Apologize for the delay this week. The film was posted 12 hours later than normal and totally screwed up my week.
Everyone saw the obvious: Drake Maye didn't look like Drake Maye to start the game against the Bengals. The questions are why, and is there anything to be concerned about?
We'll break down some of the key plays in the first half through video analysis before getting into unit ratings, player ratings and three up/three down, but in my opinion, it's nothing to be too concerned about.
For one thing, give credit to the Bengals and defensive coordinator Al Golden. They had probably the best rush and coverage plans I've seen so far this season. They were able to get free rushers with late movement (that wasn't the fault of the line, when there's an extra rusher, it's on the QB to handle it in this system), often had a spy for Maye that worked with the rush, and often doubled Stefon Diggs in key spots. The Bengals also changed their stripes a bit in this one by playing more man coverage than they have all season.
The Bengals have played man 26% of the time this season. In this game, that jumped to 46.2%. And they did it early.
The Bengals have averaged 16% zone in the first quarter this season. Against the Patriots, it was 40%.
If there's anything to take out of this game, it's that Golden's plan against the Patriots should be the starting blueprint for teams going forward. Do I think it's kryptonite for Maye and the Patriots? No, because Josh McDaniels and Maye always learn from the film and their shortcomings, and they almost always improve the next time out.
Also, there were often plays there to be made, but Maye was just off. Let's go through those plays and see if there are any conclusions to be made.
3-4-NE 41 (12:06) (Shotgun) D.Maye pass incomplete short left to M.Hollins (K.Jenkins) [K.Jenkins].
This is the third down that ended the first drive. Bengals play man coverage and bracket Diggs. Garrett Bradbuy and Ben Brown have trouble with a twist inside that leads to Maye getting his elbow banged. No huge complaints on this, but would like to see Maye not creep up in the pocket, and throw the back shoulder to Hollins a beat earlier. But Maye might have been wary of the cornerback jumping the route.
1-10-NE 28 (6:31) (Shotgun) D.Maye pass incomplete short left to T.Henderson.
McDaniels dressed up the ol' Patriots bang-action play here with Demario Douglas with a bit of orbit motion, along with Brown pulling to pull in the linebackers. The design of the play is to go Hollins on a deep in cut, and the play is WIDE OPEN. Maye comes off that way too early for some reason (there's absolutely no pressure), then he compounds the error by attempting a no-look pass to TreVeyon Henderson with awful mechanics and isn't even close. This was one of Maye's poorest plays of the season.
3-6-NE 32 (5:41) (Shotgun) D.Maye pass incomplete short left to H.Henry.
Bengals safety Geno Stone, who played like Ed Reed in this game, switches sides right before the snap so Maye knows Stone is unaccounted for if he blitzes, and he does. It's a pseudo-max blitz. Similar to the first play, Maye could have given Henry a chance on the backshoulder at the sideline. But he skies the ball again, perhaps afraid of the cornerback jumping the route.
2-4-NE 16 (14:28) (Shotgun) D.Maye pass deep middle intended for H.Henry INTERCEPTED by G.Stone at NE 32. G.Stone for 32 yards,TOUCHDOWN.
McDaniels goes into his bag for a trick play with Brown aligning as a WR in trips to the right. Henry is lined up as the left tackle. Maye's new worst play of the season is this one as Henry is wide open down the hashmarks where the ball should be delivered for a big play. Pressure allowed by Mike Onwenu probably didn't help, but Maye's pass isn't close as his base is poor and his follow-through is poor. Down 10-0 now.
1-10-NE 40 (13:11) D.Maye pass incomplete short middle to M.Hollins.
McDaniels goes back to the bang action to help Maye. He gives a really poor run fake and the linebackers don't even flinch as the Bengals play more man coverage. Still, the in-cut to Hollins is there if Maye just cuts it loose and puts it on him. Again, Maye throws from a skinny base, is on his toes and guides the ball high like he's deathly afraid throwing over the Bengals' linebackers for some reason. It looks like he's doubting himself at this point.
2-10-NE 40 (13:08) D.Maye pass short right to T.Henderson to NE 47 for 7 yards (B.Carter; J.Davis).
This play is OK considering Marcus Bryant yields pressure in Maye's face, but the better play (deep in-cut to Kyle Williams) is open but not really looked at.
3-3-NE 47 (12:21) (Shotgun) D.Maye scrambles left tackle to CIN 48 for 5 yards (K.Jenkins).
Good play by Maye that helps settle him down. No one was open, so Maye had to run.
1-10-CIN 48 (11:39) D.Maye pass short left to R.Stevenson pushed ob at CIN 43 for 5 yards (G.Stone)
Another run fake where the play (seam to Hollins is there), but Maye quickly checks it down to Stevenson despite terrific pass protection. At this point, I think Maye is afraid to throw in the middle of the field, given his inaccuracy.
3-2-CIN 40 (10:19) (Shotgun) D.Maye pass short middle to H.Henry to CIN 28 for 12 yards (B.Carter).
This was the play of the game to this point. Maye throws another inaccurate ball slightly behind Henry, but the tight end makes a terrific catch to move the chains and help settle Maye down.
1-10-CIN 28 (9:43) D.Maye pass deep left to H.Henry for 28 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
For some reason, the Bengals completely blow this coverage due to Douglas' late motion that causes Stone and a linebacker to jump him. No one covers Henry as the rest of the Bengals are in man coverage.
