The New England Patriots are 3-11 after a 30-17 thrashing at the hands of the Arizona Cardinals on Sunday at State Farm Stadium. Here are six players who stood out, based on key plays and other factors in their on-field performance…
UP: QB Drake Maye
Maye was mainly a victim of a strange gameplan and sloppy performance going on around him. He completed a season-high 82.6% of his passes in this one, but that’s mostly because the play-calling was highly conservative and emphasized short passes, even after the Patriots went down multiple scores.
When finally allowed to start cutting loose down the field, Maye made the Pats offense look explosive again. It was too little, too late when he hit Kendrick Bourne for a 37-yard dime in the fourth quarter, setting up a shuffle-pass touchdown, then when he ran it in to pay dirt during garbage time. These are the kinds of plays that Maye should be called on to make from the get-go. He’s shown enough.
For the second straight game, Maye’s interception wasn’t his fault. The pass slipped right out of the hands of receiver Kayshon Boutte and into the waiting arms of Sean Murphy-Bunting (they really should start counting that as a fumble by the receiver, or not dock the quarterback for it, or SOMETHING).
It’s incredible that the Patriots have such a talented young quarterback, who seems to get better every week, and yet they still can’t get out of their own way and find creative new ways to lose every Sunday. This will be a big off-season for the organization to put a better team (and coaching staff?) around Maye, because they certainly have their quarterback of the future, and it’s at least a little solace to know that they’ve figured out the most important aspect of the whole thing.
DOWN: OT Vederian Lowe
Lowe is something of a scapegoat for the rest of the offensive operation around Maye. But he clearly wasn’t ready to go for this game, appearing out of sync with everyone else on the field, just a step behind the others. And that’s saying something, because the others haven’t been anything special, either.
While Lowe had an admirable few games in the middle of the season, the full body of work is a clear indication that he is far from a starting left tackle in the NFL. His spot remains arguably the No. 1 area of the roster that needs to be upgraded for 2025.
UP: CB Christian Gonzalez
Christian Gonzalez
It really is amazing how the Patriots stink as much as they do, despite having a good young quarterback and an elite No. 1 cornerback, both playing at a high level. But at least the Pats know they don’t have to worry about who’s going to cover the other team’s top receiver.
After falling victim to a pick play early in the game, Gonzalez shut down dynamic rookie receiver Marvin Harrison Jr. And it kept showing up right on the broadcast, because Kyler Murray inexplicably kept targeting him. Gonzalez is one of the few parts of the team that Patriots fans can feel good about going forward.
DOWN: S Kyle Dugger
James Conner runs past Kyle Dugger
Dugger continued to struggle in coverage and miss tackles on Sunday, as his disappointing first season of a contract extension dragged on for another Sunday. It’s unclear whether Dugger is playing hurt, or he’s just not being used right, or he’s just not as good as he seemed when he played under Bill Belichick. But for him to make the money he’s making for the next three seasons, and playing as badly as he has been lately, is troubling.
UP: RB Antonio Gibson
Antonio Gibson
On the other hand, Gibson is a guy on a one-year deal who has shown enough to get a second contract with the Patriots. He made the most of his nine touches, rushing seven times for 33 yards and catching both targets for 31 yards. He continues to run hard and occasionally break for an explosive play. Gibson should be a candidate to return in 2025.
DOWN: RB Rhamondre Stevenson
Rhamondre Stevenson
The fourth-down stop late in the third quarter wasn’t necessarily all Stevenson’s fault, as the blockers up front didn’t get much of a push at the line. But Stevenson is built, and paid, like a guy who should be able to make positive yardage out of plays like that, even when it’s not all there for him. Stevenson should not have been totally stuffed behind the line to gain like he was on that play. Rough moment for him.
