Could one win change the Patriots' trajectory? I'm not going there, although if you peek at the schedule, you'll notice there are not many good football teams — or teams playing good football — remaining. Dare I say, the only good one left is the Bills, twice, though plenty can change from week to week (ask the Jets).
at Tennessee (1-6)
at Chicago (4-3)
vs. LA Rams (3-4)
at Miami (2-5)
vs. Indianapolis (4-4)
BYE WEEK
at Arizona (4-4)
at Buffalo (6-2)
vs. LA Chargers (4-3)
vs. Buffalo
That's not to say that I think the Pats are good. They're not (and I'm not suggesting it). But after answering for most of the self-inflicted wounds of the previous week, there's an opportunity to be competitive and hunt some more wins over the second half of the season.
That schedule check reminds me — let's hear from Titans head coach Brian Callahan after their 52-14 loss to the Lions.
"Right now, our special teams give up yards, defense doesn't get a stop, we don't do anything on offense, we turn it over. So, it's just (that) everything needs to be better, and so, that's all there is to it. You've got to look at it and find a way to get those things corrected, and until we do, it's going to be hard."
Sounds peachy.
ON SECOND THOUGHT
Upon re-watching the game, the Pats were the tougher, more physical team. However, while the talk of "body blows" sounds great, the tape reveals a team that still can't run the football or stop the run.
From an offensive perspective, the line is having difficulty getting to the second level. It was destructive in London against the Jaguars and remained equally problematic versus the Jets, who were without brainiac/baller C.J. Mosley in the middle. If not for Rhamondre Stevenson forcing seven missed tackles and being a bull after contact - I had him at just over 3 yards per rush after the first touch - the run game could have easily been taken out back and shot (metaphorically). 25 carries from the running backs for 54 yards, a long of 7 (Stevenson), and a half-dozen run stuffs. No bueno.
The game-winning touchdown had no business happening. Both frontside tackle Demontray Jacobs and front guard Mike Onwenu missed their blocks. Left guard Michael Jordan bailed them out on a short pull, Hunter Henry (!) tied up two defenders, and then Stevenson used all his might to break the plane - at least, we think. No definitive angle showed the score, but with how hard Stevenson ran all day, he deserved it.
More on the run game issues in Thumbs Up, Thumbs Down.
As for the defense, the Jets played into their hands in the first half when the Pats couldn't set the edge, still had problems with run fits, and got moved at the point of attack (interior DL in particular). How did this Aaron Rodgers-led offense assist? By not calling nearly enough runs. Interim offensive coordinator Todd Downing is trying to serve too many masters - Rodgers, Davante Adams, Garrett Wilson - and some of his play calls were illogical in the moment and again on re-watch.
To the Pats' credit, the second half featured a significantly better effort in the aforementioned areas, and the Jets scuffled, averaging just 3 yards per carry. Keion White, Deatrich Wise, and Anfernee Jennings (he always does) were hard on the edges, and linebackers Jahlani Tavai and Christian Elliss were much more consistent with their run fits. Still, 112 yards on the ground is hardly cause for celebration unless - based on recent history - it was the Pats' offense hitting that number.
- I thought there was some good work in the secondary. For the most part, communication was on point, and the defensive backs followed their rules in some man-match concepts. Marte Mapu had one play where he dove down from appearing as a two-high safety to jump Adams on a low crossing route. (He also is routinely getting caught with bad eyes on play action, and Rodgers could have exploited one for a long play/TD but didn't see the mistake. In other words, a mixed bag). Considering Kyle Dugger was ruled out shortly before the game, that's nice work by the group.
- Until the 34-yarder pass to Kayshon Boutte late in the fourth quarter, the Patriots' longest play was the 18-yard scramble on which Drake Maye got concussed in the first quarter. Maybe that works against the Titans, but that's a hard way to live.
WRAP IT UP
Thumbs up to safety, Dell Pettus. He logged 37 snaps on defense with Dugger out and didn't look out of place. He had to play a ton in that week 5 loss to the Dolphins, and it looked to me like the UDFA has taken to coaching and is improving.
Thumbs up to Stevenson. He wouldn't be denied twice in the red area, and while there wasn't much in the way of holes - I had him for one negative run - he not only got what was there but more. Stevenson missed practice Wednesday to attend a celebration of life for one of his best friends who passed away (Chris Price had a nice story on that) and wasn't back in time for the team meeting Thursday. But he put in the work, and it showed.
Thumbs up to Christian Gonzalez. Rodgers passed up Adams a few times when he had Gonzalez beat — the quarterback was obsessed with hunting the Garrett Wilson vs. Marcus Jones matchup — but for the most part, the second-year corner did a bang-up job on the Jets' playmaker.
Speaking of Marcus, he gets the first-ever thumbs up and thumbs down in the same week. On the plus side, his punt return was critical in breathing life into his team and the stadium (they were ready to pack it in). He's electric with the ball in his hands (mini thumbs up for JaMychal Hasty and Oshane Mathis for their big blocks on the play). Flip side, he struggled sticking with Wilson one-on-one.
Thumbs down to center Ben Brown. Tough day at the office. Quinnen Williams ate all day.
Ditto for Michael Jordan. Will Sidy Sow get a crack this week, or if his play — he was bad in London — forces the Pats to continue with the vet?
Thumbs up for both tackles, Vederian Lowe and Jacobs. Not perfect, but much better. Jets pass rush wasn't a massive issue, and the pressure rate dipped to around 30%, a marked improvement.
Thumbs down for the wide receivers. Catch. The. Ball.
Thumbs up for Boutte, who recovered from two drops to make the game's biggest catch - that 34-yarder - then caught the slant to put the ball inches away for the goal before Stevenson's game-winner. Also, the dude is blocking and had a good one on Stevenson's first TD.