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Patriots’ ineptitude at every level signals need for greater urgency originally appeared on NBC Sports Boston
Sunday’s soup-to-nuts incompetence in Miami undid four weeks of minor Patriots progress.
Not that the post-Jacksonville stretch against the Jets, Titans, Bears and Rams was reason to break out the sheet cake. But it was a candle in a cave. A hint that — against teams in similar or worse straits — New England could compete.
Which, after the London embarrassment to a Jags team that was itself in the process of quitting, was desperately needed.
And now? Right back where they were. With less time to rectify and a much harder string of opponents to deal with.
At 3-9 with five games to go between now and January 5, the only area in which the Patriots are better than they were in 2023 is at quarterback. Which is great. But they were — by CHOICE — rolling out Bailey Zappe as their starter at the end of last season. It was a low bar to clear. Thankfully, the Patriots cleared it by a mile with Drake Maye.
But the presence of Maye — an honest-to-God, can’t-screw-him-up, surefire franchise messiah — only adds to the urgency of the next six weeks.
Yes, Bill Belichick left the organization wrecked and smoking in a ditch. But very little progress has been made in getting the car out.
Aside from Maye and some increased offensive production that’s ENTIRELY linked to his presence, there is literally nothing for the team to hang its hat on as inspiring optimism.
Not one position group is appreciably better than last year.
They’ve been lit up in the passing game by Geno Smith, Matthew Stafford, Tua Tagovailoa, Aaron Rodgers and C.J. Stroud.
They’ve had the ball run through their collective faces by the Jets, 49ers, Dolphins, Texans, Jaguars and Titans. They have 13 sacks in their last six games. Nine of them came against the Bears, who promptly fired their offensive coordinator the next day.
Except for the opener against Cincinnati, they’ve gotten hammered every time…
Source link : https://sports.yahoo.com/patriots-ineptitude-every-level-signals-184204782.html
Author : NBC Sports Boston
Publish date : 2024-11-25 18:48:00
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