Maye still didn't play great after this, although he had three elite plays in the second half, but he was a lot better after this.
I don't think there's anything to be hugely concerned about here. I think the layoff and departure from the normal schedule probably threw Maye and the Patriots off a little bit. The Bengals had a really good plan with new stuff that can cause some indecision. And Maye's fundamentals were poor to start. I now worry a bit more about the bye week, but this should serve as a lesson to Maye and the rest of the team. I think Maye's own comments after the game pretty much covered it.
“They had some good stuff that I didn’t do well directing or get us in the right looks. I have to be better at the line of scrimmage. Credit to them for catching us on some. I have to do my part to help us play cleaner football and punch it in down in the red zone. I take that to heart, and I’ll be better.”
Did you feel like the ball was coming out differently on some of your misses early in the game?
“Not that I can think of. Sometimes you just have to let it go. That’s when I’m throwing it best and on time. I wasn’t very accurate early on, but I found a groove. Just head back to the basics.”
When you aren’t as accurate as you usually are, does it feel strange to you?
“No. Just get back to the little things and the fundamentals. I just need another live throw to get back at it and you feel fine. It’s just one of those things that happens. I don’t really think it’s a big deal. Just have to get back in the groove.”
Here are the positional ratings against the Bengals:
OFFENSE
Quarterback (2 out of 5)
This was Maye's third-lowest rated game of the season, behind Vegas and Atlanta, but he certainly made some elite plays in the second half (third down to Douglas, sideline pass to Hollins, 3rd and 11 to Diggs). ... Maye contributed to the goal line issues. He was late to Henry twice on the incompletion, and then his RPO read on 4th and goal was wrong. They are going to need that in their bag in the biggest games.
Running backs (2.5 out of 5)
Almost nothing noteworthy out of this group other than Rhamondre Stevenson and Terrell Jennings had good pass blocks. ... TreVeyon Henderson gets what is there and no more. If there's a crease, he can go to the house. Not many creases with this line. ... The Jack Westover experiment should be over after he blocked the wrong player on one of the goal-line runs. Get a real fullback, please.
Receivers (4 out of 5)
Loved almost everything about this group outside of Kayshon Boutte not blocking anyone on the first goal-to-go play, and Stefon Diggs not being hot after his slot corner blitzed for a sack (split between Diggs and Maye, who should have at least turfed it). Almost everyone had an elite catch: Mack Hollins, Diggs, Demario Douglas (only 12 snaps?!) and the standout Hunter Henry (two). Even Kyle Williams contributed on a play I'd love to see him break a tackle and go to the house. ... Boutte had a great run block, drew two PI calls, and had a terrific route on a 9-yard catch.
Offensive line (3 out of 5)
All things considered, I thought this group did a very good job in pass protection. I only had one negative play (run stuff) for Vederian Lowe. I had four team pressures from free runners that were just good plays from the Bengals. No one's fault. ... Mike Onwenu and Garrett Bradbury continue to be poor in run blocking, and Brown struggled as well. Morgan Moses contributed just a half-stuffed run on the goal line. Other than that, he was perfect. ... Marcus Bryant allowed two hurries on his seven snaps. Not great.
DEFENSE
Defensive line (3 out of 5)
For the most part, I thought the defense was solid (13 points allowed), although Joe Flacco missed some throws. ... The run defense wasn't awful despite the stats, but K'Lavon Chaisson and Elijah Ponder seem to be targeted for their poor edge work. That needs to be fixed. It didn't help that the Patriots gave Chase Brown 21 yards right before halftime with a terrible defensive call that featured a three-man line and no one on the second level. Just gave it to him and led to a field goal. ... Patriots are getting very little from Harold Landry and Chaisson in the pass rush department as they look to be on fumes and need the bye week badly. This could be a big issue. ... Christian Barmore was hit and miss, although it wasn't for a lack of effort. He was a little wild in this one, perhaps trying to do too much. ... Cory Durden continues to play very good ball. ... Eric Gregory gets ping-ponged around by linemen in the trenches. ... Khyiris Tonga got off to a good start and was missed.
Linebackers (3 out of 5)
All three guys were at least solid, but Robert Spillane and Jack Gibbens had some poor reps in zone coverage.
Secondary (3 out of 5)
Largely, this group was good outside of Christian Gonzalez, who seems to lose some focus when he's not in a premier matchup ala Stefon Gilmore. ... I don't know what got into Carlton Davis in this game — he was great on the ball and had a few physical tackles – but they need this every game going forward. ... Marcus Jones (pick-6), Jaylinn Hawkins and Craig Woodson all played well, but Hawkins (play before halftime) and Woodson each had coverages they'd want back. ... Dell Pettus continues to carve out his role as a dime linebacker.
FOUR UP
TE Hunter Henry: They don't win this game without him being Maye's security blanket when he was stumbling around lost in the jungle.
CB Carlton Davis: Whatever he did before the game last week, do the same thing going forward. That's the player they paid for.
RT Morgan Moses: Almost perfect in this game.
DT Cory Durden: Giving them valuable replacement play.
THREE DOWN
RG Mike Onwenu: They are paying way too much money for him to play at this level, especially in the run game. Move someone!
CB Christian Gonzalez: Not awful, but you expect more out of him.
QB Drake Maye: Had stretches of very good play, but against any other opponent, his first half costs the team the game.