FOXBORO — The Patriots had been sure to lose ultimately, however Sunday’s 35-31 loss to the Payments stings a bit additional.
The Patriots took a commanding 21-0 lead within the first half and appeared that they had been going to run away with the sport simply till their protection became a sieve and surrendered touchdowns on 5 straight possessions to the Payments.
“We weren’t capable of get any stops,” head coach Mike Vrabel mentioned. “Once we had a possibility to make a play, we weren’t capable of make it. Penalties. And that’s how this recreation goes. A number of small performs make the distinction.”
Offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels received away from what labored so properly within the first half, and the Patriots’ offense scored only one landing within the remaining two quarters.
That they had one remaining probability to place collectively a game-winning drive however the offense managed simply 5 yards, and quarterback Drake Maye’s fourth-down passing try and tight finish Hunter Henry was batted by defensive finish Joey Bosa. The Payments picked up a primary down after the turnover on downs, then kneeled on the ball to win.
“The drive that we wanted our offense to get, I used to be assured, and I believed for positive that we’d take that soccer and go down and rating a landing,” Vrabel mentioned. “And we simply weren’t capable of. That’s why I went for it.”
With a win, the Patriots would have clinched the AFC East. Now, they’re 11-3 on the season with the Payments halting their 10-game successful streak. The Payments’ AFC East title goals aren’t dashed simply but.
The Patriots’ offense got here out firing coming off of their bye week, with Maye orchestrating an eight-play, 73-yard scoring drive. He delivered an ideal 30-yard cross to Kayshon Boutte halfway by the drive on third-and-7 to maneuver the chains. He completed it off with an 8-yard landing run. Rhamondre Stevenson additionally contributed in an enormous method with 30 yards on 4 touches.
Ray Davis gave the Payments nice discipline place with a 45-yard kick return, however they couldn’t do something with it. Payments vast receiver Brandin Cooks — a former Patriot — beat cornerback Christian Gonzalez deep on first down however bobbled the ball earlier than getting two toes down. The Patriots’ then pressured a three-and-out and punt.
The Patriots managed one first down on their subsequent drive however threw incomplete on third-and-1 slightly than attempting to select up a yard on the bottom. That led to a punt.
The Payments went three-and-out once more after linebacker Jack Gibbens, filling in for Robert Spillane, sacked Allen on third down. The Patriots had been assisted by a false begin on Payments vast receiver Joshua Palmer on third down.
Maye stored getting it achieved together with his legs because the Patriots went on one other scoring drive to go forward 14-0. He picked up 17 yards on the bottom on the primary play of the collection, evading strain. He scored on his second dashing landing of the sport, untouched for seven yards.
The Patriots pressured the Payments to punt for the third time, this time getting pinned again on their very own 6-yard line. Exterior linebacker Harold Landry made a key play with a protection sack, pushing the Payments again to third-and-15.
Rookie working again TreVeyon Henderson confirmed off his game-breaking pace, extending the Patriots’ result in 21-0, with a 52-yard landing run. That was the ultimate snap of a formidable eight-play, 94-yard drive.
The Payments weren’t about to fully surrender. Helped by a facemask penalty on Patriots special-teams captain Brenden Schooler on the kickoff, the Payments scored after a seven-play, 42-yard drive on a 5-yard landing catch by working again James Cook dinner to make the rating 21-7.
The refs had some bother managing the clock on the finish of the half, however the Patriots put three extra factors on the scoreboard, extending their result in 24-7 on a 36-yard discipline aim from rookie kicker Andy Borregales.
The Payments, enjoying with a brief discipline once more after a 58-yard kick return from Ray Davis, lower the Patriots’ result in 24-14 on their first drive of the second half. Allen tossed a 4-yard cross to tight finish Dawson Knox for the landing.
The Patriots adopted that up with their first three-and-out of the sport, punting away to the Payments.
The Payments scored a landing on their third straight possession, chopping the Patriots’ result in 24-21 on a 3-yard landing run up the center by Cook dinner.
Penalties pushed the Patriots again to third-and-25 earlier than Maye threw an arm punt and was picked off by Payments cornerback Tre’Davious White. The Payments received the ball at their very own 9-yard line.
They drove 91 yards down the sector for his or her fourth landing in 4 possessions to take a 28-24 lead. Allen hit Knox once more, this time on a 14-yard landing over linebacker Jack Gibbens.
Henderson is unbelievable. He turned a damaged play right into a 65-yard landing by merely reversing discipline and sprinting for a rating with Maye outrunning him as his lead blocker.
It didn’t take lengthy for the Payments to re-take the lead on an 11-yard landing run from Cook dinner after a seven-play, 65-yard drive. Cornerback Carlton Davis was penalized for cross interference on a late flag with some fairly minimal contact.
The groups then traded three-and-outs with robust defensive stands from each models.
Finest
RB TreVeyon Henderson: Henderson has turn into the whole lot the Patriots had been hoping for after they drafted him within the second spherical as a big-play menace. He ripped off a 52-yard landing run within the second quarter to present the Patriots a 21-0 lead. He had a 65-yard run within the third quarter that briefly gave the Patriots a 31-28 lead, as properly. He completed with 14 carries for 148 yards with two touchdowns and caught two passes for 13 yards.
QB Drake Maye: Maye was good by the air however even higher as a runner, scoring two dashing touchdowns within the first half.
Worst
ST Brenden Schooler: A facemask penalty gave the Payments a brief discipline earlier than their first landing.
Particular groups: Let’s throw the entire unit in right here, as properly. Davis averaged over 40 yards per kick return. An extended return by Patriots kick returner Kyle Williams was additionally known as again by a holding penalty on Marte Mapu.
RG Mike Onwenu: Onwenu was flagged for a holding penalty and was charted with permitting a sack, per PFF.
Second-half protection: Woof. The Payments scored touchdowns on 5 straight possessions, with 4 of these coming within the second half. The Patriots have pressured simply 14 takeaways all season. They desperately might have used a Payments turnover within the second half of this recreation.
What we realized
• Linebacker Robert Spillane was listed as questionable heading into Sunday’s recreation with a foot harm. He was energetic however didn’t play. Gibbens and Christian Elliss began in his place at linebacker. Each gamers allowed landing catches.
• From ESPN Stats and Analysis, through Mike Reiss: “The Patriots now have 3 dashing TDs of fifty+ yards this season. That they had 2 such TD complete over the earlier 15 seasons.”
• Cornerback Carlton Davis left the sport within the third quarter with a groin harm and was changed by Charles Woods. He later returned to the sport within the fourth quarter.
