Patriots 2022 Season

[Phantom255x]

(ignore)

[Phantom255x]

[SparzWizard]

QB controversy here we go!

[ozgod]

Thrashed…and no quarterback controversy since both suck round ones

[MarcusSmartFanClub]

Bears are actually running an offense suited to Fields tonight.  Strange it took them this long to figure it out, but Fields need freedom to move around and scramble (or designed runs).  He is a much better passer when he has his legs working, it just opens everything up for him.

Bittersweet loss for me. I’m psyched to see Fields have a good game. The Patriots can lose to any team and really aren’t relevant with KC, Buff, and yes, Baltimore ahead of them.

BB needs to continue to develop the squad and have a legit QB competition. Make these two guys study all night. I’m not sure if Mac or Zappe become good QBs, but they aren’t that good right now. Neither can do what Fields did tonight.

I liked watching Bill Burr and Vince Vaughn during the second half of the Peyton/Eli telecast. Great format. I like how the Mannings analyze versus regurgitate what I’m watching like the play by play guys.

[Roy H.]

Roy, you can do your victory lap now. 

Ha.  I would, if I had thought the Bears would win.  But I'm happy.

I'm just glad that Fields is starting to look like a viable NFL QB.  The Bears need to build the line and the receiving corps, but I think Fields is going to work.

[Phantom255x]

Bill didn't do anyone any favors with the stunt he pulled last night. Many reporters seemed to indicate even before the game that Mac would "play some" and so would Zappe. But you're also hearing from players that not everyone was aware both QBs were playing last night, and it sounds like this was only discussed between the coaches, then Mac, then ESPN.

Hell, Zappe himself even said he wasn't aware he'd be going in when he did.

I disagreed with Moranis' recent take that the Pats "emasculated" Mac by only letting him throw 3 times that one game against Buffalo last season in the windy night, BUT I fear they may have actually done so last night. Yes, Mac has some flaws/limitations but I fear they may have broken the kid with that move yesterday. It was also evident Mac wasn't 100% yet. And I don't blame him or even some of his teammates if they were extremely displeased by last night's actions. Look at Jakobi Meyers' postgame comments. Oof.

[MarcusSmartFanClub]

People are complaining about Mac’s ego and psyche. I just don’t care. I think Zappe may be better, and most likely, neither are the long term answer. Are Cowboys fans bummed that Cooper Rush isn’t being treated like royalty?

I like Mac, but he’s not that good. He doesn’t deserve royal treatment.

[Vermont Green]

I went from feeling pretty good about the Pats to feeling pretty bad about the Pats.  Mac Jones has not been good all season.  That is a problem.  Probably not the only problem, but a problem.  Zappe is probably not the answer or the solution.

Mac Jones was much better last season, that is obvious.  I would not give up on Mac Jones, but there is plenty of reason to be concerned based on what he has done this season.

As far as the team overall, it is still hard to know.  Is this just one bad game or is this the real Pats.  How can they give up 33 points to the Bears?  The defense was supposed to be the strength, it had been a strength for most of the season.  We do have trouble with running QBs, that is for sure.  But if we can't stop the Bears on 3rd down, how can we expect to stop anyone?

[MarcusSmartFanClub]

Lamar and Fields have given this defense a hard time. I’m not looking forward to the Bills.

Roller coaster season. The Pats talent is meh, but maybe they can be coached up (for like the 20th time) to outperform expectations. I’m certainly less confident today.

[Goldstar88]

People are complaining about Mac’s ego and psyche. I just don’t care. I think Zappe may be better, and most likely, neither are the long term answer. Are Cowboys fans bummed that Cooper Rush isn’t being treated like royalty?

I like Mac, but he’s not that good. He doesn’t deserve royal treatment.

Funny, I don’t recall seeing posts like this last year when Mac had 22TD’s and threw for almost 4,000 yards, making the pro bowl. Looked pretty darn good as a rookie with McDaniels running the offense. Players are already losing faith in the coaching staff, but I guess some fans never will.

Speaking with reporters after the Patriots’ 33-14 loss to the Chicago Bears at Gillette Stadium, Meyers was asked whether he was surprised to see rookie Bailey Zappe replace Jones at quarterback early in the second quarter.

“Yeah,” New England’s No. 1 receiver replied. “But that’s the NFL for you. It’s a fast-changing business.”

“Not even as a football player, it’s tough as a man to see somebody who worked so hard get that kind of treatment,” he said. “But at the end of the day, we’re all trying to feed our families, so we’ve got to go out there and make plays for whoever’s throwing it.”

[MarcusSmartFanClub]

I love the Pats and like Mac. I’m not buying into the idea that he’s a Pro Bowl QB. He was an alternate, and was coached up better than most to become the best rookie QB. Even though last year’s QB class looks overrated, I’m still not certain he was the best out of that group.

Lawrence-meh
Wilson-meh
Lance- might be a bust
Fields- who knows
Mac- meh
Mills (HOU)- meh

A young star he is not.

[Moranis]

I went from feeling pretty good about the Pats to feeling pretty bad about the Pats.  Mac Jones has not been good all season.  That is a problem.  Probably not the only problem, but a problem.  Zappe is probably not the answer or the solution.

Mac Jones was much better last season, that is obvious.  I would not give up on Mac Jones, but there is plenty of reason to be concerned based on what he has done this season.

