Patriots-Seahawks Final Thoughts: Quarterbacks make the ultimate difference
The biggest difference in Patriots-Seahawks? Geno Smith.
Sunday’s game provided a deep well of plays to pore over and discuss. It’s refreshing for the New England region to have compelling football games to talk about again, and the Patriots certainly have an appreciable list of nitpicks from their first loss of 2024. But ultimately, they took a talented and well-coached Seattle team to overtime and lost by three points, despite the opposing quarterback playing a virtually flawless game.
Smith completed 33-of-44 passes for 327 yards, one touchdown, and no turnovers, for a 103.1 passer rating. Five of his incompletions counted as drops, according to Pro Football Focus. He was 9-of-12 for 104 yards when under pressure, per PFF.
And that last detail touches on the most impressive aspect of Smith’s game on Sunday: he got rid of the ball quickly and consistently, and made a lot of positive plays in the process. Smith enters Monday with the league’s seventh-lowest time to throw in Week 2, at 2.6 seconds. And yet, out of those top-7 quickest passers, Smith had by far the most pass attempts (44, next-closest is 37), the highest average completed air yards (4.8), and the second-highest completion percentage (75%). Decisive, efficient, and productive.
When Smith needed to stand in the pocket and take a hit to make a throw, he did, like when he delivered a 16-yard pass to wide receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba with the pocket collapsing on him, en route to a touchdown (Q2, 7:18). When he needed to buy time, he did, like when he shuffled left and kept his eyes downfield before making a 24-yard pass to Smith-Njigba to convert third-and-7 (Q3, 14:15). Even when Smith was forced to escape the pocket, like when he evaded an inside blitz by Raekwon McMillan, he threw a strike to D.K. Metcalf on the run (Q4, 2:00).
The Patriots’ pressure on Sunday wasn’t great outside of Keion White, but it wasn’t a major problem, either. They had the league’s second-lowest time to pressure (2.34 seconds) and generated the seventh-most quarterback pressures (14) in Week 2. Smith simply overcame whatever they threw at him. It was a “tip your cap” kind of performance, and arguably the main reason the Patriots became the first team since 1983 to lose despite committing no turnovers, winning time of possession, netting at least 300 yards of offense and 150 rushing yards, and committing three penalties or fewer (via Boston Sports Info).
If they keep playing that way, and steadily improve over the course of the season, they’ll win more games than expected. And they won’t always run into a quarterback that plays as well as Smith did on Sunday.
More Patriots-Seahawks Final Thoughts…
Offense
— Where Smith made quick decisions as a way of limiting pressure, Jacoby Brissett was at times slower with his processing, and it really cost him when he took a 9-yard sack to push back the Pats’ fourth-quarter field goal attempt that was ultimately blocked. Brissett needed to get rid of the ball in some form or fashion, even if it meant risking a flag for intentional grounding, which would’ve yielded essentially the same result, anyway. He had Rhamondre Stevenson for a short pass to the right, and could have heaved it out of danger in his general direction. For all his sound decision-making and net-positive or neutral plays, Brissett was a clear negative on that sack.
— Despite the one major mistake, Brissett continued to be (mostly) good at escaping pressure and avoiding unnecessary sacks, but against the Bengals in those spots he would rely on his legs when he had chances to make plays with his arm. His first-quarter throws on the run to Hunter Henry (eight catches, 109 yards) were a sign of evolution in that department. The execution wasn’t always crisp, and both the play-calling and decision-making have been frustratingly conservative at times, but Brissett at least showed more willingness to try and push the ball down the field.
— Q1, 8:29: Brissett makes a play-action fake to Stevenson, as the Seahawks blitz two defensive backs off each edge. Stevenson and Austin Hooper can’t pick the blitz up, forcing Brissett to adjust in the pocket and throw on the run to Henry. It ended up a 12-yard gain on the scramble play, but Brissett had Ja’Lynn Polk about 15 yards down the field in a soft zone that could’ve been a chunk play, if not more with yards after the catch. This was an example of the Patriots’ pass-blocking limiting their ability to make explosive plays.
