Greg Bedard of BostonSportsJournal.com joined Felger and Mazz on Tuesday, as he does every Tuesday during the football season, to discuss the latest with the New England Patriots following their 21-17 loss to the Las Vegas Raiders on Sunday in Las Vegas! While on, Bedard gave his 3 up and 3 down for the Patriots.
Some notes from the game courtesy of NFL.com…..
Kendrick Bourne led all Patriots receivers in yards with 89 receiving yards in the loss.
Rhamondre Stevenson led all Patriots rushers with 46 rushing yards in the loss.
The Raiders won the time of possession battle in the game by possessing the ball for 32:12. The Patriots possessed the ball for 27:48.
Six Patriots players played 100% of the snaps on their side of the ball. On offense Atonio Mafi, Sidy Sow, Trent Brown, Vederian Lowe, and David Andrews played all 60 offensive snaps. On defense Ja’Whaun Bentley played all 70 defensive snaps.
Ezekiel Elliott rushed for his first touchdown with the Patriots in the loss.
Patriots receiver, Tyquan Thornton, made his season debut in the loss. Thornton missed the first five games due to injury and hauled in one reception for 6 yards against the Raiders.
Each team turned the ball over once in the game. Both turnovers were interceptions. Jimmy Garoppolo was intercepted by Jahlani Tavai and Mac Jones was intercepted by Trevon Moehrig-Woodard.
Mac Jones threw for 200 yards in the loss. It was the fourth time this season that Jones has thrown for 200 or more yards in a game.
The Patriots fell to 1-2 on the road this season with the loss to the Raiders.
3 UP
Christian Barmore
Foxboro, MA, Sep. 25, 2022: New England Patriots defensive tackle Christian Barmore reacts during a game against the Baltimore Ravens at Gillette Stadium. (Paul Rutherford-USA TODAY Sports)
Greg Bedard: We talked going into the game that I didn’t like the Raiders guards, Parham and Van Roten, they are not good and Barmore just ate up Parham in this game. I had him for eight impactful plays. This is one of the best games he’s ever played start to finish. He got a lot more playing time. He was really good.
Kendrick Bourne
LAS VEGAS, NEVADA – OCTOBER 15: Kendrick Bourne #84 of the New England Patriots runs after a catch during the second quarter at Allegiant Stadium on October 15, 2023 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Chris Unger/Getty Images)
Greg Bedard: It’s funny that two years ago, when Bourne was in his first season here, by the end of the season they peppered him with a lot of passes and here we are finally doing it again. It’s just, he needs to touch the ball. And I don’t think he was dynamic in this game. A lot of his stuff was sort of easy receptions, the 36 yard game was awesome. But he’s the only thing they have in the passing game right now. So just just feed him 15 times a game.
Jabrill Peppers
Oct 15, 2023; Paradise, Nevada, USA; New England Patriots safety Jabrill Peppers (5) tackles Las Vegas Raiders wide receiver Davante Adams (17) during the first quarter at Allegiant Stadium. Credit: Stephen R. Sylvanie-USA TODAY Sports
Greg Bedard: This defense has to make plays, he made the biggest play, even though I think that was more Garoppolo being a beat late with that pass than anything. But I mean, just an unreal hit and huge play for the defense at that point.
3 DOWN
Mac Jones
LAS VEGAS, NEVADA – OCTOBER 15: Mac Jones #10 of the New England Patriots attempts a pass during the second quarter against the Las Vegas Raiders at Allegiant Stadium on October 15, 2023 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images)
Greg Bedard: I thought he was bad in this game. I had for 1-up play, that was the Devante Parker pass that was dropped, but other than that I was not impressed with this play. His completion percentage might have been really high, all of it was dink and dunk, and that’s the way they need to go and that’s fine. But he left plays on the field. There were plays where Bill O’Brien called the right the right beater, like against cover two or what have you, he had the right plays on and Mac wasn’t making the throws. He had Kendrick Bourne open one time on the left sideline. Bourne had his hand up, Mac didn’t throw it. The throw out of bounds to Tyquan Thornton was a balloon ball and it wasn’t even close where you got to give the guy a chance.
Vederian Lowe
Oct 15, 2023; Paradise, Nevada, USA; New England Patriots quarterback Mac Jones (10) is sacked for a safety by Las Vegas Raiders defensive end Maxx Crosby (98) and Las Vegas Raiders defensive tackle Bilal Nichols (91) during the fourth quarter at Allegiant Stadium. Credit: Stephen R. Sylvanie-USA TODAY Sports
Greg Bedard: I mean a lot of it isn’t his fault. To be put in that position is not fair against Maxx Crosby. But he gave up seven total quarterback pressures. His technique is just awful. He’s got no punch. He leans forward too much. I wonder if he’s getting any coaching from Adrian Klemm because it hasn’t improved at all since he got here. It’s just not good enough.
Atonio Mafi
Aug. 10, 2023; Foxborough, MA: New England Patriots guard Atonio Mafi on the sideline during a preseason game against the Houston Texans at Gillette Stadium. (Eric Canha-USA TODAY Sports)
Greg Bedard: Similar to Lowe, he shouldn’t be out there. He was benched last game but only went in because of injury.
