MORSE: Lowlights of Patriots Embarrassing Loss to Washington

Wow was that ugly. Here are some thoughts and notes coming off that embarrassing loss Sunday night:

1) Jacoby Brissett and the 1^st team Offense should have dominated the Commanders 2^nd team Defense and they didn’t. If it wasn’t an overthrow to the back it was a drop by the WR (K.J. Osborn). Brissett hurt his right shoulder on a sack, and that is probably why he didn’t go back in.

2) Layden Robinson was bad as well with a holding call and a false start. Nick Leverett was flat out awful at Center with a missed snap in the shotgun and then fumbled a snap with Maye. It appears that was Maye’s fault. Leverett was terrible blocking, also. I think they need to get a backup Center now.

3) Sidy Sow tried to pull to his right and block the edge rusher. Robinson gets pushed into the backfield, cutting off Sow, and JaMychal Hasty missed his block too. That is the play that Brissett got hurt on. X-Rays next week will determine if Brissett can play.

4) Sidy Sow hurt his ankle. It was reported by Christopher Price of the Boston Globe that Sow left the facility in a walking boot.

5) The other big problem was lining up on the line of scrimmage. They were called 5 times for this. The League told the team before the game they would be looking for this. The coaches didn’t prepare them, or they just didn’t listen. You can’t have any consistency with the line playing like that. Okorafor had 4 of those. This is on the coaches.

Aug 25, 2024; Landover, Maryland, USA; New England Patriots quarterback Drake Maye (10) throws off his back foot as Washington Commanders defense applies pressure during the first half at Commanders Field. Mandatory Credit: Tommy Gilligan-USA TODAY Sports

(PHOTO: Tommy Gilligan-USA TODAY Sports)

6) On the bright side Drake Maye did show promise. He made some very good throws that Mac Jones never could make. He was 5-6 for 71 yards on that long touchdown drive, highlighted by his 17-yard scramble.

7) Later, Maye rolled left and launched a deep ball down the sideline caught by KJ Osborn, and he ran it in for a TD, only to have it called back for an Illegal Procedure penalty by Chuks Okorafor for night lining up on the Line of Scrimmage. Those calls were infuriating, and the Patriots coaches should be livid after it. He had 4 of those calls on himself.

8) Maye was 13 of 20 for 126 yards and a TD, without throwing a pick. The receivers dropped too many passes, and the penalties wiped out a long pass and TD.

Three UP

Drake Maye – he was good but we have to remember the Patriots were using their 1^st team Offensive line against the Commanders backups. Maye could be the starter if Brissett’s injury is serious. Jerod Mayo said that Brissett could have gone back in the game if this was a regular season game.

Jalynn Polk – 2 catches on 3 targets for 33 yards before being pulled.

Antonio Gibson – ran three times for 17 yards and 5.7 yards average.

Three Down

Offensive Line – Nobody played well. The 5 Procedure penalties were disgusting. If they had anyone who could play better, I would have cut Chuks Okorafor after the game.

Jacoby Brissett – He didn’t look good at all. He also got hurt and that might be the out the Patriots need to start Drake Maye. I wouldn’t play Maye until they have an offensive line in front of him.

Azzizi Hearn and Marcellas Dial – 4 Pass Interference penalties in the second half set up the two Washington TDs. Hearn 45 yards and 19 yards. Dial gave up two for 19 yards each. The Patriots had 10 accepted penalties for 156 yards. Disgusting! I don’t want to see either of these guys on the Practice Squad. They can’t play in the NFL.

Other players of note:

Christian Elliss ended up with 11 tackles, 7 of which were solo. This was also the best game that Sam Roberts played as he chipped in with 8 tackles.

I remember the days when other teams would be salivating over the players the Patriots would cut. Those players that played in the 4^th quarter can’t play in the NFL. They were playing two edge players that weren’t on the team a week ago. The defense had no push up the field and no pressure on McSorley.

What was this passing by Washington with the lead late in the game? That was pretty bush league by Quinn. Was it him being petty because of the Patriots embarrassing him in the Super Bowl? While I’m at it, what about all those players in street clothes jumping on the field after a good play. That wasn’t a very good look and some of those players should be fined by the league.

My next Roster Projection will only have 51 players because the team doesn’t have 53 players that can play in the league.

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About Mark Morse

Merrimack Valley native and lifelong fan of the New England Patriots. My earliest memories of the Patriots were attending as a child with my dad, the off-season practice at Phillips Academy. I was at the Patriots game at Harvard Stadium in 1970 where Bob “Harpo” Gladieux was called out of the stands by the stadium announcer over the PA to play in the game. Analyzing the draft since ESPN first started to televise it in 1980 and former writer for the Lowell Sun Newspaper.

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