Game Thoughts: The Pats got BBQed by KC

[Rob0729]

Here we go:

• First and foremost, everyone needs to calm down. The first week of the season has a lot of aberration games. Remember how the Pats got smoked by Buffalo in 2003 and went onto a 14-2 season and a Super Bowl while Buffalo went 4-12.
• That said, the lack of fight in this team is very concerning. They just gave up. Quit. Packed it in. This reminds of the 2009 team that absolutely quit in the playoff game against the Ravens. The attitude must change immediately.
• On the positive side, I thought the free agent and offseason (not preseason) trade acquisitions played well last night. Gilmore was arguably the best defensive player on the field last night (that Hill TD was on McCourty not providing over the top coverage). Cooks was getting open and would have had a monster night last night if Brady wasn't off. Gillislee was good in goal line situations. Burkhead made the most of his limited snaps.
• I know people were killing McDaniels in the game thread (he like everyone else deserve blame), but I think the biggest problem on offense was Brady last night. I am not in the Brady is done camp, but he was off last night. I know his receivers weren't getting open a lot of the times, but I counted like four or five very big plays (over 20 yards and possibly TD) plays where the receiver was open (sometimes wide open) and Brady just missed them with his throws.
• Speaking of receivers not getting open, the Chiefs' defense got away with a lot of blatant pass interference. Eric Berry was absolutely mugging Gronk on every play. Even Collinsworth pointed it out multiple times. I am not blaming the loss on this, but this will be a concern especially if the Pats want to go more vertical.
• Now to McDaniels. He needs to find this offenses' identity and fast. I think he may be trying to force this vertical offense too much and I just don't think they are that team even with the addition of Cooks and Dorsett. Brady's bread and butter is still the short quick strikes and a surgical drive down the field. You can't abandon that. He is probably going to need to get the RBs more involved in the passing game. Granted losing Amendola killed that.
• As to McDaniels' calls on the two 4th and 1s, I didn't have a problem with the first one but felt he should have done a QB sneak on the second one. The first one I felt that Gillislee was being effective in short yardage situation and that was a play that most teams can get in the same situation (besides the Chiefs were probably expecting a QB sneak). The second one was an inch or two from the marker and Brady could have sneezed after the snap and gotten it.
• I was also encouraged by the offensive line. Sure they absolutely collapsed in the fourth, but they gave Brady all day to throw the ball. Sure it was in part because the Chiefs rushed only three more than usual, but we have seen Patriots' o-lines get beat bad by three man rushes in the past.
• I don't even know where to begin with the defense. What a crapfest. It wasn't all bad. There were times it played very well, but most of the second half it was god awful.
• The run defense was a problem all night. I will put part of it on maybe Branch isn't 100% yet, but there is definitely a problem. Once Hunt got past the front four, there was no one to stop him until he got into the secondary.
• That probably brings up the biggest issue with this defense - the linebackers. The corp is painfully thin and the starters are not all that great. Losing Hightower really hurt last night, but he was not playing all that well before he was injured. I will give Hightower a pass because he was probably shaking off rust from not practicing most of the preseason and him moving to a new role. But there is no excuse for the other guys. I knew we weren't getting the David Harris of five years ago, but he was invisible out there. Van Noy doesn't look like yet that he can handle his increased responsibilities.
• One positive about the problems on defense last night was it was communication issues. That can be fixed. As I said with the Hill TD, Gilmore expected to hand him off to McCourty and McCourty wasn't there. There was other examples of big plays happening because players weren't in position over them getting overmatched. Again, that can be fixed.

It was a horrible start to the season. But remember it was only one game and we have seen the Pats look like the Browns in the opening game and go onto win the Super Bowl. They got a lot of work to do be a legitimate Super Bowl contender, but they are clearly worlds better than they played last night.

 

[Uptown]

Troy Brown: Patriots problems 'are correctable'

 

[Rob0729]

Troy Brown: Patriots problems 'are correctable'

On a side note on that video, it is sad that Charlie Weis almost died for that lap band surgery and a decade later he is much fatter than when he had that surgery.

 

[Kontradiction]

Your postgame thoughts threads are always laid out in compliment sandwich form.

"Exhibit A wasn't that bad. People need to calm down."
"That said, it was kind of that bad."
"On a positive not though..."

 

[TeamFirst]

Jordan Richards shouldn't be playing LB!!!

