AP PHOTO
The Patriots dropped to 1-2 on the season after a frustrating 21-14 loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers. The Patriots turned the ball over 5 times (4 fumbles, 1 interception) in an uncharacteristically bad display of ball security.
It was missed opportunity to pick up a win and make a statement.
Here are seven thoughts on today’s loss.
1. 5 turnovers ruin the day: The Patriots lost for one reason and one reason only. Turnovers. They fumbled four times and Drake Maye threw an interception. It is inexcusable and yet another example of how far this has to go to figure it out and win. You can survive one turnover. Two turnovers or more is too many. You will lose.
2. Stevenson fumble problems return: Coming off of a vintage Rhamondre Stevenson performance last week, the hope was he would take the next step and cement himself as a top ten running back in the NFL. Nope. Instead, he fumbled twice and reverted to last season’s form. After fumbling on the goal line in the third quarter, Stevenson was benched and rightfully so. After the game, Mike Vrabel said that the staff was going to coach him up and that the team needs him the rest of this season. If Stevenson wants to remain the starting running back, he better clean things up and take care of the ball or he will find himself standing next to Vrabel a lot more.
3. Defense shakes off bad start: The defense got off to a bad start, surrendering two early scores but then bounced back to hold the Steelers to one touchdown and just 203 yards of total offense. The defense played well enough to win. Unfortunately, the offense turned the ball over too many times and it cost the team the game.
4. Maye continues to impress and frustrate: Drake Maye was once again brilliant at times and frustrating at times. He made plays with his arm and his legs but he also turned the ball over two times. After the game, Vrabel talked about Maye’s performance.
“A lot of good and unfortunately some decisions that have to be better. I’m sure we’ll have to protect him better. And just understanding that you don’t have to win it all on one play. There’s opportunities to move on and save the day the next play. You can’t put the ball in harm’s way at that position. But certainly Drake wasn’t alone. But there’s a lot of really good things in there, his ability to extend plays, scramble, pick up 1st downs for us, run multiple plays inside the pocket, outside the pocket. There’s a lot of good things in there, just some decision making that we need to have be better for him and for himself.”
Maye himself said that ultimately, he and the offense needs to be better.
“Yeah, just hurting ourselves. Yeah, it hurts. I think it’s one of those things that, yeah, just kept piling on. I think Morgan Moses brought the team together, brought the offense together, and we went back and we scored, hit Hunt, and yeah, we got the ball back tied. Yeah, it cost us. It hurts. It’s something to learn from. It’s a long season. The defense played their butts off, and the guys in the locker room are playing hard and they’re fighting hard. It’s tough, and it stings just knowing we hurt ourselves, and that’s what cost us.”
5. Henry has a big day: Hunter Henry was Maye’s go to target today and had a big day catching 8 passes for 90 yards and two touchdown. When Henry is on and is one of the main targets, he is tough to defend. He was today as the Steelers struggled to match up against him all afternoon. Unfortunately his performance went to waste with the Patriots turning the ball over 5 times.
6. Undisciplined play continues: Turnovers and penalties continue to be a problem. The Patriots continue to play undisciplined football and it came back to bite them again today. A visibly frustrated Vrabel talked about it after the game.
“We cleaned that up, but the penalties — called a couple defensive holds they called on them. You’d have to tell me that that penalty on Carlton Davis is actually defensive pass interference. That’s new for me. Again, I think that the turnovers are much more critical than the penalties, much more critical. You know, ball security comes down to technique. It comes down to other people protecting the guy with the ball, second guy in. Those are all things that we continue to talk about, have talked about, and will talk about. And decision making. Decision making when you have the football in your hand, whether that’s a quarterback, whether that’s a player that’s reaching it, and it gets knocked out. We’ll watch the tape and we’ll clearly address the ball security. We’ve got to move on. Fix it and move on.
If the Patriots want to turn things around this season, they better fix it and clean things up.
7. BAAAAD LOSS: The Steelers won here for only the second time since Gillette Stadium opened. It was their first win in Foxboro since 2008. Bottom line, the Patriots should have won this game but they have it away. Literally!