This was a self inflicted loss, unfortunately.
Too many bad penalties. I don't blame Stevenson for the 1st fumble. He was down, and he has the known thumb issue. The coaching staff must have high expectations to seemingly have him penciled in for a large role prior to the fumble.
The issues are all fixable. They're discipline related, even the few Mac-10 miscues I fully expect to be rectified next week. The deep ball to Meyers that J McCourty closed out likely is completed against most other safeties (chasing down the Ram wide open in the EZ during SB, anyone?). He's got a ridiculously accurate arm and seemed to throw guys out of harms way most the time. His arm isn't + by NFL standards, but it sure as hell isn't a liability either. He slung that one into Agholor up the middle, between the lbs and in front of the safety without issue. That was the closest thing to a hospital ball we saw.
There were 2-3 swing plays where he rushed the throw (think 2 were roll outs, 1 he never got set) that I have little doubt will get adressed in practice this week.
Can we scratch the quick toss? Seemed they were as likely to be negative plays as positive...
Harris took a beating. He isn't meant to be a bell-cow. Stevenson needs to sure up those hands or the RB room is going to be a mess by week 4. The RB room that is an undoubted strength of this team.
TEs look like pros, man was that nice to see. I didn't notice them in the run game, but wasn't paying too close attention either.
The best news? Mac had a damn game against a good d, against a division rival where the HC knows the Pats offense well. Mac-10 is as advertised.
Bills lost, so we have that going for us. This team seems to have all the pieces to put together down the stretch, presuming health. I'll be shocked if we keep seeing the stupid penalties and miscues. This will be a fun season to watch play out.