PostGame Thread 2023 Week 2: Patriots Lose to Dolphins 24-17

[PatsFan2]

Sit Douglas for a couple of series, but if the ultimate point of yesterday was to win the game, it was self-defeating to sit him for the rest of the game. Yes, it was a backbreaking turnover and, yes, he has to have better awareness and take better care of the football, but it was also an outstanding hustle play by a vet who came from his blindside. A lot of running backs and receivers would have coughed up the ball on that play.

BB felt that he could bench him because he had Welker and Edelman in the wings.

 

[lancerman]

Jets are horrible but losing is certainly a possibility.

They need Brown back.

It sounds so simple but all they need to do is take care of the football, play smart and avoid drive-killing penalties.

Jets have an aggressive defense and a running game.

 

[RobertWeathers]

Yep but probably a bad sign when we are making fun of our own players

yea we're f___ked

 

[sb1]

Juju Sanu... eek

 

[fightingirish595]

Mac seems perfectly competent when a fair chance by the offensive line

 

[borg]

The main problem with this game... Bill Belichick. Team is undisciplined and makes key errors in big moments and they lack the talent to overcome top NFL squads. Both rest on his shoulders.

The announcers mentioned how the Dolphins players and coaches made a concerted effort during the offseason (not preseason or training camp) to clean up pre-snap/sloppy habits that plagued Miami last season.

In New England, Bill gave his QB the cold shoulder in the offseason, cancelled practices in OTAs, and didn't allow certain rookies (Pop, kicker, etc) to play in preseason games.
2-0 vs 0-2

 

[Wax Frog]

Jets are horrible but losing is certainly a possibility.

They need Brown back.

It sounds so simple but all they need to do is take care of the football, play smart and avoid drive-killing penalties.

This page has more nailings than an orgy!

 

[The Gr8est]

We knew the OL was bad going into the season and Belichick completely blew it both in free agency and the draft.

Would you prefer the Pats had not drafted Gonzales and White, and drafted OL instead?

BB knocked this draft out of the park.

 

[FCB02062]

The New England Patriots, yes the 6 time Super Bowl Champions, have not won a game vs a starting quarterback since week 11 of 2022 (Zach Wilson)...let that settle in

 

[Chevy]

If you told me going into last offseason that we were going to go defense in the first three rounds, I would have thought you were on crack. Somehow people talked themselves into believing it was saavy and Bill was Zigging with the league Zagging.

I am not anti-BB in any way, shape, or form. That said, zig-zagging just increases the actual distance traveled vs actual distance gained. At some point it has to stop; you have to drop your shoulder and power through to make an efficient gain.

This offense needs a blocking TE and two dependable tackles (left and right) - really, that's it. Increase Mac's pocket time by 2 seconds and the extra blocker for the run, and this offense, while not TV highlight electric, will be solid. Piss-Off-The-Opposing-Defense solid. Look at 2001-2004; Surgical.

That was Brady's strength, and it appears to be Mac's as well. I always felt that offensive approach was a big reason why the opposition made so many mistakes late in games. Giving up long drives can demoralize a defense (unless you're New England - the D is built to force those long drives and remain patient knowing the RZ lockdown is where it matters).

It's not asking for much. A few pieces - not all-pros, just lunch-pail guys who will Do Their Job.

 

[Pats2000]

So - haven't reviewed the GDT, but I'll take a shot:

-Mac sucks and he is to blame
-BB the GM screwed us over
-The season is over
-Is not! Is too! Is not! Is too!
-We need to just tank for (Insert Flavor of the Month here)

Close?

Mac isnt playing great. His deep ball often wouldnt hit a barn.

The play calling is meh, they need to throw the ball beyond the line of scrimmage. Teams are loading up and playing close because they know Mac cant throw deep accurately.

On a positive note, Mac's on the move accuracy seems to have improved a lot. And his velocity looks a lot better this year.

 

[upstater1]

If you told me going into last offseason that we were going to go defense in the first three rounds, I would have thought you were on crack. Somehow people talked themselves into believing it was saavy and Bill was Zigging with the league Zagging.

My lordy, we took Gonzalez and Keion White who shouldve been a 1st rounder.

For a team not winning the SB this year, bringing blue chippers in is worth it. Getting better offensive players is important but not if you're passing up potential All-Pros.

Shaun Wade and Myles Bryant would've been our CBs last night.

