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

[sb1]

We're starting to learn now what other teams fans have known for decades.

Finding a franchise QB is really, REALLY hard. The first round of the draft doesn't guarantee anything. And despite what some fans in all fanbases want to believe, chances are almost zero you'll find him on the bench waiting to get his chance. It takes a lot of luck and patience.

I mean... the Jets haven't had one since Namath. I'd say poor Jets but nah.

 

[festy1986]

At the end of the day, the reason I'm annoyed and embarrassed is we're supposed to be trending upward and getting better.

2 games into season 4 and no one can argue that this team isn't close to where they need to be.

I don't understand why there's anyone is ok with that.

 

[Wozzy]

It's lack of talent David we are playing very few Offenses this year that we measure up with. We ain't holding those Offenses to 17 on D and we are barely scoring 17 ourselves. We might get lucky and win a few games but to think we could win 7 games with this Offensive squad is some stretch.

We held the Eagles and Dolphins, two of the most explosive offenses in the NFL last season to 25 and 24 points respectively despite our offense turning the ball over twice.

Do you actually think things out before you say them or do they just fly out of your mouth and onto these pages?

 

[Triumph]

I didn't say you were the one calling in.

I understood that entirely and was being truthful in regards to Jones.

Again, that narrative is making its way around sports radio, various talking points, etc.

Last season In Minnesota, Jones was high fiving after the Pats booted a FG when they needed a TD. This season is just more of the same.

As for Jones' future, time will tell, I guess. We'll see how things look in Week 18, and by then, we'll probably have a good feel for whether or not they're going to want to pick up his option and keep him beyond next year.

The Patriots need to draft a QB in 2024. Preferably a guy with a strong arm.

 

[RIpats88]

Ian: it comes down to ball placement for a QB Tua most of the times put the football where his guys can get it. Mac love to put it where the other Team gets it he should have had a couple of picks last night. I don't see what you see in him I don't think Mac is better than G Minshew .

Do you honestly believe if you switched Tua and Mac the results would be the same for each QB? And that he would be lighting it up with Parker and Bourne as he is with hill/waddle?

Lack of offensive talent on OL and WR is far more a problem than the QB.

 

[Kontradiction]

 

[Ian]

Ian: it comes down to ball placement for a QB Tua most of the times put the football where his guys can get it. Mac love to put it where the other Team gets it he should have had a couple of picks last night. I don't see what you see in him I don't think Mac is better than G Minshew .

I can't keep having this discussion with you. Your mind is made up, and you keep going to extremes with some of this and it's just beyond frustrating. If you think Minshew is better than Jones, I definitely can't help you there.

Apparently, you never watched him in Jacksonville. I can promise you, he'd get annihilated with this current offensive line and group of receivers. I mean, he couldn't hack it in Jacksonville where he had significantly better talent, so I definitely don't understand your mindset there. Like, at all.

 

[Jangles]

We're starting to learn now what other teams fans have known for decades.

Finding a franchise QB is really, REALLY hard. The first round of the draft doesn't guarantee anything. And despite what some fans in all fanbases want to believe, chances are almost zero you'll find him on the bench waiting to get his chance. It takes a lot of luck and patience.

I mean... the Jets haven't had one since Namath. I'd say poor Jets but nah.

It doesn’t help that Mac had a clown show offense last year and no impact players this year. Maybe he isn’t the guy, but it’s not like he’s been given the best opportunity to succeed

 

[Wozzy]

Bear forgot to mention the little Talent thingy.

You always think it's "talent," talent was also the problem early in 2014, 2016 and 2018.

And despite little to no new talent being added, those teams they improved to the point of winning a Super Bowl.

"Execution" is actually a thing, it exists... a lack of it is how lesser teams beat better teams almost weekly in the NFL.

 

[RIpats88]

I can't keep having this discussion with you. Your mind is made up, and you keep going to extremes with some of this and it's just beyond frustrating. If you think Minshew is better than Jones, I definitely can't help you there. Apparently, you never watched him in Jacksonville. I can promise you, he'd get annihilated with this current offensive line and group of receivers. I mean, he couldn't hack it in Jacksonville where he had significantly better talent, so I definitely don't understand your mindset there. Like, at all.

I'm not sure how anyone can act like replacing Mac Jones would automatically solve the offense and we would be winning games.

As if minshew to Bourne/parker is going to light up the league

Even Brady struggled in 2019 when saddled with a poor receiving core. Talent does matter at receiver

 

[Ian]

I understood that entirely and was being truthful in regards to Jones.

OK, I sort of figured that.

Last season In Minnesota, Jones was high fiving after the Pats booted a FG when they needed a TD. This season is just more of the same.

That's a weird thing to be upset about.

The Patriots need to draft a QB in 2024. Preferably a guy with a strong arm.

I'm sure they probably will. And they'll keep drafting someone, just like they always have while Brady was here.

