When you reach week 14 of a 17 week regular season, by now you’ve ‘figured out’ what kind of team you’re rooting for. We all now have a handle that this year’s New England Patriots team has offensive deficiencies, can dominate defensively, and can play good special teams. It’s not what what we’ve become accustomed to with Tom Brady as quarterback, but it allows all of us ‘old timers’ to wax poetic on how the 2001 Patriots won a championship with this style of team.
QUARTERBACK: B-
Tom Brady is struggling because he doesn’t know who on the offensive football team ISN’T goin to ‘Do Their Job’ play to play. There was a thought process that Brady would throw players open when running routes. That’s not happening in part because I don’t think the QB thinks those guys will come open regardless if they’re getting the ball or not. His movement in the pocket is still elite, but when that is highlighted as a positive in a breakdown like this, it’s actually a negative.
RUNNING BACKS: B
Its hard to hoot on this unit when there aren’t a lot of holes open in the running game. I thought this group would have a big day on the ground and they didn’t. Jame White played his tail off with a completed pass, working to get open in the passing games, and running when needed. Why Rex Burkhead has more rushing attempts than Sony Michel is beyond me.
WIDE RECEIVERS: D
These guys don’t get open consistently enough. Period. Edelman is battling and is willing to block on a full out blitz with a bad shoulder. Harry scored and got robbed. God job kid, now make more plays, please. Dorsett and Sanu were non-existent. Very disappointing.
TIGHT ENDS: B
It stinks that I write this every week. BUT, Watson and LaCosse did what they could in the running game and have no impact on the passing game. However, no major errors, so I’ll take it.
OFFENSIVE LINE: F
Worst performance of the year. 3 sacks, 6 hits, numerous pressures on Tom Brady. Joe Thuney is playing well and Isaiah Wynn is coming along but still hasn’t played 10 NFL games. James Ferentz is undersized and not an every game player. Shaq Mason is struggling moving his feet in pass protection, and Marcus Cannon is very inconsistent at this point in the season. The fact they didn’t steamroll this Chiefs defense was shocking to me. Everyone has run on the Chiefs.
DEFENSIVE LINE: A-
Dietrich Wise finally showed up in a good way. He got to Mahomes a few times and was disruptive in his 27 snaps. Lawrence Guy, Adam Butler, and Danny Shelton all rotated accordingly as Kansas City usually plays with 3 wide receivers on the field to test other teams depth at linebacker and defensive backs.
LINEBACKERS: B+
Much better this time out dealing with all the motions and shifts of Kansas City. And a good job of making sure that Kansas City didn’t hurt the Patriots defense in the flats. The longest run allowed was 13 yards to LeSean McCoy, and Patrick Mahomes never got into running mode. I thought this level of the defense did a nice job in making it tough on Travis Kelce to get open.
DEFENSIVE BACKS: B+
One pass over 40+ yards and it was the catch and run by Hardman. The tackling was solid, although you can see the speed and acceleration difference between the Kansas City skill players and New England defensive backs. This unit forced Patrick Mahomes to think and read, and I thought on the whole these guys ‘kept it in front of them’.
SPECIAL TEAMS: A
What more could they do to impact this game? Bailey and Folk were good. Bailey with no touchbacks and a 50+ boomer when needed. The punt block was a thing of beauty and was perfectly executed at the point of block by Nate Ebner. Tough to block that and avoid contact with the kicker. One thing I don’t like is Brandon Bolden returning kicks. Take the touchback with him back there.
3 THINGS TO WATCH
- This Patriots offense isn’t dead, yet. But they are one more offensive line injury away from critical condition.
- Don’t read too much into week to week offensive performance over the next 3 games. What they do after a playoff bye week can’t be predicted.
- Educate the young un’s on the 2001 team and season. If the Patriots win the whole thing, it will be with a retro style.
