The Patriots struggled to get anything going on offense and despite the defense holding Miami to 13 points, they lost 20-7. The Patriots are now 9-13 in Miami under Bill Belichick.
Here are seven points I am making about today’s game.
1. Offensive struggles continue: The offensive problems that plagued the Patriots in the preseason continue to be an issue today. The offensive line continued to struggle, Patricia abandoned the run and Mac Jones had some vertical accuracy issues. It was a forgettable performance overall.
- Blown protection on the strip sack: The strip sack, scoop and score was an operational failure across the board. Jones didn’t see it pre-snap and communicate it to the offensive line or Hunter Henry. Subsequently the offensive line didn’t pick it up and Henry free released without getting a piece of Bryon Jones. The end result was a sack fumble recovered for a touchdown. The play speaks to all of the issues the offensive line and Jones have had this pre-season.
3. 4&7 score was a back breaker: The defense played well but giving up the 42 yard touchdown pass on 4 and 7 right before the half was a back breaker. Belichick takes pride in coaching situational football and situational awareness. The Patriots failed miserably at both on that play. It is hard to be hard on the defense because aside from giving up this score, they held Miami to two field goals but it was a big play in the game and it proved to be costly.
4. Mac hurts his back: Mac Jones had x-rays on his back after the game. The x-rays came back negative but it was a concerning development nonetheless. The last thing this team needs right now is Jones being hurt.
5. Abandoned the ground game: I though Patricia abandoned the running game after the second series. The Patriots couldn’t get into a rhythm offensively and instead of using the running to slow things and get back on track, the Patriots decided to get more aggressive in the passing game. It made no sense to me.
6. Bourne identity? Has anyone figured out why Kendrick Bourne didn’t play until six minutes left in the fourth quarter? He was clearly in the doghouse but why? Bourne made it sound after the game like it was an effort thing but unless he spent last week walking around in practice, he should have played more. He was the team’s best playmaking receiver last season. Inexcusable that he didn’t play until the fourth quarter.
7. Miami misery: The misery in Miami continues. The Patriots cannot win there it seems. Not only that but they have lost their last four in a row to the Dolphins. Remember the good ol days when Miami was an automatic win. Not anymore. Now Dolphins fans count the Patriots as an automatic win.