Breaking down the key sequences in the Patriots' blowout loss to the Jaguars, including:
• Drake Maye's three turnovers;
• Four Jaguars touchdowns, including Trevor Lawrence's masterclass in throwing with anticipation and conviction;
• The end of first half sequence;
• Some questionable defensive calls.
1-10-JAX 35 (3:58) D.Maye sacked at JAX 42 for -7 yards. FUMBLES, RECOVERED by JAX-D.Hamilton at JAX 38.
2-10-NE 12 (13:30) (Shotgun) T.Lawrence pass short middle to J.Cameron for 12 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
2-10-NE 10 (4:28) (Shotgun) T.Lawrence pass short middle to J.Meyers for 10 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
Obviously, the fumble is what it was. Maye needs to stop saying stuff like blood on the ball (and entertaining any questions about his shoulder), when it's as old as time in football, along with butt sweat on a hot day in Jacksonville. He just dropped the ball. Chris Simms said something about Maye has started to point the ball backward before he throws, which could factor into the drop, but nothing looks out of the ordinary, at least for Maye. He's never been a classic thrower of the football. His motion and release is far from textbook, which I've had issues with going back to his college tape.
I did like the decision to give Kyle Williams a chance on a ball he hit the receiver on last year, and also Kayshon Boutte. The safety to that side initially turned his back to Williams, which means that's a go read. Maye just dropped the ball.
I will say, it probably didn't help matters that Maye didn't appear to be in a good headspace before the play. He alerted the play initially, which Mack Hollins, Hunter Henry and Rhamondre Stevenson disagreed with. Henry and then Stevenson reloaded the play to the original call, and Maye was the last person to reload the play. I'm guessing the alert was a check to a run, but there were basically nine Jaguars in the box. So you have to wonder where Maye was mentally even before he started turning the ball over.
_____________
The Jaguars' touchdown is when Elijah Ponder drops into coverage, but basically into the same spot as Marcus Jones, which left the middle wide open for the easy touchdown thrown. Someone was wrong between Ponder and Jones, and I'm guessing it was Ponder. But that's a big ask for an end to drop as the middle linebacker. Maybe that one looked better on the whiteboard than in reality.
_____________
If you want to see a perfect illustration of where Maye is in terms of throwing with anticipation and conviction to the middle of the field between 10-20 yards and the better quarterbacks, watch Trevor Lawrence's throw to Jakobi Meyers. From the end zone view, Lawrence starts to throw when Meyers isn't even in the picture. He just throws it high and to a spot. Perfect.
I have a hard time remembering Maye making one throw in the middle of the field this season on time. I don't think he has. This is where Maye has to confirm it, which is too late to throw in the middle of good NFL defenses. The good quarterbacks throw with anticipation without seeing it.
2-10-JAX 33 (2:53) (Shotgun) D.Maye pass incomplete deep right to D.Douglas.
1-5-JAX 5 (1:12) (Shotgun) D.Maye left end to JAX 4 for 1 yard (J.Hines-Allen; J.Jones). Timeout #2 by JAX at 01:07.
2-4-JAX 4 (1:07) C.Lomu reported in as eligible. R.Stevenson up the middle to JAX 2 for 2 yards (D.Hamilton). Timeout #3 by JAX at 01:02.
3-2-JAX 2 (1:02) D.Maye pass short right intended for E.Chism INTERCEPTED by T.Hunter [F.Oluokun] at JAX -9. Touchback.