As far as the team overall, it is still hard to know.  Is this just one bad game or is this the real Pats.  How can they give up 33 points to the Bears? The defense was supposed to be the strength, it had been a strength for most of the season.  We do have trouble with running QBs, that is for sure.  But if we can't stop the Bears on 3rd down, how can we expect to stop anyone?

because the Pats offense is terrible.  So after the Pats scored the 2nd TD, they had the following drives

3 plays, 10 yards - fumble - 22 seconds
3 plays, -4 yards - punt - 1 minute, 30 seconds
3 plays, 8 yards - punt - 1 minute, 49 seconds
8 plays, 28 yards - interception - 4 minutes, 23 seconds
7 plays, 36 yards - interception - 1 minute, 53 seconds
 
In total for the game, the Patriots had the ball for 22 minutes, 46 seconds with just 260 total yards. 

The Patriots defense just got worn down, which is why the Bears could run the ball so well in the second half.  The Bears only had 2 drives of more than 46 yards.  It wasn't like they were going up and down the field, they weren't.  The Patriots held firm defensively pretty well, the Bears just had short fields and dominated the time of possession, because the Patriots offense is so bad.  The offense is so bad for both roster and coaching.  It is a poor roster with bad coaching.  Not a recipe for success, but it is also why I've been saying the last several weeks that the Patriots are a 6 win team.  They just don't have the offensive firepower needed to keep up with the teams on the back half of their schedule.  They are going to get blown out, a lot, and it has very little to do with the defense.  The offense is just bad.

[Vermont Green]

People are complaining about Mac’s ego and psyche. I just don’t care. I think Zappe may be better, and most likely, neither are the long term answer. Are Cowboys fans bummed that Cooper Rush isn’t being treated like royalty?

I like Mac, but he’s not that good. He doesn’t deserve royal treatment.

Funny, I don’t recall seeing posts like this last year when Mac had 22TD’s and threw for almost 4,000 yards, making the pro bowl. Looked pretty darn good as a rookie with McDaniels running the offense. Players are already losing faith in the coaching staff, but I guess some fans never will.

Speaking with reporters after the Patriots’ 33-14 loss to the Chicago Bears at Gillette Stadium, Meyers was asked whether he was surprised to see rookie Bailey Zappe replace Jones at quarterback early in the second quarter.

“Yeah,” New England’s No. 1 receiver replied. “But that’s the NFL for you. It’s a fast-changing business.”

“Not even as a football player, it’s tough as a man to see somebody who worked so hard get that kind of treatment,” he said. “But at the end of the day, we’re all trying to feed our families, so we’ve got to go out there and make plays for whoever’s throwing it.”

There is no doubt that Mac Jones was much better last season than so far this season.  It could be the McDaniels change is a factor but even with that, Mac Jones has not been as good.  So you are right, I was not complaining last season, but this is this season, I am worried about how Jones is playing.  I still start him next game for sure (assuming the ankle is fine).  It is tough to play looking over your shoulder though.  Although he wasn't good at the start of the season when he wasn't looking over his shoulder either.  He has gone from maybe too comfortable to now just the opposite.

I understand it isn't easy but he needs to find the mental toughness to deal with this.  Get through it.  Get his mojo back.  Find the groove.  Don't try to do too much, don't play scared either.  Just play.  I don't know if he has it or not.  This is a chance for him to prove ti.

[Vermont Green]

I went from feeling pretty good about the Pats to feeling pretty bad about the Pats.  Mac Jones has not been good all season.  That is a problem.  Probably not the only problem, but a problem.  Zappe is probably not the answer or the solution.

Mac Jones was much better last season, that is obvious.  I would not give up on Mac Jones, but there is plenty of reason to be concerned based on what he has done this season.

As far as the team overall, it is still hard to know.  Is this just one bad game or is this the real Pats.  How can they give up 33 points to the Bears? The defense was supposed to be the strength, it had been a strength for most of the season.  We do have trouble with running QBs, that is for sure.  But if we can't stop the Bears on 3rd down, how can we expect to stop anyone?

because the Pats offense is terrible.  So after the Pats scored the 2nd TD, they had the following drives

3 plays, 10 yards - fumble - 22 seconds
3 plays, -4 yards - punt - 1 minute, 30 seconds
3 plays, 8 yards - punt - 1 minute, 49 seconds
8 plays, 28 yards - interception - 4 minutes, 23 seconds
7 plays, 36 yards - interception - 1 minute, 53 seconds
 
In total for the game, the Patriots had the ball for 22 minutes, 46 seconds with just 260 total yards. 

The Patriots defense just got worn down, which is why the Bears could run the ball so well in the second half.  The Bears only had 2 drives of more than 46 yards.  It wasn't like they were going up and down the field, they weren't.  The Patriots held firm defensively pretty well, the Bears just had short fields and dominated the time of possession, because the Patriots offense is so bad.  The offense is so bad for both roster and coaching.  It is a poor roster with bad coaching.  Not a recipe for success, but it is also why I've been saying the last several weeks that the Patriots are a 6 win team.  They just don't have the offensive firepower needed to keep up with the teams on the back half of their schedule.  They are going to get blown out, a lot, and it has very little to do with the defense.  The offense is just bad.

You are not wrong, all fair points, but the defense was not good.  Players were getting wide open on 3rd and longs.  The Bears did run on them the whole game, right from the start.  They did not contain the QB scrambles.  The offense was bad too.  That didn't help.  Field position was an issue, what were they doing on those kick offs?  They stared inside the 20 a few times after kick offs.  So all of the above, absolutely.

But the Pat's defense did not "hold firm pretty well" even accounting for the bad offense.  If that is the best they can do, they are going to get absolutely torched by some of the better teams they have coming up.