Patriots Ups & Downs: Who stood out in a blowout loss to the Chargers?

The New England Patriots found a new low in an embarrassing 2024 season on Sunday, falling to the Los Angeles Chargers by a 40-7 final on Saturday at Gillette Stadium. The game was so bad, that there were no players truly worthy of an UP designation in the tradition of “Ups & Downs”.

Closest thing to an UP in this loss goes to quarterback Drake Maye and wide receiver DeMario “Pop” Douglas, who connected for a 36-yard touchdown. But the pair also badly misplayed a backward pitch, resulting in an ugly lost fumble. So, they would be categorized as “neutral” in this one.

With that in mind, here are six players we’re all listing as DOWN, based on their performance on the field during this game…

DOWN: LT Vederian Lowe

David Butler II-Imagn Images

Offensive line remains the biggest need for the Patriots in the coming off-season, and no spot is more important than left tackle. And their choice to play that spot for the majority of the season, Lowe, continued to play just ugly football. Lowe struggled once again with his pass protection, and managed to commit an illegal hands to the face penalty, which is usually something that happens to the defense.

The Patriots desperately need to upgrade Lowe’s spot, even with just a serviceable starter with an appreciable amount of experience playing left tackle. Because this has been unacceptable and it could ultimately get Drake Maye hurt.

DOWN: CB Jonathan Jones

Jones had a tough matchup having to cover Chargers receiver Ladd McConkey, especially after Christian Gonzalez had to exit the game with a concussion. He couldn’t keep up, as McConkey torched the Pats defense for eight catches, 94 yards, and two touchdowns. Not totally fair to Jones, because he’s far from the biggest problem with the Pats defense or the team in general. But Saturday wasn’t his best day.

• DOWN: LG Layden Robinson

  

  The rookie hasn’t shown nearly enough to inspire confidence in his ability to be a starting guard for this team. He’ll likely be back for 2025 camp, but shouldn’t even be close to locked in for a starting spot on the line. He’s struggled all season with pass-blocking and looked woefully out of sync with the operation on Saturday against the Chargers. He showed some promise back in camp, but clearly, he’s got a long way to go.

• DOWN: RB Rhamondre Stevenson

  

  In classic Mayo mystifying, inexplicable fashion, he said on the 98.5 The Sports Hub pregame show that Stevenson would not be starting the game. Then, Stevenson started. Then, he didn’t play. Two carries for one yard, and one target without a catch for Stevenson, who finally felt the pain of his season-long fumbling problem. And yet, Mayo still gave him the start on offense? Just another strange occurrence in a season filled with them.

• DOWN: TE Hunter Henry

  

  Henry is one of the few players on this team worth keeping around for 2025, and he’s under contract as a team captain so he’s likely to stay. But Henry was as useless as anyone on the field in this game. Zero catches on two targets, and also got flagged for a holding penalty on the Pats’ first play of the third quarter. Henry needs to at least have a high-floor as a steady, dependable player and team leader. This wasn’t nearly good enough, and to look like that against his former team only adds to the embarrassment.

• DOWN: S Kyle Dugger

  

  Dec 28, 2024; Foxborough, Massachusetts, USA; Los Angeles Chargers wide receiver Ladd McConkey (15) makes the touchdown catch against New England Patriots safety Kyle Dugger (23) in the third quarter at Gillette Stadium. Mandatory Credit: David Butler II-Imagn Images

  It’s pretty clear at this point that Dugger is playing through an injury and it might be a situation where he needs surgery in the off-season. But that doesn’t really explain his decision-making. Dugger blew his deep coverage on a 40-yard McConkey touchdown, which was effectively the dagger in an eventual 33-point loss. His coverage hasn’t been nearly good enough, and it’s fair to wonder if he should be in coverage at all. Dugger is at his best as a box safety and has been consistently exposed in the passing game.