For years, New England Patriots fans were used to their team finding all different kinds of ways to win games. In 2023, the team is instead finding different ways to lose them.
That trend continued on Sunday. After getting blown out the last two weeks, the Patriots did manage to keep things close, but suffered a different kind of frustrating defeat in a 21-17 loss to the Raiders.
READ MORE:
—Free-fall continues with 21-17 loss to Raiders
—Ups & Downs from Sunday’s loss
—Full Patriots coverage
Start to finish, it wasn’t as sloppy as it’s been for the Patriots’ offense the last few weeks. They scored two touchdowns, ending a 39-drive touchdown drought that spanned almost 12 quarters of football.
With the defense keeping things close, the offense had multiple chances to take a lead late. However, that’s when the mistakes returned.
Ultimately, a slow start and sloppy finish did the Patriots in, even as they did things to keep the game competitive in the middle. Let’s start at the top and work our way through the game in this week’s takeaways…
Another slow start
LAS VEGAS, NEVADA – OCTOBER 15: Maxx Crosby #98 of the Las Vegas Raiders and Adam Butler #69 of the Las Vegas Raiders tackle Hunter Henry #85 of the New England Patriots during the second quarter at Allegiant Stadium on October 15, 2023 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images)
Before we talk about the end of this game, we have to talk about the beginning. While there were no turnovers for the Patriots in the first quarter this time, that’s pretty much where the positives end for the Patriots in the first quarter of the game.
On offense the Patriots had just two drives in the quarter. They ran six plays for a total of negative-two yards, and held the ball for just 2:54. Meanwhile, the Raiders were able to run 23 plays for 125 yards, possessing the ball for 12:06 of the first 15 minutes.
Ultimately, the Patriots’ red zone defense (more on them in a bit) kept the game from getting out of hand right away. But early in the second quarter, the Raiders were up 10-0 before the Patriots got their first first down of the game. For a team that has labeled starting games better as a focus, this game certainly did not check that box.
Another messy ending
LAS VEGAS, NEVADA – OCTOBER 15: Maxx Crosby #98 of the Las Vegas Raiders and Bilal Nichols #91 of the Las Vegas Raiders sack Mac Jones #10 of the New England Patriots for a safety while Vederian Lowe #59 of the New England Patriots looks on during the fourth quarter at Allegiant Stadium on October 15, 2023 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images)
The slow starts have plagued the Patriots in recent weeks, but going back to the start of the season the team has failed to finish close games as well. This was another example, with a fourth quarter full of questions.
In total, the Patriots had just two drives in the fourth quarter. Trailing 19-10 with 13:03 to go the Patriots got the ball at their own 25-yard line. Despite needing two possessions to take the lead, the Patriots took their time on the drive. While it did end in a touchdown, the 17-play, 78-yard march took 9:30 off the clock, which proved costly (we broke that drive down more specifically here).
Although the Patriots did get one more drive to close the game, they were forced into scramble mode because of how much time they took off the clock on the previous possession. Down two points, they started at their own 9-yard line with 2:23 to go and no timeouts. There was little to no margin for error.
While the margin for error wasn’t there, the errors themselves were. After picking up six yards on first down, rookie guard Atonio Mafi was called for holding leading into the two-minute warning. On the first play after the two-minute break Mac Jones delivered his best throw of the game – perhaps of the season – deep down the field to DeVante Parker, who saw it clank off his hands.
“Probably hit my fingertips, I think. But I didn’t get a full grasp of it,” Parker said of the play after the game. Asked if it was a catchable ball he replied “I think so. I mean, fingertips so I don’t know.”
That play would have put the Patriots on the doorstep of field goal range with 1:53 to go. Instead, after a delay of game penalty pushed the ball back to the 4-yard line, Jones was sacked by Maxx Crosby in the end zone for a game-sealing safety as Crosby wasn’t slowed on his rush by a block from Vederian Lowe or a chip from Mike Gesicki.
It was mistakes layered on mistakes, a microcosm of the offensive issues this team has faced so far this season. An those issues left them coming up short yet again.
Penalties
LAS VEGAS, NEVADA – OCTOBER 15: Head coach Bill Belichick of the New England Patriots looks on during the first quarter against the Las Vegas Raiders at Allegiant Stadium on October 15, 2023 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Chris Unger/Getty Images)
In total, the Patriots were flagged 11 times in this game (seven on offense, three on defense, one on special teams), with 10 of those being accepted. Those penalties cost the Patriots 79 yards. In both regards, it was their most-penalized game of the year.
It wasn’t just the number of penalties that hurt the Patriots, but the timing of them as well. Of the 11 penalties, five occurred in the first quarter, and five in the fourth quarter. Within that, they occurred close to each other. That certainly played a role in the Patriots’ slow start and sloppy finish.
“Not a good formula,” head coach Bill Belichick said of the timing of the penalties after the game.
Ups and downs for 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)
What a whirlwind day for Mac Jones. It was a roller coaster, starting hours before kickoff.
Sunday morning, NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport reported that Jones would have “a short leash” in this game, with the team ready to pull him after just a few series if things didn’t go well. At the same time, Rapoport reported there was little clarity in who would replace him between Bailey Zappe and Will Grier.
