BSJ Game Report: Seahawks 23, Patriots 20 (OT) - New England can't finish off late lead

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

HEADLINES

Patriots let one slip away: Leading 20-17 with less than 7 minutes left, Antonio Gibson turned a 5-yard loss into a 45-yard gain to set up the Patriots with a first down at the Seattle 25. A touchdown would basically put the game away. A field goal would inch them closer to victory. 

Neither happened. Rhamondre Stevenson had back-to-back rushes of 2 yards, and then on 3rd and 6 from the Seattle 21, Jacoby Brissett was sacked for a 9-yard loss, pushing Joey Slye's field goal attempt to 48 yards. Julian Love came off the end and blocked it between Michael Jordan and Austin Hooper.

From my seat in the press box, I didn't think anyone was open and the line didn't hold up again. I mean, the kick should not get blocked.

The defense had their chances too. On the ensuing drive that started with 3:54 left, the Patriots allowed 6 yards on 3rd and, a 14-yard pass to DK Metcalf, and it might have been worse if Noah Fant didn't have one of Seattle's five dropped passes. Patriots held the Seahawks to a field goal, and because the Patriots wasted two timeouts before the 13-minute mark of the fourth quarter, they really couldn't do much with 55 seconds remaining.

In overtime, the Patriots took the ball despite LT Vederian Lowe being injured (replaced by Caeden Wallace). Patriots had 3rd and 1 before they decided to get fancy with Hunter Henry at LT, Wallace at TE and Tyquan Thornton in the backfield. Stevenson was stuffed, Wallace was flagged and the Patriots punted.

"That's all on us. That's on us as coaches. I don't put anything on the player," Mayo said. "Look, he was in there at times. He had to report. Then he played some tackle and there was some confusion. Once again, there was no receiver outside of him. That's our fault 100 percent."

On defense in overtime, New England could have forced a long field goal, punt or fourth-down attempt, but Christian Gonzalez missed a tackle on Zach Charbonnet and he gained the 7 yards needed to flip the chains.

"It's all about the details," Jerod Mayo said. "We get the little things right, the big things will take care of themselves. And we just didn't take care of the little things, and we weren't as detailed ... well, I should say, on top of our P's and Q's, like we should have been, which is my responsibility. Look, I take 100% responsibility and but this is a tough football team, no matter what said outside this building. And I told these guys that as well, that was tough football team, not only physically, but also mentally. I appreciate their effort. Just wasn't enough."

Patriots passed for just 32 yards after halftime: In the first half, Jacoby Brissett was 11 of 19 for 117 yards and a touchdown to Ja'Lynn Polk. 98 of those yards came from Hunter Henry. In the second half and overtime, Brissett was 4 of 8 for 32 yards and was sacked twice.

Of Brissett's 27 pass attempts, just five went to receivers for 3 catches and 19 yards. Demario Douglas was not targeted.

"We definitely have to start to get the ball down the field," Mayo said. "We've got to start pushing the ball down the field to, you know, get that shell defense, the two high, I'm sorry, to get that shell defense and we got to be able to run, gotta be able to pass, gotta be able to ping pong between the two. It's something that we need to work on."

TURNING POINT

The sack of Brissett/blocked field with 4 minutes left. If the Patriots convert the third down, they control the game. If they get the field goal, the Seahawks after to score a touchdown and that's more opportunities to get off the field.

SECOND GUESS

The playcall on third and 1 in overtime. Too cute. This team is better when it's simple.

Using a timeout three plays into the second half

THREE UP

Hunter Henry: Was the entire passing offense.

Keion White: The second-year defensive end once again starred with 1.5 sacks and seven tackles. Just brings swag and big plays up front the team needed without Matthew Judon.

Running backs: Gibson and Rhamondre Stevenson combined to rush 32 times for 177 yards. Stevenson was 21 for 81 and Gibson was 11 for 96.

THREE DOWN

Secondary: Had two big pass interference penalties, had a bust on DK Metcalf's 56-yard touchdown. Metcalf and Jaxon Smith-Njigba had 22 catches on 30 targets and 246 yards and a touchdown.

No WR production: You can't win in this league consistently with 3 catches and 19 yards from your receivers. Alex Van Pelt needs to figure something out.

Mike Onwenu: Seemed to have a really rough game in pass protection.

Christian Gonzalez: Kyle Dugger took responsibility for the Metcalf bust but I'm not sure about that. And Gonzalez dove at Charbonnet's feet on that key third down in overtime. Gotta wrap there.

INJURIES

Ja'Whaun Bentley: Left with a left shoulder injury and did not return. Hopefully it's not a pectoral injury.

Vederian Lowe: Left the game before overtime with a knee injury and did not return, but stayed on the sideline.

TOP PLAYS

THREE TAKES BEDARD WILL PROBABLY REGRET LATER

Stop with the Drake Maye stuff: It has already started in my Twitter mentions. Jacoby Brissett was not the reason the team lost this game. I would say it was equal part some failings of the offensive line, and the defense not getting key stops and winning the game like they're supposed to with all the money draft picks invested over there.

Alex Van Pelt has to step his game up: There's no excuse for Pop Douglas to be a total non-factor through two games. There are ways to get the ball in the hands of your playmakers that don't involve dropback passes and he needs to figure it out. And he needs to dial up some shot plays in the red zone when the opportunities present themselves, like right after the Gibson play at the 25. Go for the jugular.

Mayo lost this coaching battle: Both rookie head coaches made mistakes in this one but it seemed like the Seahawks coaches had the better adjustments down the stretch and in scheme. Seahawks offensive coordinator Ryan Grubb was well prepared for some of the exotic stuff the Patriots like to do, and DeMarcus Covington didn't have any answers. Macdonald was ahead of Van Pelt all day. It starts with the head coach.