Well before the Patriots' defense was emasculated late when the Jaguars ran 16 straight times (the first was actually an 11-yard scramble by Trevor Lawrence, which was also humiliating), DeMarcus Covington's unit allowed two second-quarter scoring drives that totaled 150 yards on 14 plays (10.7 average per play).
I don't think it's hyperbolic to say this was the most humiliating display of Patriots defense I've seen in some time, perhaps dating back to the Super Bowl LII loss to the Eagles.
In that run of play, the Patriots had five running plays where no one even lined up in a gap the Jaguars exploited. There were two completely blown coverages.
This wasn't about being soft. This wasn't about a lack of talent. This was one of three things, or a combination of them: either the Patriots were unprepared, they were not ready to play this game, or the players tabbed to be on the field just couldn't mentally handle it. I can't tell you which one it was, but all I can tell you is the Patriots were completely inept against the previously 1-5 Jaguars.
This is part of the reason why I am critical of the leadership of Jerod Mayo. I understood the offense was going to take time. But even with better quarterback play from Drake Maye the past two games, the Patriots are getting further and further away, and that's because of the defense (and special teams, which has fallen from top 5 DVOA to 16th). I know they have been hit by injuries and other issues, but the problems plaguing the defense are not solely about talent. Far from it. If Mayo can't get this unit to at least play with discipline and fundamentals, what chance does the team as a whole have?
A breakdown of the issues on those two drives (including video analysis), which I have never really seen before - or at least a short period of plays aside from the opening drive of a game (when you can get a lot of new plays/scheme):
1-10-JAX 32 (13:26) T.Lawrence pass short left to G.Davis pushed ob at JAX 45 for 13 yards (J.Tavai).
Not a horrible play because Jahlani Tavai isn't going to be able to cover a receiver going across the field under any circumstances, but somebody needs to slow up the low crosser by hitting him. Kyle Dugger could have been a little bit more alert.
1-10-JAX 45 (12:49) B.Thomas right end to JAX 46 for 1 yard (A.Jennings).
Nice job by Anfernee Jennings and Marcus Jones.
2-9-JAX 46 (12:01) (Shotgun) T.Lawrence pass deep middle to C.Kirk to NE 30 for 24 yards (K.Dugger).
This is more of a good Jaguars pass and catch than anything, but Tavai is again poor in coverage and doesn't anticipate the route with over-the-top help.
1-10-NE 30 (11:30) (No Huddle, Shotgun) D.Johnson up the middle to NE 20 for 10 yards (K.Dugger).
Completely blown gap. No one is on the second level where the run goes. This looks like Marte Mapu is in the wrong gap. Dugger actually prevents this from being a 30-yard touchdown run. Just horrible defense. (First blown gap)
1-10-NE 20 (10:54) (Shotgun) T.Bigsby left guard to NE 7 for 13 yards (M.Mapu; C.Elliss).
The Patriots again are missing a player on the second level in a gap. Bigsby starts to go to the void, so Tavai gets out of his gap and the cutback lane is open. This appears to be on Christian Ellis, but the Patriots could have avoided a lot of this stuff by playing more aggressive instead of two deep safeties. (Second blown gap)
1-7-NE 7 (10:09) (Shotgun) T.Lawrence pass incomplete short middle to D.Johnson (K.Dugger).
Good play by Dugger on the screen.
2-7-NE 7 (10:05) (Shotgun) T.Bigsby up the middle to NE 6 for 1 yard (R.McMillan).
Good play by Raekwon McMillan.
3-6-NE 6 (9:25) (Shotgun) T.Lawrence pass short middle to B.Thomas for 6 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
Jaguars are in trips. Dugger takes the outside route, Marco Wilson takes the vertical. Marcus Jones does not take the inside release, leaving Dugger and Jones on the same play. Complete coverage bust on something that is not complicated. (First busted coverage)
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1-10-JAX 18 (7:09) T.Bigsby right guard to JAX 21 for 3 yards (J.Roy, C.Elliss).
Good play by Jaquelin Roy taking on a double team, getting off a block and making the tackle.
2-7-JAX 21 (6:31) T.Lawrence pass deep middle to B.Thomas to NE 21 for 58 yards (C.Gonzalez).
Pretty good coverage by Gonzalez, but a better throw and catch. The problem? The Patriots tried one of their fancy coverage bluffs and it appears that Mapu completely blows it by not being the deep safety on this. Both Gonzalez and Jonathan Jones played like they had help in the middle of the field. It could have been Dugger, but I think Mapu was not where he was supposed to be. (Second busted coverage)
1-10-NE 21 (5:36) (No Huddle, Shotgun) T.Lawrence pass short left to E.Engram to NE 18 for 3 yards (K.White).
Nice job by Mapu and Keion White.
2-7-NE 18 (4:58) (Shotgun) T.Bigsby left guard to NE 8 for 10 yards (C.Gonzalez).
Same play as earlier. Patriots have two deep safeties, Ellis is outside the tackle box leaving the Patriots one gap short. Embarrassing. (Third blown gap)
1-8-NE 8 (4:19) (Shotgun) T.Bigsby right guard to NE 1 for 7 yards (K.Dugger; J.Jones).
McMillan appears to be run-blitzing into the A gap. The problem? No one replaces him. Either McMillan freelanced or Elliss forgot to replace him. Either way, another disaster. (Fourth blown gap)
2-1-NE 1 (3:35) (Shotgun) T.Bigsby right guard for 1 yard, TOUCHDOWN.
Both Ekuale and Elliss end up in the same gap. (Fifth blown gap)
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In the span of 14 plays, the Patriots had five blown gaps - not even blown, just players not even in them due to mental errors - that accounted for 41 yards and a touchdown, and two busted coverages for 64 yards and a touchdown.
That's 105 of 150 yards and two touchdowns on seven mental errors in the span of 14 yards against the Jaguars.
That is flat-out embarrassing.
What are we doing here?
Here are the positional ratings against the Jaguars:
DEFENSE
Defensive line (1 out of 5)
Anfernee Jennings and Keion White were actually good throughout this game. Everything else was a mess. ... Davon Godchaux and Jacquelin Roy were brutal down the stretch. Roy I get, he's a former fifth-round pick on the street (I miss Lawrence Guy). Godchaux looked completely worn out, or he didn't care anymore. ... The Patriots only had three pressures in this game. Three.
Linebackers (0 out of 5)
Tavai continues to get exposed out of position, although I will say that Kyle Van Noy (a similar player) had no issues playing ILB well in spurts in previous versions of this team. ... Elliss playing like a special teams player pressed into service. Just play Dugger at linebacker full-time please.
Secondary (2 out of 5)
Most of this was incomplete because the Jaguars barely had to throw. But for a smart player, Mapu looked mostly lost and had some pretty big mental errors. ... Dugger played well and looks more like his old self. ... Gonzalez had another rough go but that 58-yard was not solely on him, and his coverage was really good.
THREE UP
Keion White: Did a good job taking coaching and improving with his discipline.
Anfernee Jennings: This guy has zero issues defending the run.
Kyle Dugger: Tackled real well and had a great screen breakup.
FOUR DOWN
Christian Elliss: The scheme could have helped him out a little more, but he was late on everything.
Davon Godchaux: Got shoved around late in this game. I don't think it was effort, but you can't rule it out.
Jahlani Tavai: Playing out of position (he should be on the edge) and he's getting hung out to dry by teammates, but they need him to be better.
Marte Mapu: In the middle of a lot of big plays being out of position.