 

[DaBruinz]

- On both 4th and 1 calls, I felt that the Refs made it a point to call for a measurement when they didn't need to. This clearly gave the Chiefs an advantage as they were allowed to prepare and stack the line. I also felt that the Pats going to the "I" and trying to run it down the Chiefs throats either through the A or B gaps was a bad call when they had the line stacked.. Put 3 wides out there and throw a bubble screen. Or, if you're going to run the "I" have Develin/Gillislee go wide where they can get around the edge more likely..

- I felt that Gilmore had an up and down game and I don't believe he was the best defensive player last night. I was disturbed by his lack of hustle on one play despite him watching the ball into the receiver's hands and watching the receiver take off. Instead of breaking his coverage when he saw where the ball was going, he just stood there.

- The defensive game plan of 4 safeties didn't work at all and I was disappointed that the Pats continued to use it despite it not working. Especially with putting on 3 DL on the line. Branch and Brown were constantly doubled, opening up holes for Hunt to go through and not get touched until the secondary because either there was not MLB or because people were trying to cover Kelce/Hill that there was no one there.

- I was very disappointed in the offensive play-calling. One of Hogan's nicknames is 7/11. Because he's always open. Yet they didn't play to his strengths, which are similar to Edelman. Hogan can get open over the middle if you give him In's, Slants, and hitches to run.

- I was disappointed in the lack of field awareness by Amendola and White. Both came up short on 3rd downs when they didn't get far enough down the field to ensure the 1st down.

- Having Hightower on the edge on a regular basis is not good. It takes away from what he can do and what makes him so good. Losing him last night clearly hurt.

- I wasn't impressed with David Harris. He seemed over aggressive and not in the right place at all. Very surprising since he's been with the team all through TC and is supposedly a very smart guy.

- The times the Pats put Wise on the field with Flowers, they actually got pressure on Smith. Only once did they not get to him and it was a breakdown in the coverage that allowed it to be a huge play.

- The O-line was great until the 4th quarter when Houston started blitzing heavily. Then, they couldn't handle it.

- I was disappointed that we didn't see more two back sets especially after Amendola went down. With the 4 backs that they have, going to two back sets with any of the two lined up on either side of Brady, it should help create mismatches.

- I don't remember seeing a single screen play last night. With Allen and Gronkowski, I don't see why they wouldn't throw screens. Those would have been better than the end arounds with Hogan.

- I think that the Patriots need to allow Edelman on the sidelines during games despite him being on IR. There seems to be a lack of heart without him there. And it showed last night..

- The consecutive running into the kicker penalties was bad, though I find it hard to blame Marsh since he got took cleats to the helmet despite trying to duck out of the way..

- Losing Hightower and Amendola clearly weren't expected. And the losses took their toll.. Hopefully, with 10 days before the next game, both will be back.

 

[Dagg]

Jordan Richards shouldn't be playing LB!!!

They were clearly worried about the Chiefs speed which is why Harris wasnt in much and Richards played that small LB role but overall it didnt work vs the run or pass...

 

[archstanton543]

Yeah, remember that game almost a decade and a half ago? This game was like that.

 

[Rob0729]

Your postgame thoughts threads are always laid out in compliment sandwich form.

"Exhibit A wasn't that bad. People need to calm down."
"That said, it was kind of that bad."
"On a positive not though..."

I try to give both sides of the review. But when I say people need to calm down, people are talking as if the season is over and this team is competing for the #1 pick. I was addressing the Chicken Littles. But there is still needs for concern.

 

[Rob0729]

- On both 4th and 1 calls, I felt that the Refs made it a point to call for a measurement when they didn't need to. This clearly gave the Chiefs an advantage as they were allowed to prepare and stack the line. I also felt that the Pats going to the "I" and trying to run it down the Chiefs throats either through the A or B gaps was a bad call when they had the line stacked.. Put 3 wides out there and throw a bubble screen. Or, if you're going to run the "I" have Develin/Gillislee go wide where they can get around the edge more likely..

- I felt that Gilmore had an up and down game and I don't believe he was the best defensive player last night. I was disturbed by his lack of hustle on one play despite him watching the ball into the receiver's hands and watching the receiver take off. Instead of breaking his coverage when he saw where the ball was going, he just stood there.

- The defensive game plan of 4 safeties didn't work at all and I was disappointed that the Pats continued to use it despite it not working. Especially with putting on 3 DL on the line. Branch and Brown were constantly doubled, opening up holes for Hunt to go through and not get touched until the secondary because either there was not MLB or because people were trying to cover Kelce/Hill that there was no one there.