— The Patriots’ final possession of the first half, a three-and-out deep in their own territory with minimal clock movement, has drawn its fair share of scrutiny. But the previous possession deserves a critical eye, as well: on first-and-10 from the Seahawks 11-yard line, Brissett drops back and has no underneath option, with Stevenson picking up the blitz and everyone else running to the end zone, and it’s a throwaway.
On third-and-9 of the same series, Brissett actually has a pocket and time to throw, but locks in on Stevenson, and misses receiver K.J. Osborn coming open in the end zone. The Pats settled for a field goal. Questionable play-calling and quarterback play prevented a possible touchdown.
— Q3, 10:21: This play was arguably the quintessential example of the Patriots’ problems on offense. The Seahawks pressured Brissett with only four down linemen, despite the Pats keeping both tight ends back as blockers. Brissett had Stevenson open for a checkdown, and only two receivers deep, against seven in coverage for Seattle, and so he holds the ball and scrambles for five yards. If the Patriots can’t protect with seven blockers against four rushers, they have no chance in the passing game.
— In a sneaky-huge moment that the TV broadcast didn’t quite catch on camera, Patriots left guard Michael Jordan rescued the Patriots from near-disaster when he recovered a Stevenson fumble at the goal line. Jordan told me he “just saw the ball and went for it.” Jordan made a key block to help Stevenson get into the end zone two plays later, and would’ve been a hero of the game had the Patriots pulled out the victory.
Jordan has been a solid fill-in at left guard in place of the injured Sidy Sow, and the Patriots rewarded him Monday by signing him to the 53-man roster, a sign that they’re still going to need him going forward.
— Right tackle Mike Onwenu allowed pressure on the third-and-6 play that led to the 9-yard sack of Brissett, as did right guard Layden Robinson. But the latter is a rookie who wasn’t part of the starting lineup until injuries forced him into it late in training camp. Onwenu is the Patriots’ best and highest-paid offensive lineman, and can’t afford to have games like Sunday. Onwenu allowed three total pressures on 33 pass-blocking snaps, per PFF.
— Another rookie O-lineman, Caedan Wallace, had to check in at left tackle in overtime, after Vederian Lowe had to leave with a knee injury. Wallace’s blocking was solid in his three offensive snaps, but on the third, he didn’t report himself as eligible, as he was technically in as a jumbo tight end. Even if the play were legal, Seahawks linebacker Jerome Baker got through unblocked to stop Stevenson.
— Patriots head coach Jerod Mayo said after the game that there was “some consideration” toward going for it on fourth-and-1 in overtime, but he opted to punt. The Pats never got the ball back, as the Seahawks drove down the field and kicked the game-winning field goal. Mayo certainly couldn’t have planned for the officials to throw a questionable pass interference flag and gift Seattle 20 yards on the winning drive.
Defense
— Patriots safety Kyle Dugger took the blame for the busted coverage that led to Metcalf’s 56-yard touchdown catch. He said he had checked into “max blitz” coverage, which leaves no deep safety help, essentially selling out to stop a shorter pass. Smith and Seahawks offensive coordinator Ryan Grubb appeared to recognize this, checking into the deep ball after the coverage adjustment. “They caught us in a call that was kind of problematic,” Dugger remarked after the game.
— Marco Wilson’s defensive pass interference penalty was a questionable call by the officials, as the replay shows that the ball wasn’t close to catchable. But all Wilson had to do there was look back for the ball, and he might have recognized that the pass was too high and that he didn’t need to even touch the receiver, let alone mug him. The officials can’t be trusted to do the job properly all the time. Don’t give them a reason to throw the flag in the first place.
