The New England Patriots are 3-9 on the season after a 34-15 road loss to the Miami Dolphins. Here are eight players graded either UP or DOWN based on their on-field performance, key plays, and other factors in the game…
DOWN: S Kyle Dugger
We need to start with the defense in this week’s Ups & Downs, because that’s where the Patriots were at their worst. Dugger was slow to get to Jonnu Smith for the game’s first touchdown, got caught covering no one on De’Von Achane’s second TD of the day, and also got flagged for a pass interference penalty. Dugger needs to be one of the Patriots’ best players, a leadership presence, and a good example for the rest of the defense, and he wasn’t up to a good-enough standard on Sunday.
DOWN: LT Vederian Lowe
Protection problems and FOUR penalties land Lowe in the DOWN section with ease. He has performed admirably at times, when the matchup isn’t too challenging. But Lowe simply is not a starting-caliber NFL tackle, certainly not on the left side. It will be arguably the No. 1 task of the off-season for the Patriots to find a starting-caliber left tackle to replace him.
DOWN: LB Anfernee Jennings
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An early neutral zone infraction gifted the Dolphins a first down after a third-and-3 play before the end of the first quarter. An inexcusable error for Jennings, which set a bad tone for the rest of the game.
DOWN: DE Keion White
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Not to single out White, but he had just four tackles on the day and no pressure stats to speak of. He will represent every Patriot that attempted to get after Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa on Sunday, because their lack of a pass-rush was a major problem for the second week in a row.
DOWN: QB Drake Maye
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I really shouldn’t even acknowledge the subset of fans that threw a micro-tantrum over Maye being listed in the DOWNS last week, after the Patriots lost to the Rams. But some of you are too OK with the mistakes he’s making. He’s less down after this game than the previous one, but he still gets a “nod” because once again, he committed multiple turnovers. He has a serious problem with ball security, and shouldn’t be left off the hook for it.
Maye got stripped for a lost fumble for the second week in a row, showing subpar pocket awareness as he let the defense crash into him when he had plenty of room to buy time and space. His fourth-quarter interception was ill-advised, because the Pats had made it a two-score game and, however small their hope was, they had a sliver of hope. He dashed all of it with that pick.
This is not a referendum on Maye’s career. Nobody’s saying to get rid of him. He’s at the bottom of the list of the Patriots’ problems. He’s their guy. Very talented. Big-time potential. But the turnover problems aren’t improving and have to be cleaned up ASAP, before they get worse or become an inescapable habit.
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Put it this way: if the Patriots have a better team around Maye next year, and they’re in position to win a lot more games, are you still going to be OK with multiple turnovers every week? Fumbles in his own red zone? Game-ending interceptions? Of course you won’t. Because it’s losing football. And Maye, while clearly the Patriots’ franchise QB for the next few years, still has a ways to go before he can prove able to play winning football on a consistent basis.
So, he’s DOWN. It’s OK, you’ll get over it.
DOWN: RT Demontrey Jacobs
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The Patriots need not one, but TWO new starting tackles next year. Jacobs also couldn’t avoid penalties, and it was his blocking struggles that ultimately led to Maye’s strip-sack. He was eventually removed from the game in favor of Sidy Sow, who has mostly played guard in his two NFL seasons so far. It’s not Jacobs’ fault he’s being depended on to be an every-snap starter; that would be Eliot Wolf’s fault. But the Patriots desperately need an upgrade here in the off-season.
DOWN: K Joey Slye
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Slye’s only field goal attempt of the game doinked off the right upright, on a very makeable 45-yard try. He’s had his share of hits and misses this season, to be sure. The operation in front of him hasn’t always been sharp. But he simply missed in this game. Another bad tone to set.
UP: CB Christian Gonzalez
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Oh look, an UP! This game was dangerously close to the first all-DOWN game in the history of the 985TheSportsHub.com Ups & Downs. But Gonzalez had himself a day. He was rarely, if ever the problem in coverage. According to Pro Football Focus, Gonzalez allowed only two catches on two targets combined when covering Tyreek Hill or Jaylen Waddle. He also had a scoop-and-score touchdown that made the second half watchable for a minute.
The Patriots are certainly going to need a legitimate outside cornerback to pair with Gonzalez next season. But they at least know they have a true No. 1 corner to hang their hats on going forward.
Matt Dolloff is a writer and digital content producer for 98.5 The Sports Hub. Read all of his articles here.