- I was very disappointed in the offensive play-calling. One of Hogan's nicknames is 7/11. Because he's always open. Yet they didn't play to his strengths, which are similar to Edelman. Hogan can get open over the middle if you give him In's, Slants, and hitches to run.

- I was disappointed in the lack of field awareness by Amendola and White. Both came up short on 3rd downs when they didn't get far enough down the field to ensure the 1st down.

- Having Hightower on the edge on a regular basis is not good. It takes away from what he can do and what makes him so good. Losing him last night clearly hurt.

- I wasn't impressed with David Harris. He seemed over aggressive and not in the right place at all. Very surprising since he's been with the team all through TC and is supposedly a very smart guy.

- The times the Pats put Wise on the field with Flowers, they actually got pressure on Smith. Only once did they not get to him and it was a breakdown in the coverage that allowed it to be a huge play.

- The O-line was great until the 4th quarter when Houston started blitzing heavily. Then, they couldn't handle it.

- I was disappointed that we didn't see more two back sets especially after Amendola went down. With the 4 backs that they have, going to two back sets with any of the two lined up on either side of Brady, it should help create mismatches.

- I don't remember seeing a single screen play last night. With Allen and Gronkowski, I don't see why they wouldn't throw screens. Those would have been better than the end arounds with Hogan.

- I think that the Patriots need to allow Edelman on the sidelines during games despite him being on IR. There seems to be a lack of heart without him there. And it showed last night..

- The consecutive running into the kicker penalties was bad, though I find it hard to blame Marsh since he got took cleats to the helmet despite trying to duck out of the way..

- Losing Hightower and Amendola clearly weren't expected. And the losses took their toll.. Hopefully, with 10 days before the next game, both will be back.

I still maintain Gilmore was one of the best out there last night if not the best. No one played a great game. I guess you can argue McCourty was the best, but I blame him for that Hill TD which was the turning point of the game.

I forgot to mention about the measurements on the 4th and 1. I don't think the second one was that big of thing because it was the end of the quarter and it didn't look like the Pats were rushing to the line, but the first one was egregious. It was clear the Pats didn't make the first down and the Patriots clearly conceded they didn't make it. In a situation like that, the only time the refs should measure the ball is if the offense asks to have it measured. And even then, I don't know if they should have complied with the request.

 

[Pats2000]

Yeah, remember that game almost a decade and a half ago? This game was like that.

I remember a game against the Chiefs 3 years ago that dropped us to 2-2, that season ended up pretty awesome too.

 

[TennisBallHead]

I love the thought process of "well, the Chiefs pounded them three years ago and they won the SB, so the same will happen this year".

 

[Rob0729]

Yeah, remember that game almost a decade and a half ago? This game was like that.

I am pointing out that games like last night happen every year where a very good to great team plays awful opening game. It doesn't happen to the Pats every year though. The last time it happened to the Pats was in 2003. You can go back almost every year and find a team that went deep into the playoffs and got blown out in their first game.

 

[archstanton543]

It doesn't happen to the Pats every year though. The last time it happened to the Pats was in 2003. You can go back almost every year and find a team that went deep into the playoffs and got blown out in their first game.

But...the '03 Pats weren't the '03 Pats at that point...in fact, we didn't know how they'd do since the previous year was a non-playoff making bust and the year before that was a miracle Super Bowl win.

Just like the '17 Pats aren't who they'll end up being at the end of season.

 

[RobertWeathers]

Here we go:

