This isn't going to be all that long. Quite frankly, this Patriots team is now a waste of everyone's time.
If you listened to me on Felger & Mazz on Monday afternoon, I was critical of the performance against the Chargers, but not over the top about it. Truth is, I hadn't done my full film breakdown yet (long story, but I didn't get my customary film until right before the show started). I have now watched the film - at least most of it; I wasn't watching Taylor Heinicke or Jacoby Brissett - and I have a few words to describe the current state of the Patriots' on-field product:
Pathetic. Unprofessional. Unserious. Overmatched. Embarrassing.
The Patriots did not put out a professional product on their own home field on Saturday. I don't even blame the players, I actually feel sorry for them and fear for them should this staff be brought back for a second season.
I don't know what the coaches did to prepare the team for that game, but it looked like they completely half-assed it. Maybe they accomplished something like job security against Buffalo, didn't think much of the Chargers and tried to coast in the final two games.
Big mistake. If the Krafts are serious about having a real football operation anytime soon, that 40-7 shellacking should put everyone on notice, starting with Jerod Mayo. He's the head coach. Your team reflects on you. It's now a joke.
I don't know about you, but it was very clear that one team had an experienced coaching staff that got them ready for this game. The other team was the Patriots.
Are the Chargers more talented than the Patriots? Sure. By that much? Hell no. You get a game like that when the coaches on one side are completely outclassed by the ones on the other sideline. You know what it looks like from Bill Belichick's tenure. How many times did you see the Patriots take a clown show operation to the woodshed during their heyday?
Guess what? Mayo's Patriots are now the clown show.
The Chargers had a plan against the Patriots. They knew how to attack their protections. They doubled certain people in key spots. They knew how to scheme open targets against the Patriots - my god, the number of open receivers looked like routes on air from camp. It seemed like they had special designs to target Kyle Dugger and his wandering eye in coverage.
That's football coaching. Doing your job as a staff.
Then there was what Mayo's outfit did.
Offensively, they had no answer to how the Chargers might pressure the Patriots. Forget about trying to scheme someone open ... that's actually funny. Alex Van Pelt is still calling ridiculous plays the Patriots stand no chance to execute, like that absurd lateral fumble.
Defensively, Justin Herbert might as well have been wearing a red practice jersey as he conducted what looked like a 7-on-7 drill all game. No designed blitzes. No tricky coverages. Nothing that remotely caused the Chargers any problems. The Patriots were playing preseason vanilla defense.
Everyone associated should be embarrassed, starting with the Krafts. They set the stage for this. Now the question is, are they going to dig themselves out and admit their mistake, or are we all going to have this for another season?
I'm going to continue to do my job with this last game, but I'm out on the current iteration of the Patriots.
I can't believe how far this operation has fallen.
Here's the pathetic defense in the first half:
Here are the positional ratings against the Chargers:
OFFENSE
Quarterback (2 out of 5)
Not one of Drake Maye's better days, but far from terrible. Had three standout throws: in-cut to Bourne, getting it to Stevenson under pressure and the drop by Polk. ... I did put the lateral fumble on him, he has to make sure that ball gets someplace safe - the ball is in his hand. ... I thought he scrambled too early a few times. He was late to Hunter Henry once, and missed Bourne on an open out.
Running backs (1.5 out of 5)
Both backs had misses in pass protection, but Gibson did have one nice blitz pickup. Loved the fight on his two late big runs.
Receivers (1.5 out of 5)
Demario Douglas made that touchdown, what a great adjustment. And that was about it. ... Kayshon Boutte ran a crap post route when Maye gave him a chance. ... Loved Henry yelling at Kendrick Bourne for lining up in the wrong spot on the first freaking play of the game. I mean, for crying out loud.
Offensive line (1.5 out of 5)
Mike Onwenu and Vederian Lowe played surprisingly well. Onwenu has actually improved in the second half of the season. One of the few. ... Teams continue to attack Layden Robinson in pass pro. They try to put him in a bind and he often chooses wrong. ... Cole Strange was decent at center. Pass blocking was good (I did put the early snap sack on him). His run blocking needs a lot of work and looks like his guard days. He has trouble with reach blocks. It was his first time out, so no big declarations, but it didn't scream his future is definitely at center. Let him play both in camp and figure it out. I think David Andrews' job is safe for another year. But Strange can certainly move there if needed.
DEFENSE
Defensive line (2 out of 5)
Anfernee Jennings had a great bounce-back game, and that was about it. Keion White had a few moments. ... The coaches obviously have no idea how to scheme pressure. I was told that left with Bill and Steve Belichick.
Linebackers (1.5 out of 5)
Major props with how hard Jahlani Tavai continues to play, and fairly well. ... I can't believe how far Sione Takitaki has fallen from his Browns days. ... Christian Elliss continues to be a special teams linebacker.
Secondary (1 out of 5)
Kyle Dugger and Jonathan Jones were completely abused in this game by the Chargers.
TWO UP
Anfernee Jennings: Great edge game.
Demario Douglas: If it wasn't for his effort, the Patriots would have gotten shut out.
THREE DOWN
Jonathan Jones: That he couldn't keep up with Ladd McConkey is a bad sign for his future.
Kyle Dugger: Good teams are just going after him in coverage.
Layden Robinson: Good teams are going after him in pass protection.