The New England Patriots fell to 5-4 as they were defeated by the Green Bay Packers 45-27. While the Patriots have already suffered devastating losses this season, this matchup exposed significant gaps in talent and coaching. In areas where Green Bay thrived, New England floundered. Now, Mike Vrabel’s team will have to take a deep look in the mirror as their playoff hopes begin to dwindle.
Drake Maye’s Mistakes Highlight Patriots’ Offensive Issues
Drake Maye appeared to have put his initial struggles behind him, as he threw for 1,129 yards on 75.6% completion with 14 touchdowns and one interception over the last four weeks. Instead of keeping this momentum going, he regressed against the Packers. In Week 9, he threw for 299 yards on 21-of-38 passing with three touchdowns and three interceptions.
Most of Maye’s early-season interceptions stemmed from forcing risky throws. While this wasn’t exactly the case against Green Bay, he put too much trust in his receivers to make plays in unlikely situations. The first interception was a result of miscommunication with Mack Hollins, the second was a tipped deep pass to Kyle Williams, and the third was Eli Raridon being undercut.
“Just throwing the football in spots that I don’t think I should’ve thrown it,” said Maye. “The first one, I just got to see the guys deep. See the safety positions. The second one happens; I maybe should’ve thrown it a little farther. Then the third one, they’re jumping crossing routes, so I got to see in front.”
Although Maye will be deservedly criticized for his mistakes, the difference between the offensive talent the Patriots have and the offensive talent Green Bay has should be acknowledged. When Jordan Love took risks by throwing to his receivers in one-on-one matchups, his playmakers came down with the ball. Meanwhile, when Maye took chances with his WRs, they struggled to make plays.
New England came in without some offensive talent, specifically A.J. Brown and Romeo Doubs, but that doesn’t excuse the offense’s performance. DeMario Douglas led the team in receiving yards with 102 on five receptions. Meanwhile, Raridon and Efton Chism III combined for 101 yards. The Patriots’ receiving targets were outgained by the duo of Christian Watson and Matthew Golden, who recorded 335 yards on 17 receptions with two touchdowns.
New England’s issues upfront have a role in Maye’s struggle to read the defense down the field. The offensive line failed to pick up the Packers’ blitzes, which affected Maye’s ability to step up in the pocket and deliver throws on time. By the end of the game, he was sacked four times and hit nine times.
One of New England’s keys to victory against Green Bay was to play turnover-free football. Instead of limiting turnovers, their four turnovers were the most they recorded in a game this season. Protecting the ball has been a major issue for the Patriots this year, as they have turned it over at least once in every game so far.
“The turnovers are disappointing,” said Vrabel. “That’s what [the Packers] have done all year, so it’s not a surprise. 17 or 18 percent of their drives end in a turnover; we just added to that. Between the pressure and, probably, the scheme and a lot of execution on their end. I mean, guys made plays. I thought there were some positive plays that we had and then, certainly, some ball placements and decisions that have to be better.”
Patriots’ Defensive Struggles Allowed Packers To Dominate
Similar to the Patriots’ offense, the defense was outplayed and outcoached. Coming into the game, the team knew that the Packers were an explosive offense; however, instead of stopping the big plays, they allowed them. New England gave up 478 total yards, including eight plays of over 20 yards. These explosive plays were largely a result of the secondary’s lack of proper coverage, and the pass rushers’ limited ability to affect Love.
The Patriots’ secondary had its worst performance of the season against Green Bay, allowing over 300 passing yards for the first time. Love recorded 372 yards on 23-of-29 passing with three touchdowns. New England had a difficult time containing Love’s passing attack, as they failed to win one-on-one matchups. Throughout the game, the secondary only gathered two pass deflections without a single interception.
Christian Gonzalez had a poor performance in particular. Known as a lockdown cornerback in man coverage, he allowed a lot of production when targeted. When facing Watson and Golden, Gonzalez allowed 10 receptions for 187 yards and one touchdown.
“The plan to stop the [explosive] plays was just playing our defense,” said Gonzalez. “There are things that go into it, like we got to communicate. As far as me, I can’t fall on a Go route, I can’t turn and get tripped up. The defense is counting on me to hold down the backside.”
New England’s defense struggled with communication more than usual against the Packers. Gonzalez and Kevin Byard weren’t on the same page, as they allowed Golden to run right by them for a 49-yard reception. Then, Marcus Jones lost his assignment, which allowed Golden to catch a 5-yard touchdown pass.
The Patriots’ inability to pressure Love consistently also played a role in the passing production they allowed. While they recorded three sacks and six QB hits, they failed to disrupt Love frequently. When Green Bay pressured Maye, they forced him to throw inaccurate passes and throw the ball away. On the other hand, when New England pressured Love, they couldn’t affect his throws, allowing him to deliver passes accurately.
New England’s defensive scheme was concerning in Week 9. They are at their best when their corners are playing press man coverage, but they had Gonzalez and Davis play off the receivers often. This allowed Love to play in rhythm, connecting with his targets quickly on short routes. In a game against a team that primarily passes, the Patriots’ defensive approach to give Green Bay space underneath was questionable.
“We’ve got to be able to coach and be prepared. Then, we got to execute,” said Vrabel. ” Just like it is every week when we don’t win, it’s all of us, and it starts with me.”
End Of My Patriots Rant
This Patriots’ loss to the Packers highlights the importance of having high-end talent making plays in crucial situations. New England’s offense struggled to make explosive plays, while Green Bay relied on its playmakers to generate big gains. On defense, the Patriots couldn’t disrupt or contain the passing game, while their opponent managed to create key takeaways. Next week, Vrabel’s team heads to Germany to take on the Detroit Lions, presenting another difficult test and opportunity to address these issues.