• First and foremost, everyone needs to calm down. The first week of the season has a lot of aberration games. Remember how the Pats got smoked by Buffalo in 2003 and went onto a 14-2 season and a Super Bowl while Buffalo went 4-12.
• That said, the lack of fight in this team is very concerning. They just gave up. Quit. Packed it in. This reminds of the 2009 team that absolutely quit in the playoff game against the Ravens. The attitude must change immediately.
• On the positive side, I thought the free agent and offseason (not preseason) trade acquisitions played well last night. Gilmore was arguably the best defensive player on the field last night (that Hill TD was on McCourty not providing over the top coverage). Cooks was getting open and would have had a monster night last night if Brady wasn't off. Gillislee was good in goal line situations. Burkhead made the most of his limited snaps.
• I know people were killing McDaniels in the game thread (he like everyone else deserve blame), but I think the biggest problem on offense was Brady last night. I am not in the Brady is done camp, but he was off last night. I know his receivers weren't getting open a lot of the times, but I counted like four or five very big plays (over 20 yards and possibly TD) plays where the receiver was open (sometimes wide open) and Brady just missed them with his throws.
• Speaking of receivers not getting open, the Chiefs' defense got away with a lot of blatant pass interference. Eric Berry was absolutely mugging Gronk on every play. Even Collinsworth pointed it out multiple times. I am not blaming the loss on this, but this will be a concern especially if the Pats want to go more vertical.
• Now to McDaniels. He needs to find this offenses' identity and fast. I think he may be trying to force this vertical offense too much and I just don't think they are that team even with the addition of Cooks and Dorsett. Brady's bread and butter is still the short quick strikes and a surgical drive down the field. You can't abandon that. He is probably going to need to get the RBs more involved in the passing game. Granted losing Amendola killed that.
• As to McDaniels' calls on the two 4th and 1s, I didn't have a problem with the first one but felt he should have done a QB sneak on the second one. The first one I felt that Gillislee was being effective in short yardage situation and that was a play that most teams can get in the same situation (besides the Chiefs were probably expecting a QB sneak). The second one was an inch or two from the marker and Brady could have sneezed after the snap and gotten it.
• I was also encouraged by the offensive line. Sure they absolutely collapsed in the fourth, but they gave Brady all day to throw the ball. Sure it was in part because the Chiefs rushed only three more than usual, but we have seen Patriots' o-lines get beat bad by three man rushes in the past.
• I don't even know where to begin with the defense. What a crapfest. It wasn't all bad. There were times it played very well, but most of the second half it was god awful.
• The run defense was a problem all night. I will put part of it on maybe Branch isn't 100% yet, but there is definitely a problem. Once Hunt got past the front four, there was no one to stop him until he got into the secondary.
• That probably brings up the biggest issue with this defense - the linebackers. The corp is painfully thin and the starters are not all that great. Losing Hightower really hurt last night, but he was not playing all that well before he was injured. I will give Hightower a pass because he was probably shaking off rust from not practicing most of the preseason and him moving to a new role. But there is no excuse for the other guys. I knew we weren't getting the David Harris of five years ago, but he was invisible out there. Van Noy doesn't look like yet that he can handle his increased responsibilities.
• One positive about the problems on defense last night was it was communication issues. That can be fixed. As I said with the Hill TD, Gilmore expected to hand him off to McCourty and McCourty wasn't there. There was other examples of big plays happening because players weren't in position over them getting overmatched. Again, that can be fixed.

It was a horrible start to the season. But remember it was only one game and we have seen the Pats look like the Browns in the opening game and go onto win the Super Bowl. They got a lot of work to do be a legitimate Super Bowl contender, but they are clearly worlds better than they played last night.

On the long Hunt run, watch Van Noy running across the line to make the tackle right as Hunt made the turn.

He ran as fast as old people f__k.

If a couch potato like me noticed it, I can't even imagine what BB and Blackbeard are thinking.

 

[WaterfallJumper]

My game thoughts? I like James White.

 

[mosslost]

Last time KC embarrassed Pats in front of the country things turned around pretty quick. Hopeful for repeat of that.

 

[Rob0729]

But...the '03 Pats weren't the '03 Pats at that point...in fact, we didn't know how they'd do since the previous year was a non-playoff making bust and the year before that was a miracle Super Bowl win.

Just like the '17 Pats aren't who they'll end up being at the end of season.

But that was my point. I was just giving the only example the Patriots have of an aberration first game. But in 2014, the Pats were mediocre in the first month and Brady looked done. They ended up winning the Super Bowl.

 

[Nikolai]

But that was my point. I was just giving the only example the Patriots have of an aberration first game. But in 2014, the Pats were mediocre in the first month and Brady looked done. They ended up winning the Super Bowl.

An even better comp is Game 1 of that year against the Lolphins when the team looked decent, if not shaky in the first half, before collapsing in the second half. It took the team a month to shake the rust.

I said at work a week or so ago that I wouldn't be TOO broken up about some adversity to start the year. The whole offseason has seen the media and everyone else blowing smoke up the Pats' asses about how great and wonderful they are. There's no doubt BB will use these teaching moments.

The other side of me realizes I may be living my worst nightmare from even before the preseason; that the injuries would kill us.