— The Patriots’ fourth-down stop was a small victory for the Patriots’ coaching and preparation. Seattle left Dugger, one of the Patriots’ best tacklers, unaccounted for, and so it was an easy play for him to zoom through and make the stop. They also tried to block Keion White 1-on-1 with tight end Noah Fant, and it went poorly for Fant.
White’s push gave Jahlani Tavai more than enough space to get in front of the Seahawks’ Zach Charbonnet, so even without Dugger’s effort, the Pats might have gotten the stop anyway. Seattle gets the coaching check mark overall, but plays like this are why the Patriots still played well enough to keep the game competitive.
— Q4, 2:00: This was one of the few plays that Smith actually had to escape the pocket altogether, as the Patriots blitzed linebacker Raekwon McMillan up the middle. But Smith made a big play, anyway, delivering a strike to Metcalf down the sideline, on the run, for a first down. It was at this moment that it felt like there was nothing the Pats could do to stop Smith.
— While Gonzalez certainly wasn’t a disaster in this game, he had a few plays he’d like to have back, especially in overtime. Gonzalez allowed three catches for 24 yards when matched up against Metcalf (via Next Gen Stats), which looks good on paper, but one of those catches was a 10-yarder on the final drive of overtime. Gonzalez was late to react to the comeback route, and while he made the tackle, a quicker diagnosis would’ve given him a chance to break up the pass, or even jump the route for an interception.
Four plays later, Gonzalez made a weak leg tackle on Charbonnet on a third-and-6 catch, which wasn’t enough to stop Charbonnet from picking up the first down. Gonzalez needed to tackle harder on that play. That should be a teachable moment for an otherwise talented player.
Special Teams
— In a sneaky-costly play, the Patriots allowed a 23-yard punt return with 46 seconds left in the second quarter, helping the Seahawks get in range for a late field goal. Gunners Brenden Schooler and Marcellas Dial Jr. got blocked on the play to give up about half the return, and Oshane Ximines whiffed on his tackle attempt for the other half. The Patriots punting unit has mostly been excellent to start the season, but they got beat on that play, and it cost them in the end.
— On the blocked field goal attempt, Hooper was left to block two Seahawks rushers on an “overload” to the left. He told NBC Sports Boston’s Phil Perry that he “focused a little more” on the taller, longer outside rusher (Tariq Woolen) instead of the inside rusher (Julian Love). He definitely wanted to take Love, who was simply closer to the ball and ended up blocking the kick. Woolen wouldn’t have gotten home in time. Expect Hooper to be better prepared and execute the block next time he gets that look.
Next Final Thoughts will come later this week, after the Patriots take on the New York Jets on “Thursday Night Football.”
Matt Dolloff is a writer and digital content producer for 98.5 The Sports Hub. Read all of his articles here.
10 takeaways from the Patriots' overtime loss to the Seahawks
Key sequence
Sep 15, 2024; Foxborough, Massachusetts, USA; Seattle Seahawks safety Julian Love (20) blocks the field goal attempt by New England Patriots place kicker Joey Slye (13) in the fourth quarter at Gillette Stadium. Credit: David Butler II-Imagn Images
The most impactful sequence in this game came with about four minutes to go in the fourth quarter. After a long Antonio Gibson run the Patriots had the ball just outside of the red zone leading 23-20. A field goal would give them plenty of cushion, while a touchdown would have likely put the game away.
On the first two plays the Patriots managed just four yards total, setting up a 3rd & 6 from Seattle’s 21 yard line. Jacoby Brissett, who did a great job all day using his legs to extend plays and create in the pass game, failed to get away from pressure on this drop back as both Layden Robinson and Mike Onwenu got beat resulting in a nine-yard sack.
That pushed the Patriots back to a 48-yard field goal, which was blocked. Seattle then used the short field to drive and get a field goal of its own, sending the game to overtime.
