Image courtesy if Michael Dwyer/AP Photo
FOXBOROUGH – What’s lower than rock bottom?
After a putrid performance in Dallas last weekend, the Patriots somehow one-upped themselves at home on Sunday, getting blown out by the Saints 34-0.
New England had just 156 of offense while the Saints forced three turnovers – including another pick six for Mac Jones – and once again, Jones was pulled late in favor of Bailey Zappe during garbage time. Now at 1-4, it seems as if this is the lowest point for the franchise in a long, long, long time.
“Obviously it was a poor performance today here,” said Bill Belichick. “So, just plain and simply, we’ve got to find a way to play and coach better than that. So that’s what we are going to do, start all over and get back on a better track than we’re on right now. Slow start. And then just couldn’t ever really get the game under control.”
The ugliness was apparent early on as both teams traded punts, and then Jones threw yet another pick-six, this time on the second New England possession. On third down, Jones was hit as he threw and a ball fluttered into the waiting arms of Tyrann Mathieu who brought it back 27-yards to put the Saints up 7-0.
On the ensuing possession, the Pats got a big leaping grab by Demario Douglas on third down and an unnecessary roughness flag for the hit, moving into Saints territory. The offensive struggles continued soon thereafter though, forcing a 48-yard Chad Ryland field goal attempt that was very wide left. The Saints swiftly moved down field and ended the first quarter looking at 2nd-&-goal from the Pats’ five.
Two snaps later, Alvin Kamara plunged in from the two to put New Orleans up 14-0. After another almost instantaneous three-and-out, the Saints needed just five plays to move 59 yards and go up 21-0 on a Chris Olave five-yard touchdown catch with 10:47 still left in the half.
New England did gain one first down its next drive, but ultimately had to punt again as the boos for the inept offense grew louder and louder. The teams traded punts again and the Pats showed some life in the final two minutes, reaching the New Orleans 39, but two sacks and another punt ultimately closed out the half and the team was showered with thunderous boos once again as they headed to the locker room.
New Orleans out-gained New England 203-76 in the first 30 minutes and the Patriots had just seven first downs on six possessions (punt, pick six, missed field goal, punt, punt, punt).
“For us, just…we’ve got to do better in all three phases,” said Jones. “Definitely the offense not putting up any points. Got to improve in all areas. And, you know, it’s hard, right, we don’t want to score zero points. It’s not the goal…it’s definitely hard, right, but confidence comes from years of experience and practice and things that you accomplish, but also trying to get better and learn from everything. So, definitely need to be better as an offense and I really feel like we need to take on the challenge and do what we can to be better.”
The putrid display continued three plays into the third as Rhamondre Stevenson dropped a pitch on third down and Cam Jordan recovered at the New England 29. The Saints settled for a 54-yard field goal to push the lead to 24-0. After several more three-and-outs, Jones was picked off again on the first snap of a series late in the third, giving the Saints the ball at the Pats’ 31 as Zappe chants grew louder and louder. New Orleans cashed in early in the fourth on a six-yard shuffle pass to Foster Moreau to make it 31-0.
The Saints tacked on another 53-yard field goal with just over five minutes left to make it a 34-point game.
So, now what? Well, according to Belichick, it’s time to start over. The problem is, things don’t get any easier with a trip to Las Vegas on tap – we all know how that went last year – and then a home matchup against Buffalo the week after.
“We all need to do a better job. It’s everybody, offense, defense, special teams, players, coaches,” he added. “We’ve just got to do a better job than we’re doing, includes everybody.”