Red Zone, WR Woes Haunt Patriots In 23-20 OT Loss To Seattle
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The Patriots had many chances to win today’s game against Seattle, but they ultimately couldn’t make the clutch plays when needed. They had the lead late in the fourth quarter and couldn’t hold it.
Geno Smith led Seattle to a late scoring drive at the end of regulation to tie the game and then led another drive in overtime to win it. Smith had a big day, completing 33-44 passes for 327 yards and a touchdown, which was made more impressive because he did it without any running game.
We can argue about the two pass interference calls, one on each drive that aided Seattle, but if the Patriots had taken care of business earlier, the first one would have been meaningless, and the second moot.
Ultimately, the game came down to two issues that may have been interconnected with other team problems. And we’ll look at those and other observations from the game.
The Patriots were forced to kick field goals from the Seattle 11 and 10-yard lines after promising drives stalled. Seattle’s stops were the difference in the game today.
They were trying to get the passing game untracked and actually got off to a promising start when Brissett found Ja’Lynn Polk in the back of the end zone for the rookie’s first NFL touchdown. But after that, Seattle’s corners completely erased New England’s wide receivers and put them on a milk carton.
In the red zone, the wide receivers have to contribute. And today, they didn’t. When they took the lead in the second half, the Patriots decided to go with the jumbo package and run the ball. And Rhamondre Stevenson delivered. The red zone issues were overlooked a bit last week, but they cost the team a win today.
The Patriots had no answer for the Seahawks’ wide receivers, DK Metcalf and Jaxon Smith-Njigba. The two outstanding wide receivers combined for 22 catches for 246 yards and a touchdown, with Metcalf hauling in a 56-yard touchdown pass.
During the play, Kyle Dugger and Christian Gonzalez were caught looking into the Seahawks’ backfield, and they watched Metcalf run uncontested down the field for a score that was too easy. The blown coverage allowed Seattle to tie the score at 7-7. Dugger later claimed that the mistake was his.
However, in stark contrast, the Patriots only had two wide receivers catch passes in the game. And they only hauled in three passes for 19 yards and Polk’s aforementioned touchdown.
For the team to remain competitive, it has to improve significantly and fairly quickly. They have to be much more balanced than they are currently. Demario Douglas has been MIA for two weeks. Today, he wasn’t targeted once. He’s considered the best wide receiver they currently have in the passing game. And he has been invisible thus far.
Some of the other observations from the loss today:
The Patriots ran for 170 yards last week and 185 more on 36 carries today, a 5.1-yard average. Rhamondre Stevenson ran 21 times for 81 yards and a go-ahead touchdown, while Antonio Gibson added 96 yards on 11 carries, including an outstanding 45-yard run that put the team in position to put the game away. It initially appeared like Gibson was going to be caught for a loss.
Stevenson is becoming one of the better backs in the league. A better complementary passing game would make the running game even more effective. But Stevenson and Gibson have been playing well.
Patriots TE Hunter Henry would have been the Player of the Game had the Patriots been able to hold on and win the game. Henry was the focal point on the Patriots first scoring drive.
Henry had three catches on the Patriots’ 8-play, 60-yard scoring drive, including a third-down conversion for 17 yards. He had five catches for 56 yards in the first quarter and finished the game with eight receptions for 109 yards.
Henry was Brissett’s most reliable weapon in the passing game. The 109 yards is a career-high and the second 100-yard game of Henry’s career.
The Patriots’ edge rusher had another excellent game today. He garnered seven tackles, 1.5 sacks, 2 QB hits, and a tackle for loss (TFL). He has been everything advertised these first two games.
He didn’t get credit for a sack early in the game but destroyed the play by forcing Smith to step up right into the pressure. The run defense was excellent once again. Seattle rushed 19 times for 46 yards (2.4-yard average). White also drew a holding penalty that wiped out a big gain for Smith.
It should also be noted that although the Patriots gave up two late scores, they had three straight three-and-outs on defense in the second half that could have changed the entire outlook of the game.
They could use some help for White in the pass rush department. Smith did not look harassed or rushed much in this game… hence the big day.
The Patriots’ offensive line continues to struggle in pass protection. Jacoby Brissett was sacked three times and hit eight times. Many of those hard hits really jolted the Patriots’ quarterback, who looked to be in obvious pain several times, just like last week in Cincinnati.
Brissett has been hanging in there, but the pass protection is going to get him hurt unless they tighten things up. He only completed 15-27 passes for 149 yards and a touchdown. But because of the OL’s continuing struggles in pass protection, only three were to wide receivers.
The sacks came against different players on the offensive line. This is definitely an area that is taking a toll not only on Brissett but also on the WRs, as their routes all have to be short. This doesn’t mean the WRs don’t share equally in having to improve, but it is all interconnected.
As we’ve been preaching on these pages for a while, the offense needs time to come together. And they don’t want to lose their quarterback before they figure it out.
The Patriots were pretty banged up in the game with Seattle. Ja’Whaun Bentley, Oshane Ximines, and Vederian Lowe were injured and did not return. This week, there is precious little time to watch the tape and prepare to travel to New Jersey for a Thursday Night Football tilt with the Jets.
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