Had the Patriots pass protected better, had Brissett been able to throw the ball away, or had the field goal unit not missed a man in protection, this game probably would have ended differently. All highlight the limited margin for error this team has.
After the game, Brissett took responsibility for the sequence. “It was just a bad play by me,” he said. “I was trying to get the ball out and I just didn’t want to be careless with the ball and [have] somebody strip sack me from behind because I felt somebody coming from behind. Yeah. So [I] was trying to get the ball out. It was just a bad play by me.”
End of half mismanagement
Sep 15, 2024; Foxborough, Massachusetts, USA; Seattle Seahawks linebacker Boye Mafe (53) tackles New England Patriots running back JaMycal Hasty (39) during the first half at Gillette Stadium. Credit: Brian Fluharty-Imagn Images
While that was probably the most costly sequence for the Patriots on offense it wasn’t the only lapse. There were a few other moments – specifically on offense – that will get a closer look as this game is dissected in the coming days. Another came at the end of the first half.
The Patriots got the ball at the end of the half down 14-13 with two timeouts left (part of the reason they were missing one was having to call one earlier due to having 12 men on the field on defense, another blunder). While they did have the ball in position for a two-minute drive they were also backed up to their own goal line, as the previous Seahawks punt pinned them at their own eight yard line.
There’s two cases to be made here – one to try and push the ball down the field and another to simply run the clock and get into halftime down one without giving the opponent a chance for a double-score (the Seahawks got the ball after half). The Patriots instead tried to do both, and it cost them.
On first down the team ran a shotgun handoff to JaMycal Hasty, then let the clock run down. It seemed like they were willing to head to halftime. That changed with the second down play though, which had the Patriots line up in five wide and try to throw. Brissett’s pass to Hunter Henry was knocked down (and nearly intercepted), stopping the clock.
Instead of running the clock on 3rd & 8, the Patriots elected to throw again, Brissett was pressured almost immediately, and narrowly avoided a sack on the goal line. He ended up throwing the ball away though which stopped the clock and allowed Seattle to get the ball back with all three timeouts.
Seattle was helped further by a 23-yard punt return allowed by the Patriots’ coverage team. That all led to a field goal to close out the first half – three points that ended up being crucial at the end of the game.
Had the Patriots fully committed to pushing the ball down the field they may have ended up in a similar situation, but at least would have had an extra down to try throwing the ball instead of the minimal run. Had they kept running they would have likely taken the game to halftime. Sure, Seattle could have started using its timeouts but at the very least, then they would have gotten the ball back without a chance to stop the clock.
“Just lack of execution. That’s what it comes down to,” Mayo said when asked after the game about his team’s inability to score at the end of halves. “I felt like we were in shape, but as the game wore on, there were these little mental errors that ended up being plays, and just got to do better.”
Overtime decision-making
FOXBOROUGH, MASSACHUSETTS – SEPTEMBER 15: New England Patriots head coach Jerod Mayo looks on during the third quarter against the Seattle Seahawks at Gillette Stadium on September 15, 2024 in Foxborough, Massachusetts. (Photo by Adam Glanzman/Getty Images)
The final big consequential decision came on the Patriots’ lone overtime drive. They quickly got to a 3rd & 1, but were unable to pick up the first down – punting the ball away and never getting it back.
On the third down the Patriots tried a ‘trick’ play. They went with an unbalanced offensive line, moving Caedan Wallace (who had come in at left tackle as a replacement for Vederian Lowe when Lowe got hurt at the end of regulation) to the right side next to Mike Onwenu, and using Hunter Henry as the ‘left tackle.’ They also motioned Tyquan Thornton into the backfield in a split backs look opposite Rhamodnre Stevenson as an extra wrinkle.
Despite having their three best run blockers all next to each other – with Layden Robinson – joining Onwenu and Wallace on the right side – the Patriots’ line got blown off the ball and Stevenson was stopped in the backfield on a handoff up the middle. Even if the play had worked, it would have come back due to an illegal formation penalty with Wallace ending up uncovered at the end of the line after Thornton motioned.
