The Patriots were looking (again) to stack wins together. And they failed to do so, falling to the Rams 28-22. Matthew Stafford carved up the Patriots’ defense with WRs Puka Nacua and Cooper Kupp.
/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/25739613/usa_today_24785514.jpg)
The Rams’ running backs averaged five yards per carry and owned the line of scrimmage offensively. Every possession ended in the Patriots’ territory until the fourth quarter.
The Patriots’ offense put together a very good game, with Drake Maye passing for 282 yards (257 net) and the running game churning out another 125. It was the most yards the team has had all year.
But conservative play-calling cut down on their points while head-scratching moves on defense played right into the Rams’ hands. Sean McVay and his coaching staff were surprised that the Patriots took their best defensive player out of the game with curious game-planning.
So, here are our grades this week for the Patriots-Rams game.
Quarterback: B
Drake Maye had a very good day, considering the limitations of the Patriots’ roster. They want to take shots down the field, but he doesn’t have the time to do so, and he’s been very good at reading the defense, getting the ball out early and being accurate in the short/intermediate game.
He shredded the Rams in the short passing game despite being under a lot of pressure at times. And while I have been critical of the coaching staff, especially in the area of play-calling, the job they’ve done with him is outstanding. Because these things were supposed to be the weaker parts of his game.
“He looks like a stud,” Rams’ coach Sean McVay said. “I didn’t do too much work on him coming out. I do know a lot of people that studied him really hard — that I truly respect their opinions — loved what he was all about. You can see just the impact that he has on his teammates, the way people talk about him here.”
Maye ended up 30-40 for 282 yards with two touchdowns and the game-sealing interception. He also was strip-sacked in the first half. On the interception, there seemed to be a communication issue with Maye and Demario Douglas. Douglas never turned around and was expecting the ball more toward the seam, while Maye seemed to be throwing a post.
Running Backs: B-
Rhamondre Stevenson had the same output as the week before, with 20 carries for 73 yards (3.7-yard average). He had a couple of nice runs, showing his ability to cut back with speed and power, and had a nice blitz pickup on Maye’s second touchdown pass. He added four catches for 16 yards.
Antonio Gibson had just four carries for 18 yards and a single catch on one target for two yards. It has been surprising, at least here, that Gibson hasn’t been used more as a pass catcher in the offense.
JaMycal Hasty had two carries for two yards and Marcus Jones got a carry for five more in the first offensive snap of the season for him.
Wide Receivers: B
This was a very good game for Kendrick Bourne on Sunday. Last week he dressed but didn’t play, as the coaches wanted to see the younger players get some work. This week was the best he’s looked since returning from his ACL injury. He caught five passes on five targets for a team-leading 70 yards and a touchdown. He’s looking more and more like the Bourne of last year again.
Pop Douglas had five catches for 59 yards and was immense early in the game as he and Maye were working together well underneath the coverages. Kayshon Boutte shook off a couple of early drops, although one of which had the sun in his eyes, to make four catches for 33 yards.
Ja’Lynn Polk wasn’t targeted and was flagged for a false start on a fourth-and-1. Jerod Mayo said he was certain the play would have gone for a touchdown… but regardless, the play clock was at zero anyway.
Tight Ends: B
Hunter Henry had a team-leading six receptions for 63 yards. He’s so reliable, he finds the open spots for Maye to hit him with the ball over the middle. He and Maye have built some really nice chemistry together.
Austin Hooper had a nice day catching four passes on four targets for 35 yards, including a nice 19-yard reception. Jaheim Bell was targeted once. The tight ends helped the passing offense on Sunday putting up a combined 10 catches for 98 yards.
Offensive Line: C+
The Patriots offensive line was a bit of a mixed bag on Sunday but although the offense left some points on the field, they had their highest yardage output of the season with nearly 400 yards. So it is hard to find too much fault in their game.
Vederian Lowe had his ups and downs. He received a holding penalty, and he and Michael Jordan had communication issues on a stunt, which resulted in a sack. But on a tackle-eligible play, he caught a 4-yard touchdown pass from Drake Maye, his first as a pro. Who doesn’t like seeing the fat guys scoring a touchdown?
