Patriots Ups & Downs: The highs and lows of the biggest win of the season

Author Matt Dolloff

October 31st, 2021 8:37 PM

It’s been a long time since the Patriots had a win this big.

You may even be able to go back to the Tom Brady days to find a better win for the Patriots, who improved to 4-4 on the 2021 season after defeating the Los Angeles Chargers 27-24 on the road. The biggest play of the game was Adrian Phillips’ pick-six on Justin Herbert, which came as the Chargers were clinging to a one-point lead. Instead, the Pats get the TD and the two-point conversion to power ahead.

It wasn’t the best day for the Patriots offense, who could only scratch across one touchdown of their own, despite ample opportunities. But the defense and special team units more than made up for an off day by rookie quarterback Mac Jones, among others on the offense.

In other words, it was the way the Patriots expected to win games this year. Everyone else lifts the rookie quarterback, not the other way around. Which makes it all the more impressive that the Patriots pulled off this win against a talented team, away from Foxborough. It wasn’t perfect, but they certainly played enough winning football to earn this one.

With that in mind, let’s get to the Ups & Downs…

• UP: S Adrian Phillips

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  Phillips had two key interceptions on the day, including one near the end of the first half to prevent the Chargers from getting late points. Obviously, the pick-six was a little bigger. Phillips made a good adjustment to the ball, on a throw that looked like it might have been a miscommunication between Justin Herbert and Jared Cook. Honorable mention on the pick-six goes to defensive tackle Daniel Ekuale, who got a good push up the middle and may have helped hurry Herbert into the throw. Ekuale was a practice squad elevation this week and may have earned more playing time.

• DOWN: QB Mac Jones

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  Not the rookie’s best stuff today. Jones completed only 18-of-35 passes for 218 yards with no touchdowns, adding up to a 70.9 passer rating. Jones sailed a number of throws high and/or wide, and seemed to have trouble throwing accurately under pressure. Fortunately for him, Herbert made the game’s biggest mistake and Jones avoided a back-breaker. But if Jones was more accurate today, the Patriots might win handily.

• UP: RB Damien Harris

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  Another afternoon of hard running and another game with a touchdown for Harris. He also had a touchdown and another big gain called back due to a pair of holding penalties (more on that below). So Harris’ day could’ve been even better.
• DOWN: RB Brandon Bolden

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  Another third-and-1 handoff to Bolden went nowhere. It may not be Bolden’s fault that Josh McDaniels decides to give him the ball in that spot in the first place. But plays like that exemplify why Bolden is purely a passing down back - and he didn’t contribute there, either, with no targets on the day.

• UP: WR N’Keal Harry

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  The third-year pro took another step forward in the passing game, catching two from Jones for 30 yards. He also continues to be an asset as a blocker in the run game. The Patriots have long needed more production from Harry, and still do. But he seems to be headed in the right direction after Sunday’s win.

• DOWN: WR Kendrick Bourne

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  Harry was the main beneficiary of Bourne being benched, after what could have been a killer lost fumble during the Patriots’ first drive of the second half. Bourne did not see the field after that play, finishing with 22 snaps to Harry’s 27. Bourne had been making a lot of progress in recent weeks, so this counts as a step backward. He’ll get back on the field for a lot of plays next week, but Belichick felt he had to send Bourne (and the team) a message about ball security.
• UP: LB Matt Judon

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  Yet another active day for Judon, who grabbed 1.5 sacks to go with five total tackles. He could have probably produced even more if he didn’t get held as often as he did. Whenever Herbert was under pressure, Judon seemed to be at the middle of it. He’s the team defensive MVP in the first half of the season.

• DOWN: CB Jalen Mills

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  Mills did not play well on the Chargers’ garbage-time possession late in the fourth quarter. He failed to make a tackle in bounds and then gave up a late touchdown to the Chargers’ Josh Palmer. If something funny happened after that and the Pats somehow didn’t win, we’d go right back to that sequence by Mills. He didn’t make any big mistakes within a truly crucial situation, but Mills has been a disappointment through eight games and needs to be better.

• UP: K Nick Folk

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  As steady as they come. Folk banged four more field goals, keeping the Patriots afloat as the offense stagnated and the defense kept it close. Folk has easily been one of the Pats’ most valuable players through the first eight games of the season, and emblematic of what the team looks for in terms of consistency.
• DOWN: LB Dont’a Hightower

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  Hightower blew a tackle opportunity against Chargers running back Justin Jackson, which helped him break free for a 75-yard gain that set up the Chargers’ second touchdown. The defense certainly tightened things up after that, but Hightower was the chief culprit on the team’s ugliest defensive play of the day.

• UP: PR Gunner Olszewski

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  Olszewski loves playing at SoFi Stadium, for some reason. He had a big game there in 2020 against the Chargers, and racked up another one on Sunday. Olszewski averaged 20 yards per punt return and took one kick for 26 yards. He had a fire under his ass every time he touched the ball, which helped the Patriots greatly with field position all afternoon.

• DOWN: OTs Isaiah Wynn, Justin Herron

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  Those aforementioned offensive holding penalties? One each for Wynn and Herron. Herron’s was more consequential, because it took back what would have been a great touchdown run by Harris. Wynn’s negated a potential chunk gain for a first down. The offensive line has been better lately, but if the Patriots came up short against the Chargers, those penalties would’ve been killers.

Next look at the Ups & Downs comes after the Patriots’ road tilt against the Carolina Panthers in Week 9.

Click here for complete New England Patriots coverage at 985TheSportsHub.com.

Matt Dolloff is a writer and podcaster for 985TheSportsHub.com. Any opinions expressed do not necessarily reflect those of 98.5 The Sports Hub, Beasley Media Group, or any subsidiaries. Have a news tip, question, or comment for Matt? Yell at him on Twitter @mattdolloff and follow him on Instagram @mattydsays. You can also email him at [email protected].

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Author Matt Dolloff

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