When the inactives were released, Zappe and Grier were both inactive. That left Jones as the only active true quarterback with Malik Cunningham not throwing the ball in warmups. It looked like, despite the reports from the morning, the Patriots were ready to roll with Jones wire-to-wire after he was benched in each of the last two games.
Did Jones reward the coaching staff’s trust? Almost.
There were some positives for Jones. He was 16-for-19 for 103 yards in the second half, and 11-for-13 for 69 yards in the fourth quarter. Not bad, especially given the past two weeks.
However, that production wasn’t enough. Dropped pass from DeVante Parker aside, Jones couldn’t lead the comeback, culminating with him taking a sack in his own end zone with a check-down option available (albeit on third and long).
Jones also threw another questionable interception – a pattern that’s emerged in the last three game. The Patriots were moving the ball in the second quarter, and Jones looked to be getting in a rhythm. On a 3rd & 2 from the Raiders’ 30 though, he was flushed to his right and made the kind of off-platform, on-the-run throw that’s become an issue in recent weeks. Jones sailed the ball over an open Hunter Henry, right to Raiders safety Trevor Moehrig.
In total, Jones hardly did enough to save his job long-term in this game. For those looking at the more immediate window he looked better than he had in recent weeks, but it was too little too late.
Malik Cunningham’s debut
LAS VEGAS, NEVADA – OCTOBER 15: Malik Cunningham #16 of the New England Patriots warms up prior to a game against the Las Vegas Raiders at Allegiant Stadium on October 15, 2023 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Chris Unger/Getty Images)
UDFA Malik Cunningham made his much-anticipated debut on Sunday after being signed to the active roster off the practice squad. He played a limited role lining up at both wide receiver and quarterback, but didn’t record any official statistics. On his lone pass attempt, he was sacked.
The Patriots may still try to expand Cunningham’s wildcat package in the coming weeks. But the idea of him being an instant fix for the offense remains too big of an ask right now.
Running game improves
LAS VEGAS, NEVADA – OCTOBER 15: Amik Robertson #21 of the Las Vegas Raiders pursues Ezekiel Elliott #15 of the New England Patriots during the third quarterat Allegiant Stadium on October 15, 2023 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images)
One silver lining for the Patriots’ offense? The running game looked as good as it has all year.
The Patriots were able to take advantage of a weak Raiders run defense, that coming in ranked 21st in the league allowing 4.3 yards per carry. New England ran for a season-best 4.4 yards per carry, totaling 83 yards on 19 rushes. Both Rhamondre Stevenson and Ezekiel Elliott looked as explosive as they have all year and both scored touchdowns – doubling the team’s rushing touchdown total through the first five games of the year. That may be something the Patriots can build on moving forwards.
A new defensive identity emerging?
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
This was a much better game for the Patriots’ defense than the previous two weeks. After losing two key players in linebacker Matthew Judon and cornerback Christian Gonzalez, new leaders seem to be breaking through. With that, a new identity may be emerging for this defense – bully ball.
The Patriots had three defensive players truly stand out in this game – one at each level. Defensive tackle Christian Barmore, linebacker Jahlani Tavai, and safety Jabrill Peppers all set a physical tone early, and made key plays late.
Barmore had multiple run stops in this game. That includes a play late in the fourth quarter where he shot a gap and made a tackle for a loss in the backfield on a 3rd & 1, that forced the Raiders to punt with 2:31 to go in the game. That set up what would have been the game-winning drive. He broke up two passes at the line of scrimmage in this game as well.
Tavai made a tone-setting play early with a big hit on Raiders running back Josh Jacobs. While that play drew a flag, it seemed to energize the defense. Tavai then recorded the Patriots’ second interception of the year, set up by a massive hit from Peppers on Davante Adams. Peppers was the team’s leading tackler in this game with seven, and had two pass breakups of his own.
Following the injuries to Judon and Gonzalez, there were a lot of questions about who would ‘step up’ in their absences. This game may have offered a major clue to answering that question.
Red zone defense stands strong
LAS VEGAS, NEVADA – OCTOBER 15: Davante Adams #17 of the Las Vegas Raiders attempts to catch a pass while defended by J.C. Jackson #29 of the New England Patriots during the fourth quarter at Allegiant Stadium on October 15, 2023 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images)
The primary reason this game was as close as it was was the Patriots’ red zone defense. While the Raiders entered the red zone six times, they finished with just one touchdown.
It’s not like the Raiders are a terrible red zone team either. They came in relatively middle of the pack, with their 50 percent touchdown percentage on drives that got inside the 20 ranking 20th in the NFL.
For the most part, the Patriots have struggled with situational football this year. Red Zone defense has been an exception at times, and certainly was a plus for the Patriots in Week 6.
Former Patriots
LAS VEGAS, NEVADA – OCTOBER 15: Jakobi Meyers #16 of the Las Vegas Raiders celebrates after catching a touchdown during the second quarter against the New England Patriots at Allegiant Stadium on October 15, 2023 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images)
Of course, there were a lot of former Patriots playing in this game. Here’s a roundup of how they all did…
QB Jimmy Garoppolo: 14-for-22, 162 yards, TD, INT, left the game in the second quarter due to injury
QB Brian Hoyer: 6-fot-10, 102 yards, replaced Garoppolo
WR Jakobi Meyers: 5 catches on 7 targets, 61 yards, TD
DL Adam Butler: 2 tackles, sack
HC Josh McDaniels: His team is now back at .500 at 3-3
