Felger: This is the team the Patriots built
The New England Patriots fell to 2-9 during the 2023 season on Sunday with a 10-7 loss to the New York Giants. On Monday’s Felger and Mazz, Felger gave his thoughts on the Patriots offense and how this isn’t a patchwork offense, it’s the offense that the Patriots assembled.
This is the team the Patriots assembled….
Felger: So I was able to watch the game live, I’ve watched it subsequently on replay.. All I had was my phone and the ESPN app.
Mazz: The “gamecast”.
Felger: What you get is the “play by play” sums up the end of every drive, with just a bold word. So am I’m glancing at my phone, this is how the game began: Fumble. Punt. Punt. Punt. Punt. Interception. Punt. Punt. Punt. Interception.
Mazz: I’ll tell you what, what you just did was more entertaining than the actual game.
Jim Murray: It was.
Felger: There was a guy with me who was actually looking at it further, or somehow was watching it, and he said “that doesn’t explain the half of it”. The fumble by the Giants was unforced, the dude just dropped it. Of those other punt, punt, punt, punt, punt, a couple of them were fumbled or muffed and recovered, and the interceptions you don’t even want to see. So though, that was the first ten possessions.
Felger: Then it went touchdown, punt, punt, end of half. Second half: touchdown, punt, punt, interception, field goal, punt, punt, field goal, missed field goal, end of game. I don’t know how many games in the league have that game flow to it in this modern NFL.
Mazz: Flow was the wrong word but right.
Oct 29, 2023; Miami Gardens, Florida, USA; New England Patriots wide receiver DeVante Parker (1) runs with the football against Miami Dolphins safety Brandon Jones (29) during the second quarter at Hard Rock Stadium. Credit: Sam Navarro-USA TODAY Sports
Felger: So it’s not just that you suck, it’s the kind of games you’re playing.
Mazz: It’s one of the worst games I’ve ever seen. That’s not hyperbole it was one of the worst games I’ve ever seen. It might have been the worst quarterback game I’ve ever seen by both sides.
Jim Murray: Oh, so you didn’t agree with Jonathan Vilma yesterday? “These are two good defenses. We’re watching good defense”. That pudding brain.
Felger: So now here’s the thing that stood out to me. You’re starting receivers were DeVante Parker and JuJu Smith-Schuster. Those are the guys they entered the season with as their starters. You’re starting running back was Rhamondre Stevenson, that’s the starter. The starting quarterback was Mac Jones. The starting tight end, well there were two, Pharoah Brown got the second start, but Hunter Henry was in the starting lineup. McDermott started the game at left tackle, but didn’t Trent Brown play most of it, or he came in?
Mazz: He did. He came in during the third series, I think it was.
Felger: So the left side of the line was Trent Brown, Cole Strange, David Andrews and you’re right tackle was Mike Onwenu. This is pretty much the team that you put together. So it’s like, this isn’t one of these outfits where the starting quarterback is hurt and the top receivers hurt or something like that, no, no, no, no, this is pretty much the team. This is what they went into the season with.
Listen to Felger and Mazz from 2-6 every Monday-Friday on 98.5 The Sports Hub, with hosts Mike Felger, Tony “Mazz” Massarotti, and Jim Murray “Big Jim”. You can listen live in the Sports Hub App and subscribe to their podcasts here. Follow @FelgerAndMazz on Twitter to keep up with the show!
Patriots Ups & Downs: Did anyone stand out in an absolute stinker in New York?
The New England Patriots fell to 2-9 on the season after a missed field goal sealed a loss to the New York Giants. Here are 10 players that we graded “UP” or “DOWN” based on their performance in the game…
DOWN: QB Mac Jones
EAST RUTHERFORD, NEW JERSEY – NOVEMBER 26: Mac Jones #10 of the New England Patriots fumbles the ball while being tackled by Kayvon Thibodeaux #5 of the New York Giants during the second quarter at MetLife Stadium on November 26, 2023 in East Rutherford, New Jersey. (Photo by Al Bello/Getty Images)
Rock-bottom? Jones got benched, yet again, after throwing multiple interceptions, yet again. It should be up in the air whether he starts another game for the Patriots this season. His confidence seems destroyed. His mechanics have been poor and so has his decision-making, especially under pressure. It’s unfathomable that it could possibly get worse for him.
DOWN: QB Bailey Zappe
EAST RUTHERFORD, NEW JERSEY – NOVEMBER 26: Bailey Zappe #4 of the New England Patriots throws a pass against the New York Giants during the second half of the game at MetLife Stadium on November 26, 2023 in East Rutherford, New Jersey. (Photo by Al Bello/Getty Images)
Zappe at least had one good drive, when he led the Pats down the field for their only touchdown of the game. But it’s not like Zappe was significantly better than Jones overall. Zappe also threw an interception that was simply a terrible decision and throw, and a very similar play to Jones’ first pick.
The Patriots’ starting quarterback job should remain up in the air, because Zappe didn’t do enough to cement himself as Jones’ replacement for the rest of the season.
