BSJ Game Report: Jaguars 35, Patriots 6 - Maye (3 turnovers), NE bottom out in Jacksonville

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

HEADLINES

Drake Maye, Patriots hit rock bottom: You didn't think it could get any worse for Maye after the fourth quarter in Seattle, and a lackluster performance against the Steelers. Oh, but it did. A lot worse. Like Mac Jones in Frankfort, Germany, bad. It started on the second drive of the game when, after driving to the Jacksonville 35 in a scoreless game, Maye dropped the ball attempting to pass for a fumble that the Jaguars converted into a touchdown.

On a 3rd and 3 on the next drive, Maye took a sack when DeMario Douglas was wide open.

The Patriots got a break when Trevor Lawrence forced a pass that went off his receiver's hands to Marcus Jones for an interception, setting up the offense as the Jacksonville 21. Then it was:

- Maye scramble for TD, but hold on Morgan Moses
- 13-yard pass to Doubs, but offensive pass interference on Doubs to set up 1st and 30
- On third down, Maye was a little high to Mack Hollins in the end zone, field goal.

Down 14-3, Maye missed high to a wide-open Douglas for a touchdown. Maye later fumbled on a scramble, but he recovered. Then on third and goal from the 2 with 1:02 left before halftime (Patriots got the ball in the second half), Maye forced a pass to a covered Efton Chism that Travis Hunter intercepted to take at least three points off the board.

After driving into Jacksonville territory, Maye threw inside instead of outside to Romeo Doubs on third down, and Andy Borregales shanked the 38-yard field goal.

Trailing 21-3, Maye was easily picked off on the first play, the Jags scored to go up 28-3, and it was over.

Maye was pulled for Tommy Devito with 7:57 remaining.

"I can't get out of my own way, personally," Maye said. "I gotta look myself in the mirror and take this as a turning point. It's week three at the same time. We gotta have some fuel and realize that what we're doing out there offensively is you know it's unacceptable. Been unacceptable for three weeks. So I gotta start with myself and then lead these guys, and we gotta get back after it."

“My concern level is very high for this football team," said Mike Vrabel. "We can't do things on in all three phases that you know end up getting you beat. So certainly we have to fix a lot of things. 

"We haven't made good decisions with the football. So, you know, we have to get it fixed. We have to practice. We have to work. Get it corrected, and everybody else has to has to do much better, and starting with me. I mean, that's how it goes. Starts with me, and I got to get guys in there to do the do the things the way that we need them done, and the identity. And you know, there's going to be mistakes, but there's too many things that get us beat. Turnovers, not taking advantage of their turnover opportunities, penalties, you know, sudden change, things that we're usually good at, and so we'll have to figure out why, and do it in a hurry, going on the road to Buffalo. "

The defense wasn't close to good either: The Jaguars compiled 23 first downs, were 8 of 12 on third downs, had 315 total yards, rushed for 137 yards, Lawrence threw three touchdowns, was not pressured enough for much of the game ... it wasn't good. The Patriots' defense was pushed all over the field, and there were multiple penalties, mental errors and missed tackles.

TURNING POINT

The drive before halftime led to the interception. If the Patriots score a touchdown there - even get a field goal with the ball to start the second half - then the game is completely different. You just can't turn the ball over there. But I also put some blame on Mike Vrabel in that situation, which leads me to...

SECOND GUESS

Sometimes I really dislike how preoccupied Vrabel and John Streicher are at the end of halves with managing the game. This is what happened at the end of the first half:

I think the chief goal with the first two plays — a called RPO run for Maye, and the handoff to Rhamondre Stevenson — was to get the Jaguars to take their final two timeouts.

There's a time and a place for those decisions. The team and Maye were in desperate need of a touchdown at that point. Eff the timeouts. Screw managing the game. Call your best plays to score touchdowns, and don't leave it to third down when the defense knows you are going to pass.

ZERO UP

Mack Hollins was on his way to being the one guy, but then he had an idiotic taunting penalty down 28-3 that took it from 4th and 1 and the Patriots going for it, to 4th and 16 and a field goal.

THREE DOWN

QB Drake Maye: Three games. Seven turnovers, and him costing the team several points.

DTs Milton Williams and Christian Barmore: Did they play? They combined for 1 pressure, according to PFF (Barmore).

S Jaylen Reed: Whiffed on a checkdown tackle and did not cover well, outside the interception.

INJURIES

RG Greg Van Roten: Went out with what looked like a non-contact injury, and Walter Rouse came on to become the Patriots' third RG in two weeks.

CB Carlton Davis: Went down and came back, as usual.

TWO TAKES BEDARD WILL PROBABLY REGRET LATER

There's no quick elixir for this: When a team is this disjointed like this — and without being able to look to the QB to rescue you — there's no easy solution. It's not about adding in personnel. It's not about gameplans and special plays. All you can do is make the corrections, take one step forward, try to take another step forward and keep going. You can talk all you want about why the team is here — and I don't think a 1-2 record is a surprise (staring at 1-3 going to Buffalo), but it has looked terrible — but that doesn't really matter. There are 14 games left, and we all know Maye and the Patriots are a lot better than this. All they can do is work their way out of this.

There's a lot of season left: Yup, they look like one of the worst teams in the league, and Maye is one of the worst quarterbacks in the league through three games. But I've covered this league long enough to know they are better than this, and a turnaround can happen at any moment. Yes, even next week in Buffalo. All you need sometimes is one drive, one play, one touchdown, and things can turn on a dime. The Packers team I covered in 2009 was like this. Awful loss in Tampa to fall to 4-4. Then they basically won out to go to the playoffs.

I'll have more in my column once I digest this.