 

[RIpats88]

Still waiting for someone to tell me what QB would win the last 2 games throwing to Bourne/parker/juju with no run game.

 

[sb1]

The Patriots need to draft a QB in 2024. Preferably a guy with a strong arm.

Strong arm isn't everything. Jarrett Stidham had a strong arm, how did that turn out for the Patriots?

 

[Wozzy]

Still waiting for someone to tell me what QB would win the last 2 games throwing to Bourne/parker/juju with no run game.

He got sacked 4 times. He also had Gesicki, Henry, Douglas and his RB's.... it's wasn't just his weapons.

He had the 4th most passing yards and most passing TD's in the entire NFL in week one against one of the toughest defenses in the league.

No QB can pass flat on his back.

 

[Patsfan1958]

 

[RIpats88]

He got sacked 4 times. He also had Gesicki, Henry, Douglas and his RB's.... it's wasn't just his weapons.

He had the most passing yards in the NFL in week one against one of the toughest defenses in the league.

No QB can pass flat on his back.

Yes I agree. OL is a major problem. But the usual suspects are putting the losses all on Mac Jones.

When anyone can clearly see he's not on the top list of problems of why we are losing.

And that's not saying he's great. Just that it's tough to win in the NFL if you can't run the ball, your OL can't run or pass block and your receivers aren't explosive.

You can put anyone back there and they probably would have a tough time.

 

[Jlaff]

Jones will be in the NFL for years. He does belong in the NFL. He is a starting caliber QB. That is undeniable.

Even if Mac fails here, he will get other chances on another team to compete to start and at worst could be a back up for the next decade or two.

Currently an "undeniable" NFL "starting caliber QB" is pretty bold, even for Mac's battered wife. There's still some room for speculation that he might be that if certain things changed, but to say he's achieved it already?

If the season were starting today and the teams were stuck with their current QB situations (Murray coming back to Arizona and Rodgers back next year), who would bring Mac in with confidence he was going to be their go-forward starter over their current situation?

Here's a list that serves as a real reality check when you read it:

NFL Starting Quarterbacks for the 2023 NFL Season

Who are the 32 NFL starting quarterbacks, and which teams are still looking for their QB as they look ahead to 2023?

www.profootballnetwork.com

So, maybe the Jets? But then you have Rodgers expected back next year.

The Bears? Probably not giving up on Fields just yet.

Maybe the Titans, but I'd expect it to be more an opportunity to compete rather than confidence he'd take the reigns and run with it.

I couldn't find one team in that list I think would make a move with the expectation that Jones would be their starting QB over what they have.

Things might start coming together with Mac and this team later in the year. I'm actually somewhat confident of that. Less confident that elevates Mac solidly to NFL starter caliber. Nevertheless, TODAY, what team makes that move?

 

[Ian]

Ian: it comes down to ball placement for a QB Tua most of the times put the football where his guys can get it. Mac love to put it where the other Team gets it he should have had a couple of picks last night. I don't see what you see in him I don't think Mac is better than G Minshew .

Sorry, didn't mean to go off on you. But you just absolutely puzzle me with some of these things.

I mean, if you're going to say "get rid of Mac and go get [insert name here]" you have to imagine who that person (Rosen/Minshew) would be with this group, not who they were elsewhere. If you think either of those names would outperform Mac with this exact same cast, I just don't know what else to say ...?

 

[TinhWoodhead]

Pats will run the table starting next week! baby steps, baby!

 

[Ian]

Currently an NFL "starting caliber QB" is pretty bold, even for Mac's battered wife. There's still some room for speculation that he might be that if certain things changed, but to say he's achieved it already?

If the season were starting today and the teams were stuck with their current QB situations (Murray coming back to Arizona and Rodgers back next hear), who would bring Mac in with confidence he was going to be their go-forward starter over their current situation?

Here's a list that serves as a real reality check when you read it:

NFL Starting Quarterbacks for the 2023 NFL Season

Who are the 32 NFL starting quarterbacks, and which teams are still looking for their QB as they look ahead to 2023?

www.profootballnetwork.com

So, maybe the Jets? But then you have Rodgers expected back next year.

The Bears? Probably not giving up on Fields just yet.

Maybe the Titans, but I'd expect it to be more an opportunity to compete rather than confidence he'd take the reigns and run with it.

I couldn't find one team in that list I think would make a move with the expectation that Jones would be their starting QB over what they have.

Things might start coming together with Mac and this team later in the year. I'm actually somewhat confident of that. Less confident that elevates Mac solidly to NFL starter caliber. Nevertheless, TODAY, what team makes that move?

We're two weeks into the season, very few teams, if any, TODAY, would make any move right now, save for the Jets, who lost their QB for the season. It's too early in the year for that. But by January, someone would. He'll absolutely be in someone's camp if/when he ever leaves here if he's not here beyond next season.