The Takeaway From Sunday Night

The New England Patriots are now off to a 1-2 start, their worst beginning to a season since 2012. Last Sunday night, the Patriots were embarrassed by the Matt Patricia led Detroit Lions in a 26-10 thumping. This was shocking to experts around the league, as the Patriots very rarely lose back to back games, or lose games to former coaching assistants of Bill Belichick. The Patriots possessed the ball for slightly more than 2 minutes in the first quarter, and only had 3 points going into half time. The lions ran 23 more plays and had nearly double the total yardage than New England. New England’s defense struggled the entire game, they even gave up an 100 yard rush performance by Detroit’s Kerryon Johnson, which snapped a streak of 70 games for which the Lions haven’t had a 100 yard rusher in a game. The Patriots offense was lackluster for the second week in a row. The Patriots only had 3 active wide receivers for the game: Chris Hogan, Phillip Dorsett, and Cordarrelle Patterson. None of them were able to get open down the field, which led to all pro tight end, Rob Gronkowski being double teamed most of the game. Without any viable weapons to throw to downfield, Tom Brady with no where to throw. Brady’s interception in the fourth quarter on a ball intended for Phillip Dorsett sealed the game for the Lions. The Patriots head home to Foxborough for the next three games, facing the undefeated Miami Dolphins this Sunday.

The Brady Bunch

Many pundits speculate that the 41 year old Tom Brady is reason to blame for the Patriots uncharacteristic performances. However, I don’t believe Tom Brady is “about to fall off a cliff” as ESPN’s Max Kellerman often says. I’m not sure any Quarterback in the league would be able to run an efficient offense with the weapons that the Patriots are putting on the field right now. The wide receivers can’t get separation down the field and Gronkowski is being draped by two defenders most plays. James White has been a successful option out of the backfield, but that isn’t enough to sustainably move the ball down the field and score.

So… How can the Patriots Turn this around?

Josh Gordon, the recently acquired wide receiver from the Browns, has been rehabbing his injured hamstring and looks to get back on the field this week. His presence in the offense will take less pressure off Rob Gronkowski and allow the other wide receivers to get open as well. In 8 days, the Patriots also get back trusted wide receiver Julian Edelman who was suspended the first four games of the year, and he looks to get a lot of targets from Tom Brady.

On the defensive side of the ball, the Patriots were without safety Patrick Chung, cornerback Eric Rowe, and defensive end Tre Flowers last week against Detroit. It appears as though all three of these defenders will be back on the field this Sunday against Miami.

“We’re onto…. Miami”

Four years ago, the Patriots were off to a dismal 2-2 start, and were blown out by the Kansas City Chiefs on prime time television. That week during press conferences, Bill Belichick made the phrase “We’re onto Cincinnati” famous by repeating the phrase five times during the presser, regardless of what question was asked. The Patriots played the undefeated Cincinnati Bengals a couple days later, and to everyone’s surprise, blew them out. The 2014 Patriots then went on to win the Super Bowl. A very similar situation is unfolding this week, many analysts suppose that the Patriots dynasty run is over; however calling for their demise may only drive them harder.

 

Andrew Desino

It’s not one thing, it’s everything — Tom Brady