That left the Patriots with a 4th & 1 from their own 39 yard line. Despite Seattle’s offense moving the ball well in the second half the team punted. Asked about the decision to not go for it after the game, Jerod Mayo told reporters “I would say there’s some consideration. There’s always consideration in those weird spots, especially when you get on the plus side of the field. I did what I thought was best.”
Defensive miscommunication
Sep 15, 2024; Foxborough, Massachusetts, USA; Seattle Seahawks wide receiver DK Metcalf (14) scores a touchdown against the New England Patriots in the first quarter at Gillette Stadium. Credit: David Butler II-Imagn Images
The Patriots operational issues weren’t just on offense. They got bit a few times on defense too, with the biggest such play coming late in the first quarter.
On the Seahawks’ first drive the Patriots were able to hold star wide receiver D.K. Metcalf in check. He was able to get a big play on the second drive though, and relatively effortlessly too. On a 2nd & 5 from around midfield Metcalf ran a go from the slot. Both Christian Gonzalez and Kyle Dugger were on that side, but they both stepped down to play the flat. That left Gonzalez running alone up the sideline as Geno Smith hit him for a 56-yard touchdown.
“Miscommunication,” Gonzalez said when asked about the play after the game. “You can’t hide that in the secondary. When that happens in the secondary, it goes for a big play. We’ll get it fixed. We’ll be alright.”
That play was the highlight, but Metcalf was an issue for the Patriots’ defense for most of the afternoon. He finished with 10 catches for 129 yards and a touchdown. Not all of that was on Gonzalez, but he did beat the second-year cornerback a few times after Gonzalez had limited star Bengals receiver Ja’Marr Chase last week.
Red zone offense
Sep 15, 2024; Foxborough, Massachusetts, USA; New England Patriots running back Rhamondre Stevenson (38) scores against Seattle Seahawks safety Ty Okada (39) in the second half at Gillette Stadium. Credit: David Butler II-Imagn Images
After going 1-for-4 in the red zone in the opener, Jerod Mayo called it a point of emphasis this week for the offense. That came with mixed results. They ended up going 2-for-4, not including the drive late in the fourth quarter where they got to the 21 before Jacoby Brissett was sacked.
The first drive looked effortless, and ended with Ja’Lynn Polk’s first career touchdown catch. After that though they stalled out twice and kicked field goals. On the fourth trip they almost left without any points when Rhamondre Stevenson fumbled on the goal line, with the ball being recovered by guard Michael Jordan.
From there the Patriots turned to two unique looks to punch the ball in. An I-formation with backup offensive lineman Nick Leverett at fullback got the ball to the doorstep, and then Stevenson got a direct snap in a Wildcat formation and scored.
Red zone offense still looks to be a work in progress for this Patriots team. While they did find some success on Sunday, it wasn’t the kind of replicable execution that’s ideal in that part of the field.
Career day for Hunter Henry
FOXBOROUGH, MASSACHUSETTS – SEPTEMBER 15: Hunter Henry #85 of the New England Patriots runs with the ball during the first half against the Seattle Seahawks at Gillette Stadium on September 15, 2024 in Foxborough, Massachusetts. (Photo by Jaiden Tripi/Getty Images)
The Patriots had more success throwing the ball in Week 2 than they did in Week 1. That was largely due to the play of one player – tight end Hunter Henry.
Henry finished the game with eight catches on 10 targets for a career-high 109 yards. He nearly single-handedly carried the passing game – Ja’Lynn Polk was second for the Patriots in both categories with two catches for 12 yards.
Two key things helped Henry have a big day. He made plays after the catch, picking up hidden yardage recently. On top of that, he did a good job of adjusting when the play broke structure, and giving Jacoby Brissett an outlet as he scrambled.