DOWN: K Chad Ryland
Al Bello/Getty ImagesEAST RUTHERFORD, NEW JERSEY – NOVEMBER 26: Dane Belton #24 of the New York Giants celebrates after a missed field goal during the fourth quarter against the New England Patriots at MetLife Stadium on November 26, 2023 in East Rutherford, New Jersey. (Photo by Al Bello/Getty Images)
Credit to Ryland for facing the music in the locker room after the game, and taking full responsibility for his late missed field goal. Because that’s what he deserved to do. The kicking operation was all clean, and the tying field goal was there for him, and he just pulled it wide left. Ryland still has potential to be a good kicker in the NFL, but Sunday was a day he’d rather forget and put behind him.
UP: RB Rhamondre Stevenson
Elsa/Getty ImagesEAST RUTHERFORD, NEW JERSEY – NOVEMBER 26: Rhamondre Stevenson #38 of the New England Patriots scores a rushing touchdown during the third quarter against the New York Giants at MetLife Stadium on November 26, 2023 in East Rutherford, New Jersey. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images)
Oh look, an up! No complaints on Stevenson, who ran hard for a 4.7-yard clip and the team’s only touchdown. The Patriots’ running game has been stringing good games together of late, which most of the rest of the team can’t say about themselves. They might just want to hand it off to Stevenson or Ezekiel Elliott every play from here on out.
DOWN: CB J.C. Jackson
Al Bello/Getty ImagesEAST RUTHERFORD, NEW JERSEY – NOVEMBER 26: Jalin Hyatt #13 of the New York Giants attempts to make J.C. Jackson #29 of the New England Patriots miss after a catch during the second quarter at MetLife Stadium on November 26, 2023 in East Rutherford, New Jersey. (Photo by Al Bello/Getty Images)
Jackson gave up multiple deep catches, and that’s saying something, because the Giants had Tommy DeVito at quarterback and an unimpressive receiving group. Jackson led the team in tackles (6), which is rarely a good sign for a cornerback. Jackson took accountability for his recent issues with the team, which was a good look for him, but he didn’t respond well with his performance on the field at MetLife.
UP: S Jabrill Peppers
Elsa/Getty ImagesEAST RUTHERFORD, NEW JERSEY – NOVEMBER 26: Jabrill Peppers #5 of the New England Patriots celebrates after recovering a fumble during the first quarter against the New York Giants at MetLife Stadium on November 26, 2023 in East Rutherford, New Jersey. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images)
Peppers has been one of the Patriots’ best, most consistent players in 2023. He’s been quite the tone-setter, and he tried his damndest to set a positive tone when he pounced on a fumbled ball early in the first quarter. It’s not Pappers’ fault the offense has been so inept. Very good season for him overall.
UP: WR Demario Douglas
Elsa/Getty ImagesEAST RUTHERFORD, NEW JERSEY – NOVEMBER 26: Demario Douglas #81 of the New England Patriots catches a pass during the second quarter against the New York Giants at MetLife Stadium on November 26, 2023 in East Rutherford, New Jersey. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images)
Easily the Patriots’ best passing game weapon, Douglas showed out well once again, catching six of his nine targets for 49 yards and showing his usual shiftiness after the catch. Unfortunately, Douglas got clotheslined on a punt return and had to exit with a head injury, so it’s possible that it somehow gets even worse for the Patriots offense.
DOWN: TE Hunter Henry
Elsa/Getty ImagesEAST RUTHERFORD, NEW JERSEY – NOVEMBER 26: Rhamondre Stevenson #38 of the New England Patriots and Hunter Henry #85 of the New England Patriots celebrates after Stevenson’s rushing touchdown during the third quarter against the New York Giants at MetLife Stadium on November 26, 2023 in East Rutherford, New Jersey. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images)
No catches, no targets, no nothin’ for Henry. And he didn’t exactly make up for that with strong blocking up front, either. Henry has to be a more reliable weapon for them, regardless of who’s throwing him the ball. His production has gone in the tank, and it’s no surprise that the same thing is happening with the offense as a whole.
UP: LB Anfernee Jennings
Al Bello/Getty ImagesEAST RUTHERFORD, NEW JERSEY – NOVEMBER 26: Anfernee Jennings #33 of the New England Patriots and Wan’Dale Robinson #17 of the New York Giants attempt to recover a fumble during the first quarter at MetLife Stadium on November 26, 2023 in East Rutherford, New Jersey. (Photo by Al Bello/Getty Images)
Jennings finished with 1.5 sacks, two total QB hits, and four tackles, in an active day for him up front. This might sound crazy at the moment, but Jennings should be a candidate to re-up for an extension with the Patriots after the season. He’s become a solid player. The Pats’ patience has paid off with him in his fourth season.
DOWN: WR Tyquan Thornton
Elsa/Getty ImagesEAST RUTHERFORD, NEW JERSEY – NOVEMBER 26: Tyquan Thornton #11 of the New England Patriots runs after a catch during the third quarter against the New York Giants at MetLife Stadium on November 26, 2023 in East Rutherford, New Jersey. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images)
Thornton didn’t lack opportunities in this game. He caught just 2-of-5 targets for 19 yards overall, and had at least one drop. His second season has been a disaster, and we’re left wondering how much he can really contribute to this offense, or any NFL offense, at this point.
