Week 2: Pats/Fins

     

    Two days ago the New England Patriots completed their week 2 matchup of the 2023 NFL Season with the Miami Dolphins. The Patriots would fall in the contest by a final score of 24-17.  While the score looks like it was a decent fight, it really looked lack luster all night for New England in their second homestand of the season. Once again the Pats could not get off the ground running. Miami knew exactly what they were doing when they differed to NE off the coin toss. This Patriot offense still looks horrible! Totally asleep in the entire first half of the game. The Patriots fell to a 17-3 deficit concluding the first half.

    My biggest gripe with the game was the Demario Douglas fumble. Look the kid made a mistake, he lost control of the ball. It was also a spectacular play by Bradley Chubb who is an elite NFL Linebacker. Again on Demario Douglas who was a 6th round pick from Liberty playing his 2nd game in  the NFL. The mere fact he is on the field is crazy and not only that. He is the best receiver on the team! Kendrick Bourne cannot grasp a go route, Juju Smith Shuster's knee is an explosion waiting to happen, and Devante Parker is getting owned by physical corners getting shoved out of bounds. Also... THEY'RE ALL SLOW! Not one of the top 3 receivers can get any separation and are always getting clamped by the secondaries from Philadelphia and now Miami?! The Miami Dolphins secondary got absolutely obliterated by the Las Angeles Chargers that turned into a straight track meet. Belichick is about as stubborn as it gets and pulling Douglas from the entire game cost the Patriots a win in my eyes. I know its a lot to ask from the kid But the fact they crawled back into the game I can only imagine that the one guy that could get separation and make use out of the ball would have helped them tremendously. Belichick preaches ball security and he was willing to die on that hill last Sunday. 

    Mac Jones threw an atrocious pick  that cannot escape this post. As stated earlier Devante Parker had gotten completely shoved out of bounds and there was no shot whatsoever this pass was going to reach its target. This throw was on the money for cornerback Xavien Howard, who snags the ball, an atrocious pick from Mac and there is just no defending that play.

    Onto the defense... a lot to be desired from the Patriots defense on Sunday night. The strongpoint of this team the last few years post Brady has been the defense. After doubling down in the draft it looked like that was the gameplan. To win games in the season through the defense. They looked totally scared out there. The Patriots game plan was to run triple safeties and cut the long bomb about of the picture. While this is the strength of the Miami Offense which is Tyreek Hill and Jalen Waddle going one on one as deep threats and to let Tua sling. The Patriots had effectively taken Tyreek Hill out of the game with this strategy, but they got destroyed upfront. Raheem Moestart went crazy and dominated the Pats on the ground. Josh Uche was a non factor Matthew Judon and Keon White were pretty much invisible aswell. Tua Tagovailoa had no fear of the Patriots pass rush and would sling the ball in about two seconds with spot on throws with good power. It just looked like the entire gameplan was to not be on a highlight reel with the triple safety setup. In turn they looked scared and never even competed from the defensive side. Elements to be noted are all three Jones would be missing. Jon Jones our CB1 was injured prior to the game, Jack Jones looks to be going through a Patriot team suspension for prior events. Marcus Jones would go down in this game with a shoulder injury.

    Despite missing out on the the triple corner Jones it did not stop Christian Gonzales from making the play of the game for the New England Patriots. Gonzales made a heroic interception on the one and only Tyreek Hill showing he is up for the task when going up against the greatest wide receivers in the league. He has been tasked with defending Aj Brown, Devonta Smith, Tyreek Hill, and Jalen Waddle, the kid is emerging into an absolute lockdown Cornerback 1 for the New England Patriots secondary defensive unit. 

    Sunday September 24th, is the Patriots next matchup going up against the New York Jets. The situation regarding the 2023 season has gone dire. The Patriots I cannot stress it enough NEED to win this Sunday. Aaron Rodgers went down last week with an Achilles injury, Zach Wilson still looks the same.. a complete liability. The Patriots need to win they started off the season in a massive hole with an 0-2 start at home which is brutal to comeback from. Following the Jets the Pats have the Cowboys and Micah Parsons is going to eat the Patriots offensive line alive so the must win game your at is this weekend in MetLife Stadium. Hopefully these Patriots can get their act together and get started at kickoff rather than the 2nd half. Till next week goodnight everybody!