1.Coming off Thursday’s 30-24 loss to the Bears, there is some extra time early this week for the Patriots to turn their focus within before diving into full-fledged preparation for Sunday’s road game against the 1-5 Dolphins. Two areas that I wanted to drill down on included WR A.J. Brown’s limited production and why the defense allowed eight plays of 20+ yards, and I think I have a better understanding of each after studying/re-watching the game. My big-picture takeaway from Thursday: The Bears deserved to win, but the Patriots were also in position to steal it.
2. Brown finished with three catches for 48 yards. He was targeted six times. The ball mostly came to him when it should have, which to me meant the passing offense was functioning as designed – throw it to the open receiver based on the coverage. There were obvious times the Bears were keyed on Brown, which opened things for others. One example was the third-and-2 on the last play of the first quarter, which turned into a 15-yard catch-and-run play to TE Eli Raridon – a reflection of Brown’s impact even when it doesn’t show up on the stat sheet. More Brown-centric notes:
- Blocking was inconsistent, which ties to play style/mentality (e.g. – fight for the ball on contested catches etc.)
- Conditioning appears to still be a work in progress, which isn’t surprising when coming back from a high-ankle sprain – something I jotted down because he appeared to throttle down/re-start on his deep route/incompletion on the final drive, and then wasn’t on the field for the ensuing play.
- Hands were solid after the 3-drop game Oct. 18.
- He arrived at the game four hours early, the first and only player on the early/early medical bus – a reflection of someone who cares and wants to be there for his team … and is also still managing the injury.
- On the TD run by Drake Maye, I thought Brown was open/gained inside leverage on the slant. Not sure if Maye saw it the same way, or what led him not to throw it, but a TD there might have altered the context of some of the conversation around Brown. Likewise if officials called what could have been DPI (grabbing forearm) on the long incompletion (3Q/9:07).
- Feel strongly that Brown will be big for the Patriots the rest of the season as long as the ankle doesn’t become a bigger issue. There have been plays to be made and it’s not as if he’s being easily covered.
3. CB Christian Gonzalez wasn’t himself while playing through illness that landed him as a late addition the injury report Thursday. Gonzalez said he woke up Thursday feeling under the weather and initially thought it was allergies that would pass. That wasn’t the case. Gonzalez’s status contributed to the poor pass defense because when the Bears are throwing at your best corner on second-and-12 from their own 29-yard line with the game hanging in the balance (4Q/3:32), that’s something you usually feel good about. But Gonzalez wasn’t close to being in the same zip code to Rome Odunze on the 21-yard gain. Some credit to QB Caleb Williams and the Bears, of course, as that is a potent, creative passing offense. I also thought CB Marcus Jones had a below-standard game for him, the zone coverage/communication was not as tight as it needed to be overall, and the pass rush could have helped more at times.
4. QB Drake Maye’s decision-making has improved dramatically the last month, which he says is part of his work in owning the difference between the big play and the right play. He was really good for most of the game despite Bears defensive coordinator Dennis Allen throwing a lot at him with creative pressure/simulate pressure. On the end-zone INT to TE Eli Raridon, it was the right play – just poor execution with the throw. Specifically, Maye’s work on the initial drive of the second half was Brady-level – the highest possible compliment.
5. Silver linings: RB Rhamondre Stevenson as a pass-catching threat and pass blocker …Christian Elliss tying a career high with 13 tackles and playing with sideline to sideline speed/anticipation that is fun to watch for those who like rangy LBs … WR Pop Douglas’ downfield blocking … OLB Gabe Jacas standing up TE Colston Loveland on a run for no gain (1Q/7:43), and looking like the team’s most gifted pass rusher from a physical traits standpoint.
6. Not-so-silver linings: OLB Elijah Ponder run at with success on the edge … OLB Gabe Jacas’s blatant roughing the passer penalty and losing/vacating the edge on Caleb Williams’ 5-yard scramble before the 2-minute warning … WR A.J. Brown’s downfield blocking … Awareness of DT Milton Williams and Ponder getting caught up field after O-linemen pass them by to set up the WR screen for a 24-yard TD on third-and-17, as other defenders don’t get off blocks … S Jaylen Reed’s pass coverage on TE Colston Loveland on a 22-yard reception that wasn’t too competitive (3Q/11:04) … CB Marcus Jones’ missed tackle on Loveland’s 12-yard catch-and-run TD … LB Christian Elliss failing to wrap up Caleb Williams after coming through free on a blitz on a third-and-11 completion for 21 yards (4Q/13:14).
7. Mike Vrabel said special teams took a step back after a strong performance against the Jets. The Bears played with more urgency. It is a reminder to the core group of players – S Mike Brown, LB Erick Hunter, TE Cameron Latu, LB Darius Muasau, LB Namdi Obiazor, S Jaylen Reed and S Brenden Schooler – that there are no rollover minutes in the NFL (that’s a Mack Hollins line that makes me chuckle).
8. Looking ahead to Sunday’s road game against the rebuilding Dolphins (1-5), who are coming off their first win of the season — an upset of the host Jets. They lead the NFL in snaps played by rookies. They looked physical against the Jets, with an effective running game and QB Malik Willis played his best game of the season, according to first-year head coach Jeff Hafley. Mike Vrabel knows Willis from their time together in Tennessee. It’s a game the Patriots should have, but as they say, “any given Sunday.”