BSJ Game Report: Rams 28, Patriots 22 - New England, Maye (282 yards, 2 TDs) can't overcome defense vs. Stafford (295, 4 TDs)

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

HEADLINES

Comeback attempt ends on Maye interception to Douglas: Patriots had the ball with 1:55 remaining on 3rd and 13 with a chance to win the game, but Drake Maye thew an interception to safety Kamren Kinchens targeting Demario Douglas to end another possible comeback.

"Just miscommunication," said Jerod Mayo. "We'll grow into being able to finish out and close out these games."

Said Drake Maye of the final play: "Yeah, it's 2-high look and Pop's up the middle, and they're pretty good up front, rushing five so I tried to kind of put it on him and kind of hit him over the linebacker and pop was thinking, probably deep, but at the end day, just gotta be on the same page. I think Pop did the right thing, I guess gotta just talk through more conversations and just goes back to me during the week, doing more talking through different situations. Hey, I may put this one on you vs. let it rip. So that's about it."

My initial read on the play: I liked the play design anticipating 2-high safeties and Hunter Henry had a route that occupied the other safety. Not sure why Maye would anticipate Douglas sitting down there. I think Douglas tried to split the safeties and it was the right call. If Maye puts the ball on the left hashmark, it's a huge play.

Drake Maye was sensational: Aside from the last play - which might not have been his fault - I thought Maye was in total control today against a very good defense. He finished 30 of 40 for 282 yards and two touchdowns (100.2 rating). Maye added 3 rushes for 27 yards. The Rams don't normally blitz but they did today (47.8% according to PFF) and he routinely made them pay, completing 13 of 19 for 112 yards. Drake Maye was the first Patriots QB with 100 passing yards and a passing TD in an opening quarter since Tom Brady on Oct. 21, 2019 at the Jets.

"You look at it, and you can really see his ability to create off schedule," Sean McVay said. "I thought he did a great job of being able to make plays in the pocket today, extend drives. I thought he was patient, taking some underneath check-downs where guys were able to create. We had tighter coverages, and he was able to fit the ball into tight windows. He looks like a stud. I didn't do too much work on him coming out. I do know a lot of people that studied him really hard that I truly respect their opinions loved what he was all about. You can see just the impact that he has on his teammates, the way people talk about him here. He looks like he's going to be a special player for a long time, and he gave us fits today."

Defense absolutely shredded by Matthew Stafford: The Rams punted on their first two drives and then killed the Patriots with five straight drives that should have ended in points (four touchdowns, one missed field goal before halftime). Defensive coordinator DeMarcus Covington will have to answer for his plan against Puka Nakua (6 for 117, TD in the first half) and Cooper Cupp (6 for 106, 2 TDs). The Patriots only pressured Stafford on 22 percent of his dropbacks. One of the most puzzling decisions was to call an all-out blitz on 2nd and 9 to start the second half. 

"I mean, look, Cupp had the one reception, which was a huge chunk of those yards," Mayo said. "Look, going into the game, we have a plan, and we're always willing to change that plan. Like I said earlier, I felt like, you know we were gonna be okay, thought we could outlast them."

Christian Barmore, Yannick Ngakoue make debuts: After just one practice (not even in pads), the Patriots' stud defensive tackle made his debut and played way more than I anticipated with at least 13 snaps in the first half. Officially he had two tackles in the first half. Ngakoue, wearing Josh Uche's 55 in the same spot, had one assisted tackle in the first half.

PFF had Barmore for 21 snaps, 14 pass rushes, zero pressures and three tackles. Ngakoue played 14 snaps, zero pressures and one assisted tackles.

TURNING POINT

Probably the blocked extra point after the Vederian Lowe touchdown. Kept it a 2-score game at nine points and you just figured that was going to make the comeback tough.

SECOND GUESSES

A lot of them:

 - Not kicking a 54-yard field goal to start the second quarter ... and of course Bryce Baringer punted it into the end zone for a net 22-yard punt.

 - Patriots had first and goal at the Rams' 5 on the first drive of the second half and went incompletion, 3-yard run, no gain run and kicked a field goal on 4th and goal at the 2.

 - Patriots had 3rd and 1 at the Rams' 19 with 5:45 left and went no-gain run and again took the field goal to cut it to 28-22.

- Mayo didn't have the Rams re-kick their final punt that had a penalty and took the ball at the 10.

 - The all-out blitz on 2nd and 9 was mind-boggling.

 - Patriots got a huge break when Sean McVay declined a holding call that would have made it 2nd 20 on the final drive of the first half. Patriots ended up getting a Joey Slye field goal.

THREE UP

QB Drake Maye: He was in total command and saw the field like a veteran. That's a good defense that threw a ton of stuff at him and he dealt with it all effortlessly. Threw with some great anticipation at times as well.

WR Kendrick Bourne: Went from zero snaps last week to 5 catches on 5 targets for 70 yards and a score.

TE Hunter Henry/WR Demario Douglas: They combined to dominate the middle of the field with 11 catches, 112 yards.

THREE DOWN

DC DeMarcus Covington/Jerod Mayo: Any plan against the Rams that calls for Christian Gonzalez to just stay on the boundary for the first two downs, instead of manning up with Nacua or Cupp, is an ill-conceived plan. You know what the Rams did? They played CFL offense, avoiding third down when they did man up. The Rams only faced four third downs in the first three quarters. They had 4 in the fourth quarter when they were trying to possess the ball.

RT Demontrey Jacobs: Allowed a team-high 5 quarterback pressures, including a sack.

Pass rush: When you only get six pressures and Christian Elliss leads with two, that's a big problem against Stafford, who entered as one of the worst QBs against pressure this season.

INJURIES

DB Marcus Jones (lower body): Returned to the game.

LB Curtis Jacobs (head): Stayed down on his stomach after kickoff coverage with 6:57 left in the third quarter. He was able to walk off. Ruled out.

TWO TAKES BEDARD WILL PROBABLY REGRET LATER

In a surprise, Alex Van Pelt had a great plan against the Rams and the defense did not. Van Pelt seemed to have his best game of the season as they stayed reasonably balanced, had a good quick plan for Maye, and threw in some trick plays to boot. You also barely heard the named Jared Verse in that, so good job there.

The defensive plan made no sense. Stafford is one of the worst QBs in the league against man coverage and pressure. Guess what the Patriots did? Played zone and didn't get any pressure - and then to call that all-out blitz on 2nd and 9.

The defense let the Patriots and Maye down today, absolutely.