 

[RobertWeathers]

Mac seems perfectly competent when a fair chance by the offensive line

He was harassed last night. No question.

 

[lancerman]

My lordy, we took Gonzalez and Keion White who shouldve been a 1st rounder.

For a team not winning the SB this year, bringing blue chippers in is worth it. Getting better offensive players is important but not if you're passing up potential All-Pros.

Shaun Wade and Myles Bryant would've been our CBs last night.

You're right, they aren't winning the Super Bowl this year. And if they keep playing like this, we'll be rebuilding again and waste Gonzalez and White's rookie contracts before we are remotely close to being a contender and then have to decide if it's worth even paying them. Getting an All Pro at the neglect of a whole side of the ball that has been holding the team back for half a decade at this point and still geting the same results doesn't count for anything.

 

[upstater1]

You're right, they aren't winning the Super Bowl this year. And if they keep playing like this, we'll be rebuilding again and waste Gonzalez and White's rookie contracts before we are remotely close to being a contender and then have to decide if it's worth even paying them. Getting an All Pro at the neglect of a whole side of the ball that has been holding the team back for half a decade at this point and still geting the same results doesn't count for anything.

It counts for a lot. Because without difference makers you're NEVER winning.

You have to roll the dice.

If you don't, you'll get nowhere.

You're asking me if I want Zay Flowers out there with Myles Bryant and Shaun Wade as the starting CBs?

No, I don't.

 

[borg]

Notwithstanding 2 pretty entertaining games so far

The key is to arrive at the game after the 1st qtr.

 

[Wax Frog]

I am not anti-BB in any way, shape, or form. That said, zig-zagging just increases the actual distance traveled vs actual distance gained. At some point it has to stop; you have to drop your shoulder and power through to make an efficient gain.

This offense needs a blocking TE and two dependable tackles (left and right) - really, that's it. Increase Mac's pocket time by 2 seconds and the extra blocker for the run, and this offense, while not TV highlight electric, will be solid. Piss-Off-The-Opposing-Defense solid. Look at 2001-2004; Surgical.

That was Brady's strength, and it appears to be Mac's as well. I always felt that offensive approach was a big reason why the opposition made so many mistakes late in games. Giving up long drives can demoralize a defense (unless you're New England - the D is built to force those long drives and remain patient knowing the RZ lockdown is where it matters).

It's not asking for much. A few pieces - not all-pros, just lunch-pail guys who will Do Their Job.

While I think I'd put myself in the pour-talent-into-D camp, I am beginning to yearn for some absolute road graders.

 

[Keep Up With The Joneses]

There was so much to not like about this game, and the fact the Pats lost by one score to me says more about Miami than it does about New England. I do believe at this point that this team will not be resurrected to greatness under the current regime. Everyone is talking about Mac. My .02 is he's very frustrating because he doesn't all out suck all the time. I've seen flashes (the TD pass to KB last week for example) that make me think sometimes he gets it, but they are simply too few and far between. Like it or not though, it's going to continue to be Mac's team for at least the rest of this season, which feels like it's going to be a long one.

What I was surprised about was how effectively they let Mostert run in the 4th. That was more concerning to me than anything else as this is supposed to be a strength.

That said, and I apologize if this has already been discussed, but did anyone else feel they didn't have enough evidence to overturn the Strange first down? Perhaps I'm viewing through blue and red lenses but I was very surprised they overturned that, and relatively quickly considering the game was on the line.

 

[lancerman]

It counts for a lot. Because without difference makers you're NEVER winning.

You have to roll the dice.

If you don't, you'll get nowhere.

You're asking me if I want Zay Flowers out there with Myles Bryant and Shaun Wade as the starting CBs?

No, I don't.

There's trade offs for everything in life. The defense was good enough. The offense hasn't been for years. Neglecting the offense in favor of adding to the defense is leading to more of the same. You get blue chip talent to win, they aren't winning. If they aren't winning in 2 more seasons they won't pay the blue chippers to maintain failure.

 

[upstater1]

There's trade offs for everything in life. The defense was good enough. The offense hasn't been for years. Neglecting the offense in favor of adding to the defense is leading to more of the same. You get blue chip talent to win, they aren't winning. If they aren't winning in 2 more seasons they won't pay the blue chippers to maintain failure.

They're not winning with Zay Flowers and Bryant and Wade either.