Pats Posits: PATRIOTS DEFENSE SUCKSAGEDDON!!!!

 

Yet again, a Patriots-Seahawks game came down to a final goal-line play, but this time the Patriots fell short, losing 31-24 to Seattle.

With eight lead changes, this was just the kind of thrilling Patriots game we’ve (not) been waiting for. We’re here to see good football games, not just blow everyone out right?

The Seahawks played a clean, tough game and their defense made the one play ours could not. It’s nice to play another NFL team that isn’t in shambles on and off the field.

But hey, big picture: no apparent injuries, a two-game lead in the division and still tied for best record in the AFC (with KC and OAK). I’ll take it.  We’re on to a much-needed road trip to San Francisco as we batten down the hatches and get ready for this week’s PATRIOTS DEFENSE SUCKSAGEDDON!!!!

Here’s the Posits on a defensive dud and yet another near-impossible end-of-game drive (almost) perfectly engineered by Tom Brady…

— As much as I want to start with the defense, I’m going to lead with Tom Brady. Even in defeat Brady always goes down swinging right until the very end. Yeah, they came up short on the goal line just like they did last year in the AFC Championship, but just so fun to watch. Credit the Seahawks’ defense, but even they know now how good TFB is and how hard it is to beat him.

— Okay, the defense. I can’t wait any longer. I don’t know what to tell ya, guys. I’ve been tracking the defense intensively since this blog began. This year was supposed to be the fruition of high-round defensive talent. Now they’ve traded away two of their best players and look lifeless on the field. I think Patriots Nation is rightly getting anxious about Matt Patricia.

I’ve never been a big “blame the coordinator” guy because it all goes through and is signed off on by BB. In this case though the defense just looks, well, uncoordinated. Weird sloppy penalties, wide open receivers, only an isolated few getting off blocks and making plays.

— At least Pete Carroll was still around to make a couple questionable decisions.

Bill Belichick says “Why would they go for two?” (h/t @WoodySchoh) https://t.co/jjbU3493sr

— CJ Fogler (@cjzero) November 14, 2016

— I don’t think the impact of the losses of Chandler Jones and now Jamie Collins can be ignored, at least as far as the general state of the defense. That goes for both on the field and off it. Say what you will about Jones’ up and downs but he brought a lot of energy to the defense. I think they’re missing some of that.

— There’s nothing for any of us stat nerds to point to after this flaming turd. 31 points. 6-12 on third down, 420 yards against. The only ones consistently showing up Malcolm Butler and Trey Flowers, who started. Rob Ninkovich and Hightower show up here and there, while everyone else is pretty much invisible. Thems the facts. The Patriots defense just isn’t that good this year.

Logan Ryan and Justin Coleman spent most of the night chasing their guy who just caught it. And that’s when there wasn’t a receiver just sitting there wide open after the “mush rush” failed to sack Russell Wilson.

It’s general disarray out there. Seahawks had four field goals and three touchdowns. They punted twice. If not for four red zone stops, this one could’ve been a lot worse. So yeah, everyone should be rightfully upset. But at the same time, Brady did pretty much the same thing, if not worse, to their vaunted defense, so let’s keep some perspective here.

— In a surprise move, Jabaal Sheard was demoted, with Flowers getting his first start and a ton of snaps. Flowers picked up two sacks, two tackles-for-loss and two QB hits.  The later-appearing Sheard, Chris Long and new passing-down linebacker Shea McClellin combined for less solo tackles than wide receiver Malcolm Mitchell, who had one. Want to know why the Pats’ pass rush sucks — it’s those three guys making little impact.

— I still believe Long and Sheard will play better down the stretch. McClellin, I don’t know what it is he does. He’s the most invisible linebacker since Monte Beisel. He got the first shot at replacing Collins’ passing-down snaps, but I don’t think it’ll be long until Barkevious Mingo and Kyle Van Noy are in there. One of those guys coming in and sparking the defense might be the only thing that can save them.

— I’m not sure what they can do about the problems at cornerback. They benched Rowe, Ryan and Coleman stunk, Cyrus Jones had another fumble that ruined a great kickoff return. These guys have to turn it around. There’s no one else.

— What a game from Martellus Bennett (seven catches, 102 yards)! Now there’s a free agent I hope they keep around. The combination of him and Gronkowski is starting to hit the kind of unstoppability we expected it would. He came up with a number of catches that sparked the offense.

— Julian Edelman had his best game of the season, seven catches, 99 yards and two clutch third down catches, one third-and-25 and third-and-10. There should be no doubt now that Edelman is still very much the player he’s always been, he’s just finally getting fully healthy. The week off must’ve helped.

— I admire the Patriots’ dedication to balance on offense this season. Even when they’ve struggled to get Blount (21 carries, 69 yards, three TDs) going out of the gate they’ve stuck with him and found a way to get him going. I just pray they can keep him healthy. He’s on a career-high pace in everything. Dion Lewis should help that.

— Solid game from James White. He caught all four of his targets for 32 yards. He’s still one-dimensional passing down back but he’s earning trust with his reliability.

— I know they weren’t perfect, but the offensive line has really been pretty consistent this year. It’s a far cry from the up and down times of 2014/2015 and of course, a lot of that has to do with health.

— Speaking of which, the Patriots escaped any major injury blows and sometimes that’s quite a nice consolation in a hard-fought loss to one of the best teams in the league.

Make no mistake — the Patriots have a fatal flaw right now. Offensively, they can hang 25-plus points on any defense in the league, but their defense is lost in space.

The good news: Every team this year has a fatal flaw and we still have Tom Brady, so let’s just keep grinding and figure our shit out.

This road trip is just what the team needs and it’s be great to see them head out west a little early to give the team some extra time to bond off the field.

And the good news is that your faithful blogger Mike D will be headed to see the team next weekend against the 49ers. Tom Brady’s first regular season game at his home city. Oh boy.