Play-calling was far from Patriots’ biggest issue in loss to Colts

Play-calling was far from Patriots’ biggest issue in loss to Colts originally appeared on NBC Sports Boston

Part of the fun of combing through these Patriots games, win or lose, is that everyone has their own takes on why things transpired the way they did.

But after the Patriots’ 25-24 loss to the Colts on Sunday, consuming the takes of others had me feeling like someone had stuffed the wrong kind of mushrooms in my Thanksgiving leftover casserole.

Not because of what transpired on the field. We’ve seen that before. Self-inflicted errors. Coaching second-guesses. Defeat snatched from the jaws of victory.

All very normal for these Patriots.

What was weird was that instead of focusing on the primary issues that lost the Patriots this game, my good friend Tom E. Curran told me on Patriots Talk that play-calling was Item No. 1 on his list of postgame complaints.

Pass the snozzberries. Strange trip incoming.

🔊 Patriots Talk Podcast: ‘Cautious’ Patriots continue to coach not to lose in maddening loss to Colts | Listen & Subscribe | Watch on YouTube

Two drives were the focus. One at the end of the half. (Run. Run. Pass.) One after a Christian Gonzalez interception in the fourth. (Run. Run. Pass.) It was the kind of football conservatism that induces eye-rolls in real time, particularly on Sunday with quarterback Drake Maye dealing like a seasoned veteran.

I also found those stretches to be not-at-all inspiring. Even if the Patriots did rush for over 6.0 yards per carry in this one. Put it on the board of what-ifs. No doubt.

But for a lack of aggressiveness to be the primary problem for some — no it wasn’t just Curran here locally! — qualifies as mind-bending mosquito circumcision.

The Patriots could’ve easily scored 42 points in this game without a single play-calling alteration.

They lost seven points on a Hunter Henry dropped touchdown that was picked. They lost four points after being called for back-to-back holding penalties, which turned a first-and-goal at the 2-yard…


Source link : https://sports.yahoo.com/play-calling-far-patriots-biggest-205000036.html

Author : NBC Sports Boston

Publish date : 2024-12-02 20:50:00

Copyright for syndicated content belongs to the linked Source.

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