a miserable offense
TURNING POINT
Patriots looked to be in business for a go-ahead score late when a Thornton 39-yard reverse got them into Chargers territory and then New England faced 3rd and 3 at the LAC 28.
The next two plays were sacks on third and fourth down. That was their chance.
SECOND GUESSES
Why not mix in a few Malik Cunningham packages? Just looking for a big play somehow. He played zero snaps in the game.
Didn't like the punt on 4th and 5 from the NE 48 — right before Bryce Baringer shanked one for 26 yards.
Didn't like the lack of pace with the ball with 4:36 left. When the drive ended at the NE 42, 2:31 had come off the clock and they ran seven plays.
ONE UP
Defense: Hard to really single anyone out because it seemed like they all made plays at some point. 26 points allowed in three games, six to the Chargers... pretty damn good, even with the rain aiding the play.
THREE DOWN
Offense: The entire unit is just not good enough in any area. Almost made Ezekiel Elliott an up but he blew a big blitz pickup.
Special teams: Gave up a huge punt return. Bryce Baringer had two awful punts. Chargers totally outplayed them and that matters big time in a game like this.
Coaching: The head coach, offensive coordinator and offensive position coaches got exposed today in the QB switch.
TOP PLAYS
TYQUAN BREAKING FREE!!@Humble_Ty19 | #ForeverNE
— New England Patriots (@Patriots) December 3, 2023
📺: @NFLonCBS pic.twitter.com/AhD5zcJGfm
BZ to DP!@baileyzappe04 | @DeVanteParker11
— New England Patriots (@Patriots) December 3, 2023
📺: @NFLonCBS pic.twitter.com/IdbqujHBAW
.@_Uche35 coming in quick 😤
— New England Patriots (@Patriots) December 3, 2023
📺: @NFLonCBS pic.twitter.com/FNkbpBg0Ju
Eat, @EzekielElliott.
— New England Patriots (@Patriots) December 3, 2023
📺: @NFLonCBS pic.twitter.com/q66kfck6bS
INJURIES
Rhamondre Stevenson (ankle): Did not return. Looked serious.
Shaun Wade (illness): Did not return.
Ja'Whaun Bentley (chin): Returned.
TWO TAKES BEDARD WILL PROBABLY REGRET LATER
I've covered some bad teams, but this might be the worst: In terms of bad teams I've covered full-time, the 2004 Dolphins, who went 4-12 and got Dave Wannstedt fired during the season, was probably the worst, especially offensively with Jay Fiedler, AJ Feeley and Sage Rosenfels at quarterback. At least they scored 17.2 points per game and were a minus-79. Patriots are averaging 12.3 per game and are a minus-106. This is pretty bad.
Bill Belichick still ducking Mac Jones/offensive questions: Belichick, since he punted on taking up the QB question during the week, was pressed for answers on the lack of improvement from Jones and the offense and largely avoided the questions again, saying it wasn't time for a season review.
He finally gave a real answer, when asked why he didn't make the change earlier.
"Because we gave Mac his, you know, the opportunity to work through his progression with the offense and obviously haven't had a lot of production thought Bailey deserved a chance to play so he played today," Belichick said.
How hard is that? He gets paid a lot of money to be in charge of everything. It's part of his job to answer legit questions when asked at 2-10 and scoring 13 points the past three games.