That performance was massive, especially because the Patriots once again got limited production from their receivers. Polk and K.J. Osborn were the only two wide receivers who saw targets in this game, catching a combined three passes on five targets for 19 yards.
Eventually the Patriots are going to need more production out of their wide receiver room to be able to make their passing game a threat defenses have to respect. While they work on that though, Henry could end up being the one who shoulders being the team’s top pass catcher.
Where is Pop Douglas?
Aug 15, 2024; Foxborough, MA, USA; New England Patriots wide receiver DeMario Douglas (3) warms up before a game against the Philadelphia Eagles at Gillette Stadium. Credit: Eric Canha-USA TODAY Sports
One wide receiver who was noticeably absent from the box score was Pop Douglas. Despite getting his fair share of snaps Douglas wasn’t targeted once. This comes a week after Douglas was targeted just three times against Cincinnati.
“We have to get him going,” Jerod Mayo told reporters after the game when asked about Douglas. “We have to scheme up some things for him. He’s one of our most explosive players, and that’s on us as coaches to put it together.”
Encouraging signs from the running back duo
Sep 15, 2024; Foxborough, Massachusetts, USA; New England Patriots running back Antonio Gibson (4) runs the ball against the Seattle Seahawks in the second half at Gillette Stadium. Credit: David Butler II-Imagn Images
This was another game with a significant workload for Rhamondre Stevenson. He carried the ball 21 times for 81 yards, and caught another two passes on five targets.
At the same time, the Patriots got more from backup running back Antonio Gibson than they did last week. Gibson carried the ball 11 times for 96 yards, including a 45-yarder late in the game.
Two weeks into the season Stevenson is on pace for 433 touches this season. That’s nearly 100 more than Christian McCaffrey led the league with last year (339).
At some point the Patriots are going to need to consider what’s best for Stevenson in the long-term, both in terms of this full season and seasons down the road. He is their most effective weapon, but he won’t continue to be if he gets too banged up too early. Given the game Gibson had, we’ll see if the coaching staff is more willing to split carries moving forwards.
Player of the game
Sep 15, 2024; Foxborough, Massachusetts, USA; New England Patriots defensive end Keion White (99) sacks Seattle Seahawks quarterback Geno Smith (7) during the second half at Gillette Stadium. Credit: Brian Fluharty-Imagn Images
This was the second week in a row the Patriots got a major performance from Keion White. He added another sack and a half, plus had an additional play where he got into the backfield clean early, and set up a sack for his teammates. White got pressures from multiple alignments, rushing both up the middle and on the edge.
One of the biggest questions facing the Patriots’ defense heading into the regular season was how they’d generate a pass rush organically, without having to blitz or run line games. So far, White is proving emphatically he can be that guy.
Injuries to monitor
Aug 15, 2024; Foxborough, MA, USA; New England Patriots offensive tackle Vederian Lowe (59) blocks Philadelphia Eagles linebacker Nolan Smith Jr. (3) during the first half at Gillette Stadium. Credit: Eric Canha-USA TODAY Sports
The Patriots suffered two injuries to key players in this game. Linebacker and defensive signal-caller Ja’Whaun Bentley left in the first half with a shoulder injury, and did not return. Starting left tackle Vederian Lowe got hurt on the Patriots’ final offensive play of regulation, and didn’t return. Lowe left due to a knee injury, but was dealing with an abdominal injury coming into the game as well.
Neither player will have much time to rest with the Patriots playing again on Thursday. Both will be tough to replace, making a difficult week for the coaching staff even harder.
Lowe in particular proves a challenge to fill in for. The Patriots’ most logical backup left tackle – Chuks Okorafor – left the squad on Saturday and is considering retirement, per multiple reports. If he doesn’t return this week the Patriots will be left with rookie right tackle Caedan Wallce – who filled in for Lowe on Sunday – or waiver claims Demontrey Jacobs, Zach Thomas, or practice squander Caleb Jones.
