Credit Miami -- they came out with a fire that showed from play one. On D they did what I expected (no big secret), often blitzing while smothering those sparse underneath drop and pop targets for Brady (in the process making rush yards difficult too). In this instance the long ball had to be hit by Brady a couple times to make Miami back off. Unfortunately the long ball just wasn't hit at all until it was too late -- Miami was able to keep to their game plan up from start to finish and the Patriots O had no answer that would convert/sustain drives.
VERY disappointed in the pass D. This area of the D was the impetus behind the overall starkly improved D play. Miami deserves credit for hitting some good passes (this will happen) but also too many instances of pitch and catch that produced too many yards. This pass defense is too good to be letting that happen with that kind of frequency. Up until tonight over the last 6 weeks passes were most often contested. Again too much pitch and catch -- uncontested receptions aplenty -- last night.
I look at this as the Patriots had a couple issues exposed/brought into the light. If Gronk is there maybe, possibly, we win this game (certainly I think a few third downs are converted) but it still would have been an exposure of some areas that need reexamination. The exposing, however, can be a good thing if their are practical remedies to it.
I'll tell you this -- this was a game that the D needed to win. Brady and the O were flat out neutralized. I'm perfectly ok with Miami's first two drives that ended in FGs -- keeping them out of the EZ will work. But the conversions the pass D allowed in the 2nd and 3rd quarter sucked the big one and simply cannot happen if this D wants to be top tier.
Botton line: we blew our one game loss, non Pitt loss, margin. It's most simple now: win all remaining 3. With the last 2 against hapless Jets and a Buff team that can't score to save their lives, these should be wins (if the Patriots can't take care of these two then the issues exposed tonight are bigger and probably season killing). No surprise the BFD is next Sunday. And due to this loss last night there is a HUGE, MASSIVE difference between winning and losing. Decent odds versus long odds at making the SB hangs in the balance.