Defense was the bigger issue yesterday. They continue to play like that, they're going nowhere. Pats offense had less than 8 minutes in time of possession in the 2nd half.
It's a growing pains game. Played a very good & experienced veteran team.
They're really missing Milton Williams right now.
I agree on the defense. Absolutely needs to play better as a whole.
One other thing that's worrying me. In the 2nd half if the Pats don't trust the running game, what's the plan? Over the last month they've barely scored in the 2nd half and even some of the scores are either long Henderson TD runs or field goals. In fact, I read a stat that since Week 2, the Pats in the 4th quarter have two touchdowns and 5 field goals (the two TDs were a Henderson long run vs. TB, and the other was Gibson returning a kickoff vs. MIA).
They really need to figure out the offense in the second half too. If they can't sustain drives or put up scores then that could also hurt them against a good team. Even yesterday, if they had maybe 2 good drives (or even 1 sustained scoring drive that ate some clock) they could have eeked it out. But that didn't happen at all. The last two drives were 7 plays, 3 total yards. Oof.
They'll need to run the ball and eat some clock in a close game (or with a lead late to ice it) or straight up a touchdown drive in the 4th. Can they do it? Idk. There isn't much evidence of it, nor has it been needed since they typically dominated the bad teams. Won't work against these AFC playoff teams. Is it Maye? McDaniels? Both? I feel McDaniels, he gets too conservative or runs out of plays in the 2nd half it seems even if the 1st half goes great with creative plays.
