PostGame Thread OFFICIAL PostGame Thread: Patriots lose the opener to Las Vegas 20-13

[ViperGTS]

I posted earlier I think but after watching a lot of the younger QBs today, the joint practices have to go. Make the players play against the ones in real time in a game with hitting etc. You gain nothing from joint practices, I am seeing that now.

Bring back the real pre season games.

 

[VrabelJr]

Right now I’m more concerned about Maye than I am Vrabel. It’s only week 1 though.

 

[The Gr8est]

Yup after watching the GOAT for 25 years, 20 with the Pats, we saw that killer instinct. Sad to say, it’s rare to find that kind of QB. Maye almost seems too nice and easy going.

I’ll add that Maye also has a slow release. In the McDaniels offense, you have to get that ball out fast. That’s why Brady & even Jimmy G succeeded in this offense, quick releases. You are basically a point guard getting it to your playmakers. Maye seems too slow for this offense. The only guys he seems to really connect with are Henry and Boutte.

Not giving up on the kid, hopefully he starts to get it and that leads to winning. But he doesn’t have that urgent, angry personality that the winners seem to have. I remember that look in Brady’s eyes if he was losing or tied, those eyes basically saying, I’m gonna step on your neck and end you. I loved that.

I agree with the Maye seems too nice and easy going comment.

I was trying to think about Brady’s demeanor and how much different it was from Drake.

It is likely Drake’s brain is overloaded at this point as he has been in different systems each year for several years now.

I am hopeful that he will improve as muscle memory takes over. I expect McD will be here for a while so he won’t have to keep learning new systems.

I really can’t say I am surprised to see Drake struggle, but I would like to see a different personna, and that may come when he is thinking less and playing confidently.

Makes we wonder how much truth there was to Milton being moved to make Drake feel more comfortable.

Maybe he needs to be pushed and realize he CAN lose his job.

 

[WhatJustHappened]

Yup, but as of now, he's only played 20/35, which is fkn pathetic.
Is he good? Yeah...but noone is great sitting in the fkn tub, which is where he's been almost 50% of his career.
Maybe he just likes Ice Baths.

 

[AQPE]

Was there today, as usual being a STH. Regarding the crowd, I agree with those who have mentioned the number of empty seats. I think the rain was a factor but even more so after several crappy seasons, the last two of which were debacles, it reflects the lack of optimism about the team.

The game definitely didn’t play out as I expected, especially when the Pats ran the ball. I underestimated the Raiders front 7 in particular, they certainly did a good job containing Henderson whom I thought would be an X factor. Let’s give The Poodle his due on this one.

I was definitely concerned going into this about how well they would handle Bowers. I forgot to worry about Mayer who is very good also. Between the two they had 10 catches for 140 yards. That doesn’t bode well for them and underscores my frustration with the Mapu pick, Duggar extension, and Peppers release. On a positive note I watched Milton Williams a bunch and liked what I saw from him quite a bit. I’m not giving up hope thst this can be a defense thst can win close games for the Pats this year

I expect the Pats OL to be a lot better this year than they’ve been the past 3 or 4 seasons, but today they were mediocre, as their stats indicate. That is still considerably better than the dogshit we saw every game the past two seasons. I paid a lot of attention to Crosby, he’s an elite player in this league, he was good today but not a game wrecker. The talent level there is greatly improved so I’m remaining hopeful for now.

I understand the angst here about Maye, he had a lousy game, but I’m not terribly worried yet. He has plenty of talent and is in a new system, going up against a damn good defensive coach, idiotic personality and annoying gum chewing notwithstanding.

 

[WhatJustHappened]

I wanted the Patriots to get an OC who's offense was to Maye's strengths rather than trying to tailor McDaniels' offense to suit Maye, but I disagree with you. He was successful running the Patriots' offense in 2020 with a washed up Cam Newton and 2021 with a rookie Mac Jones.

McDaniels is a good OC, but a horrible head coach. Two different roles. People who excel at a coordinator position can fail miserably as a head coach. McDaniels is a guy like that.

That's ok, we disagree.
He SUCKED in STL as OC as well, don't forget about that GARBAGE.
Forget about HC, he's a fkn disgrace.

 

[Rob0729]

The offense was absolutely atrocious in 2020. Who else remembers the random rugby plays inside the 10-15 yard line? That was embarrassing.

In 2021, the offense padded their stats against bad teams and were dead to rights by the time the last quarter of the season arrived where they played potential playoff teams. When the game went off script, they folded like a lawn chair.

The only reason McDaniels is back in the NFL is because Vrabel is doing him a solid.

I am saying he was successful with what he had. He didn't have a QB and he somehow got some production. I am not saying the offense was good. I am saying it was better than what it could have been. The Patriots had the least talented offense in the league that year. And they weren't the worst offense in the league.