Michael Jordan had some issues with the Rams’ big guys in the running game. He was put on skates a few times in pass protection. He, rather than Lowe, should have been called on the illegal formation penalty. He lined up too far back, and Lowe matched up with him.
However, the Patriots played their best balanced game of the year. They passed for 257 net yards and ran for 125 more.
Defensive Line: C-
The Patriots’ defensive line lost the battle with the Rams’ offensive line on Sunday. The Rams’ running backs averaged five yards per carry. They were led by Kyren Williams, who had 15 carries for 86 yards.
The Rams were getting good yardage inside before hitting on some stuff to the outside. The Patriots’ backers inside weren’t closing the gaps. On one instance in the third quarter, they had two players filling one gap… They were missing some players, but it was great to see Christian Barmore back on the field, even in just a limited role.
Linebackers: C-
On a day when the linebackers weren’t getting any kind of consistent pressure on Stafford, Keion White was the best on the edge, giving the Rams the only real trouble they had with the front seven.
Jahlani Tavai had seven tackles, but Christian Ellis struggled in the game. But with the team banged up and Sione Takitaki playing injured, their hand is forced a bit. Anfernee Jennings had two tackles and a QB hit.
Secondary: C-
Matthew Stafford, Puka Nacua, and Cooper Kupp skewered the Patriots’ secondary on Sunday. Stafford completed 18-27 passes for 295 yards (10.9-yard average per pass play), four touchdowns, and 0 INTs for a passer rating of 142.7. He wasn’t pressured for most of the game (6 total) and wasn’t sacked once.
Rewatching the game, I noticed that the Rams’ presnap motion was a huge issue that the secondary never truly got a feel for. There looked to be confusion often, and Stafford made them pay. I don’t see why the Patriots didn’t move Gonzalez inside more with LA’s tight formations and attempt to single up with their top two WRs.
Jonathan Jones had a rough game; three of the touchdown passes were his responsibility.
Special Teams: C+
The ST units were led by Joey Slye, who was 3-3 on field goals. He had a blocked extra point, but that looked to be some excellent scheming by the Rams rather than a low kick by Slye. Bryce Barringer averaged only 37 yards on his two punts, with one inside the 20.
Javon Baker had two kickoff returns for 62 yards, including a 46-yarder, but was benched by Mayo. More below.
Coaches: D-
The coaching staff and I’ll start with Mayo, are so ultra-conservative on offense while they were madly aggressive on defense. They blitzed Stafford 18 times and didn’t get home. That is a recipe for disaster. They went with the Cover Zero blitz four times, and Stafford was 4-4 for 92 yards and three touchdowns…ouch.
The Patriots, with their best offensive player, Drake Maye, at the helm, are the polar opposite. They are so conservative that they play to stay close rather than let their young quarterback make plays, which can sometimes be frustrating to watch.
They were down two scores and had a fourth-and-goal at the two-yard line. They elected to kick a field goal. While that situation can sometimes be sound, the other factor was that the Rams were shredding the defense.
Demarcus Covington is a rookie defensive coordinator and he saw first-hand what Sean McVay could scheme up. He (and Mayo) were taken to school. Other than a lot of wasted time late in the game where the offense got discombobulated, AVP called a good game. But they have to get better at taking advantage of opportunities.
But then there were the quotes.
Mayo said on Monday about the Baker benching, “He didn’t execute the way we had all hoped he would.” That was one of two curious quotes by Mayo. His other was a total head-scratcher.
“I never really felt like they had control of the game. I felt like we had control of the game.”
As Dick Enberg used to say… “Oh My!” Yesterday, I used the Laura Dern quote from Jurassic Park on control. Whatever, he actually told the team this. And I have to wonder what the reaction was when you trailed a team for the last 36 minutes.
We’re on to Miami and playing the Dolphins in the warm Florida weather. Where the Patriots always play so well. (I looked and can’t find the sarcasm font)
