Giardi: Mike's Musings on Patriots doing what good teams should do; plus, right about Rhamondre

No big preamble here to this week’s edition of Musings. The Patriots did exactly what a good team should do against an opponent that has clearly booked its vacation plans. They hit ‘em early and often, scoring touchdowns on six straight possessions. I haven’t seen that kind of beating since Mike Tyson took out Marvis Frazier in 30 seconds. 

Yes, that was 1986, and yes, I’m old. I’ve accepted it, just as I’ve accepted that the Pats are a damn good football team capable of winning the whole thing. 

THUMBS UP

There were a handful of throws/decisions that Drake Maye would like back (I can hear you all grumbling even before I post this), but overall, he is the guy Mike Vrabel most wants to quarterback his football team (as he said postgame), and we all understand why. The ball placement on throws to Efton Chism (the option route vs. the 0 blitz that went for big yards) with a free rusher in his face and the off-balance TD pass to Austin Hooper were quite nice. As was the TD pass to Chism. Maye using his feet to convert the 4th-and-3 on the two-minute drive was heady (the Jets were playing man on the short side of the field and had no eyes on him), as was keeping the play alive and keeping his eyes upfield on the TD pass to Hunter Henry. This 23-year-old, in just his second year, is a playmaking machine, and his teammates love the dude. Happy New Year to us all. Oh, and based on how Matthew Stafford played last night, he's now an overwhelming favorite to win MVP. Did I mention he's 23?

Another week, another really solid performance from Rhamondre Stevenson. His 20+ yard run was all him. He made an unblocked defender miss, then had the vision to cut back across the field before shaking another would-be tackler. If there are yards to get, Stevenson is getting them and then some. Vrabel was right. The Pats needed him, and he is proving it prophetic. You may love the flash and dash of TreVeyon Henderson, but #38 is the best back on the team.

For a second straight game, Stefon Diggs went over 100 yards, and is closing in on 1,000 yards for the season (he’s got 970 yards on 82 catches). He got it done against man. He got it done against zone, and had a triple move off a juke route that I hit rewind on about a half-dozen times. If only Diggs could pass some of his ‘feel’ to the younger generation. 

Jack Gibbens is a depth piece, but he’s another good candidate to get extended based on his heady play. The veteran linebacker is just so dang smart, and while not explosive athletically, he makes up for it with his play recognition. He sniffed out a pick play, rallying to Breece Hall and tackling him for a loss. Gibbens also has a toughness about him and has helped the Pats survive Robert Spillane's absence. Also, when Diggs made that ridiculous catch, Mossing Stiggers, Gibbens practically ran onto the field to celebrate with him. It’s the little things.

Efton Chism waited for his turn, and when finally given a real opportunity offensively, delivered. The rookie UDFA had a couple of big catches, including his first-ever NFL touchdown catch, fighting through contact and then going down and getting the Maye throw. He also assumed some of Mack Hollins’ role in the offense, including the blocking part. Chism was competitive in that role (albeit against a JV Jets defense). 

“I was sitting on the bench with (Joshua) Dobbs, just talking about how blessed we are to be here,” he said. “How people would do anything just to practice, like, Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday. Like, people would do anything to do that, as I would if I were a college player. So when you get the opportunity to play on Sunday and then talking to Dobbs, and he's year nine, you know, sometimes you don't realize how blessed and thankful you really are. Trying to just always keep that mindset when I pull into the parking lot in the morning, man, it's the hugest blessing, and I'll never take it for granted.”

How can you not be romantic about football?

Asked to do more with Landry out - he played a season-high 39 snaps - Anfernee Jennings set a mean edge all afternoon and also had a QB hit and a hurry. This was a week after having to take a snap or two in Baltimore on the interior as a 5-technique because of the injuries. This hasn’t been the easiest year for someone who sees himself as a starter, and there’s been some inconsistency in his play, but he hasn’t complained and hasn’t moped (Keion White, on the other hand, did).

This was a ‘that’s more like it’ performance from Christian Gonzalez. Had tight coverage on Adonai Mitchell on the go route that turned into Jaylinn Hawkins’ interception, and consistently blanketed the talented but inconsistent wideout. Vrabel took a subtle shot in Gonzalez’s direction last week, saying how they didn’t cover Mitchell very well the first time. I’d say that got the young cornerback’s attention.

THUMBS DOWN

The pass rush remains relatively lifeless. Yes, I know Milton Williams, Harold Landry, and Khyiris Tonga were out, but given the Jets quarterback situation, there should have been more moments when they made Brady Cook look even worse than he already is. The Pats blitzed. A lot. And yet, they still couldn't get home. Will the lack of pass rush bite them in the playoffs? Or will Williams’ return give them some juice, especially on money downs? 

On late downs, the short-yardage run game left something to be desired. There are only three snaps to examine, but only one of those worked. The Pats got stuffed on third-and-goal from the one. Now it was 21-3, and Mike Vrabel said the hell with it and went for it on 4th down (and got it), but how ‘bout you man up in those moments and get your running back into the end zone? On the first failed play, Maye brought Henry back into the formation, adding a 7th defender in the box. That defender didn’t get blocked, and it appeared Vederian Lowe needed to engage him rather than block down. Instead, Lowe, Ben Brown, and Garrett Bradbury were blocking two players, leaving the free runner. Linebacker Jamien Sherwood also looped into the B gap and went untouched (Morgan Moses?). Stevenson had no shot.

Later, down at the 1, the Pats had Thayer Munford at the jumbo tight end, along with Henry and Hooper on the field, and Jack Westover at fullback. Munford got shed quickly at the point of attack. The play was doomed right then and there. Westover was caught betwixt and between who he was supposed to block and who Munford failed to block. He ended up getting neither. Bradbury was also attempting to get to the linebacker but stumbled and fell at the snap (too many legs in there). All three Jets buried Henderson.