And people overstate the collapse of the offense at the end of the season in 2021. The collapse was on defense that year. The offense was inconsistent. Sometimes great. Sometimes awful. The defense went from one of the best in the league to one of the worst.

 

[The Gr8est]

Glad to read people are keeping their level heads one game into a three to five year contention rebuild.

Apparently you didn’t read the GDT.

Smart move.

 

[MrBigglesWorth]

I know a lot of fans are ready to pin this loss on McDaniels’ play-calling, but let’s be honest—this isn’t just about scheme. Yes, the offense stalled once Vegas started crowding the line and blitzing, and yes, a couple of well-timed screens or deep shots could have slowed them down. But football is simple at its core: players have to execute. Today, too many didn’t.


Quarterback play: Maye flashed early but looked overwhelmed once the game tightened up. He missed open receivers, stared down routes, and clearly wasn’t processing quickly enough. Compare that to Bo Nix today—also under pressure, also a rookie—but still able to adjust and keep his team moving. If Maye wants to be “the next Josh Allen,” he has to show poise when things aren’t clean.


Running game: Flat-out awful. No backfield rhythm, no push up front, and zero threat to balance the offense. If you can’t run, defenses sit on the short stuff, and we saw exactly that—congested passing lanes and a QB forcing throws.


Defense: The run D settled down after a shaky start, but let’s not pretend they dominated. For most of the game, they gave up chunk plays and only looked sturdy once Vegas backed off. It was a step forward, but not nearly enough to swing a game like this.


Bright spot: Boutte was a pleasant surprise. He looked like a new version of Jakobi Meyers—tough, reliable, always finding space. But one wideout who can move the chains isn’t going to win you games when Diggs disappears and the run game is a no-show.


Bottom line: Blame McDaniels all you want, but when the QB is missing throws, the run game is nonexistent, and the defense can’t string together stops, play-calling is a secondary issue. This roster simply lacks talent in too many spots. The Patriots will improve, but we’ve got to reset expectations: this team isn’t one clever call away from competing—it’s multiple playmakers away

They took away Henderson

 

[mgteich]

Its not just gonzos gone the whole defensive backfield seemed to be playing like the keystone cops, out of position not covering

I guess the 40 burger was truly terrible.

 

[denverpatsfan]

Say what you want but Bo Nix is going to the playoffs. Not sure Drake Maye will be...

 

[mgteich]

Maye looked slow to me and I do mean really slow running with it. What’s up with that.

I'm not as down on the team as you. Aside from the good players you mentioned, I'd add:

Milton Williams had 5 hurries and 1 hit.

In fact I thought the DL as a whole did well outside of that first drive.

Will Campbell, aside from that one drive, had a pretty good game so I'm hopeful there.

I thought the safeties did pretty well aside from that Hawkins foul up on the first TD.

Carlton Davies had a good game apart from that one pass.

So not perfect but there were positive elements. However, McDaniels needs to be less conservative and Maye needs to be better. We aren't going to be a good team this year, we just don't have the star power outside of Gonzo and perhaps Williams but we might have a better team than last year if Maye and McDaniels sort things out.

Other than the truly horrible failure in the first series, the Defense played well. Allowing 20 points should be enough to beat the Raiders.
===========
THERE WAS A LOT THAT WENT WRONG
1) How can it be right for Maye to throw 46 passes?
2) The OL apparently can't run block. We should have had lots more yards running.
3) Maye seemed lost and slow in his releases. As expected, he needs lot more work.

 

[upstater1]

Patriots record with McD at OC and with Mac Jones, Garoppolo, Brissett and Matt Cassel is 24-13.

 

[gtfanboy]

They took away Henderson

Others will be doing the same. The teams will be putting game planning to stop the run and make Maye beat them...

Can he? I have faith but does Maye is the question as this point...

 

[BennyBledsoe]

I posted earlier I think but after watching a lot of the younger QBs today, the joint practices have to go. Make the players play against the ones in real time in a game with hitting etc. You gain nothing from joint practices, I am seeing that now.

Bring back the real pre season games.

Too bad the NFLPA negotiated them out of existence.

 

[obgod3]

They took away Henderson

going to be a long ass season if a team can take away one guy and create the problems we saw today.

 

[StockingAnarchyNumber12]

If Maye is a miss we are going to be in quarterback purgatory. Hate to see it

 

[One-If-By-Sea]

Say what you want but Bo Nix is going to the playoffs. Not sure Drake Maye will be...

Bo is 25, Drake is 23. Do you think Drake will go to the playoffs in 2026 or 2027 when he is Bo's age?

 

[Bill Lee]

going to be a long ass season if a team can take away one guy and create the problems we saw today.

or just an ass season...

 

[sb1]

If Maye is a miss we are going to be in quarterback purgatory. Hate to see it

Yep. The rest of the division went through it over the Brady era.