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Patriots are in disarray, with one all-important exception originally appeared on NBC Sports Boston
The Patriots are just a few plays from 5-4. They’re also a couple of plays from 0-9.
They’re most definitely not good. Not even average. The question is, are they horrific or merely bad? Irredeemable or mildly promising?
They may have had the least talented roster in the NFL entering the season and that was BEFORE the injury avalanche to some of their best players.
Two of their most prominent free agent imports on offense were Chukwuma Okorafor and K.J. Osborn. Chuks left. Osborn can’t get on the field.
Drafted wideouts Ja’Lynn Polk and Javon Baker are on the Dalton Keene-Devin Asiasi track.
They can’t run it. (Their backs have averaged under 3.5 yards per carry in five of the last six games.) They can’t stop the run. (In eight out of nine games, opponents have averaged 4.0 yards or more.) Their propensity for ill-timed, momentum-killing offensive penalties is only exceeded by their ability to commit (or get called for) drive-extending penalties on defense.
They are the NFL’s Dr. Feelgood. Almost every team that’s down on its luck and feeling sad gets their frown turned upside down after seeing New England. The 49ers, after losing to the Rams, blasted the Pats. The Dolphins, on a three-game losing streak with Snoop Huntley at quarterback, edged the Pats. The Jaguars, after a near-mutinous loss to the Bears, bulldozed the Pats in London. The Titans, after a 38-point loss to the Lions, survived the Pats in OT.
Somehow, every single week, the Patriots wind up with the ball to end the half and then walk face-first into the slider. It’s actually become comical.
We figured the cobbled-together coaching staff with Jerod Mayo at the top and coordinators Alex Van Pelt and DeMarcus Covington on offense and defense would have fits and starts. So far, there have been way more fits than starts. After the rapid descent of the team in 2022 and 2023, they needed to ooze…
Source link : https://sports.yahoo.com/patriots-disarray-crucial-exception-drake-175331027.html
Author : NBC Sports Boston
Publish date : 2024-11-04 17:58:45
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