Will the Patriots Win the Superbowl Again

FOXBOROUGH, Mass. — There were moments in Gillette Stadium on Sun when yous understood why the Buffalo Bills were at various points of the season considered one of the AFC's favorites.  They take a good coaching staff, an elite quarterback and a very skillful defense.

There's no denying that the AFC East title now runs through Buffalo after years of authorization past New England. You could hear the disappointment in the Foxborough faithful when they booed their hometown team. You can meet information technology when they headed for the exits with 2:thirty left in the game.

Life inverse forever when Tom Brady left in 2020. The road to NFL supremacy isn't easy. It's a roadmap where yous need talent and some luck. The Patriots accept a flake of both, but clearly not enough to be considered Super Basin favorites right now.

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Everyone wants another Super Bowl. Anybody wants to see that seventh banner hanging in Gillette Stadium. Everyone dreams of a Patriots-Tampa Bay Buccaneers Super Bowl in which Beak Belichick faces off against Brady. How fun would that be?

For a moment this flavour, information technology seemed possible. During the Patriots' vii-game win streak, information technology certainly felt like it. Then, afterwards the bye week, the Pats came out flat in Indianapolis followed by an embarrassing 33-21 home loss to the Bills on Sunday.

Two losses in a row to AFC playoff contenders should tell you what you need to know about the 2022 Patriots: Their fourth dimension isn't at present.

That doesn't mean this season is a disappointment. For that to be the example, the Patriots would accept to miss the playoffs. At this point, the Pats are more than likely headed for an AFC wild-card spot. However, over the last couple of weeks, the Patriots have been exposed in multiple areas.

Hither'southward what nosotros've learned almost the Patriots over the final two weeks:

Nosotros overrated the defense

The Patriots could handle trading Stephon Gilmore. J.C. Jackson has put together a Pro Bowl flavour and Jalen Mills has been solid. That being said, the Patriots couldn't afford to lose Jonathan Jones.

Jones was the second-best cornerback on the team behind Jackson. When the Pats lost him to a season-catastrophe shoulder injury, they lost a piece that has get incommunicable to supercede.  Example in point was Isaiah McKenzie on Sun. Myles Bryant has given a valiant attempt this season, simply he has struggled in coverage.

Bryant entered this week having allowed 77% of passes targeted to receivers he'southward covering to be defenseless. On Sunday, his assignment, McKenzie had a career-game with eleven receptions for 125 yards.

The Patriots couldn't stop the Bills backup slot receiver.

They as well couldn't generate a laissez passer blitz, which has been incredibly disappointing exterior of Matthew Judon. Later on Judon's 12 ½ sacks, Kyle Van Noy is next with iv sacks. Entering this season, many idea the combination of Judon, Van Noy, Dont'a Hightower, Josh Uche and Hunt Winovich would bulldoze opposing quarterbacks crazy. The Pats entered last calendar week tied for 14th in total sacks. They failed to sack Josh Allen 1 time on Dominicus.

On paper, the Patriots should take an elite defense force, But it'due south fair to wonder if people overrated this group during their 7-game win streak. After all, they played the Bills in gale-force winds, beat Tennessee without A.J. Dark-brown or Derrick Henry and beat Cleveland without Nick Chubb or Kareem Hunt.

The Bills didn't punt one time on Sunday. Before that, the Pats allowed 226 rushing yards to Indianapolis.

"There's just nothing to talk nigh. Nosotros only have to go do it," said Pats rubber Devin McCourty. "It'due south that betoken in the season where you either get it done or you don't. That'southward where we're at and that'southward what we demand to focus on — getting better next week."

Mac Jones isn't set up to lead this law-breaking

Colts linebacker Darius Leonard didn't hold dorsum. He said his defense wanted to accept away the Pats' run game to see if Mac Jones could win a game for the Patriots. Then the Pats were held to just 81 rushing yards and Jones threw two costly interceptions.

On Sunday, it was articulate how the Patriots were going to get going on offense and it had nothing to do with their rookie quarterback. The product was from Damien Harris, who ran for 103 yards and scored three touchdowns.

If you're an NFL squad and you want to deadening down the Patriots law-breaking, the book is simple: Stop the Pats run on first or 2d down and force Jones to throw. On Sunday, the rookie completed a flavor-depression 44% of his passes, going 14-for-32 for 145 yards with two interceptions.

"There are no excuses and there'due south actually naught to talk about," said Jones. "I didn't play great. I tin can play better and I can lead a lot amend. Information technology starts with me."

Nosotros're not proverb Jones is a bad quarterback. Merely so far, Jones hasn't shown the ability to accept over a game. The Patriots need to run the brawl efficiently in order to win.

Part of the trouble isn't all Jones, either. He'south having an higher up-average rookie flavor, completing 67.two% of his passes for three,313 yards with 18 touchdowns and 12 interceptions. Historically speaking, he's better than well-nigh rookie quarterbacks.

One outcome we are seeing, however, is that he doesn't have a legitimate No. i receiver. Harris is the best player on offense. Hunter Henry is an in a higher place-average tight terminate. Jakobi Meyers (723 yards) and Kendrick Bourne (700 yards) accept been solid. However, is in that location a pass catcher on this squad that scares opposing defensive players?

If Jones had a height-tier talent, life would be easier for him. The Pats are paying Nelson Agholor (two years, $22 million) top-receiver money but aren't getting top-receiver production. Jonnu Smith (four years, $50 million) has as well been a disappointment.

The sky isn't completely falling

The odds are that the Patriots won't win the AFC Due east, just they're nearly guaranteed to make the playoffs. Even afterward the loss on Sunday, FiveThirtyEight has the Patriots playoff chances at 97%.

"It'southward upwardly to united states equally a team for what's left for the season," said McCourty. "Nosotros're guaranteed two more games and that's it. That's how nosotros've got to approach it. That'south the mentality and mindset we accept to have. If non, this season will not stop the way we want."

After losing on Sunday, the Pats dropped to the 6th seed in the AFC. If the playoffs started today, they'd travel to Cincinnati for the wild-carte game. If they won, they'd probably go to Kansas City. Good luck to them.

With the issues the Pats have shown on both sides of the ball, against two good teams, it's unlikely we'll see a long playoff run. That might be disappointing because where this squad was a couple of weeks ago when it was the summit seed in the AFC.

But coming off a vii-9 season, the Patriots take rebounded nicely in 2021. You'll have a playoff flavour with a rookie quarterback, merely banner seven doesn't wait like information technology's coming soon.

Not yet anyways.

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Source: https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/nfl/patriots/2021/12/27/new-england-patriots-afc-east-buffalo-bills/9023734002/

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