Glendale, Ariz. — The Patriots traveled to the desert after the bye week, hoping to complete sturdy over the past 4 video games of the 2024 season.
Although they have been already eradicated from postseason competition, 4 high quality efforts from head coach Jerod Mayo’s crew might’ve been a springboard into the 2025 offseason. The Patriots are younger, from a first-time head coach and personnel chief to a rookie quarterback. They have been anticipated to take their lumps within the first season beneath Coach Jerod Mayo and Eliot Wolf. All you wished to see from this group of their last 4 video games was a aggressive exhibiting towards the toughest remaining power of schedule within the NFL by some metrics.
Unfortunately, the Patriots could not muster any momentum in a 30-17 loss to the Cardinals on Sunday, the place Arizona led 23-3 within the fourth quarter earlier than two late landing drives by New England. For all intents and functions, the Patriots weren’t overly aggressive on this one.
The story of the sport was that New England completed 0-6 on third down whereas getting stuffed on consecutive runs needing one yard, leading to a turnover on downs on a promising drive that ended on the Arizona four-yard line within the second half. On the opposite facet, the Cardinals offense was 10-15 on third down. The late-down execution and discrepancy in huge performs have been the Patriots demise on Sunday, which the coaches and gamers lamented within the post-game scene at State Farm Stadium.
Until he threw deep to wideout Kayshon Boutte within the third quarter, rookie QB Drake Maye did not try a cross over 10 air yards, with a passing script that emphasised getting the ball out shortly as a result of the Pats anticipated a blitz and man coverage-heavy method by Arizona’s protection. Overall, the Cardinals performed man protection on 34.5% of Maye’s 29 drop-backs and blitzed 11 occasions. The Pats method led to Maye having 82 passing yards on 12 completions via three quarters, whereas averaging simply -0.6 air yards per cross try within the first half. On the turnover on downs, the Patriots loaded up with eligible offensive linemen for back-to-back conventional runs from beneath heart. Maye, who entered the week ranked fourth amongst quarterbacks in speeding yards since taking on because the starter (342), wasn’t given a possibility to make use of his mobility as a risk to the protection on third or fourth-and-one.
With their protection permitting 30 factors within the loss, the teaching employees may have to see if Maye can carry them to a win. Although it was in rubbish time, the rookie started airing it out within the fourth quarter, the place he went 7-for-7 for 120 yards and two scores whereas logging his solely deep completion of the afternoon on a wonderfully thrown go ball to WR Kendrick Bourne.
New England needs to make use of its final 4 video games to see what it has roster-wise because it units the desk for 2025. The quarterback is not the one piece to the puzzle, however it’s time for them to let Maye free and see if he can rise to the event with the sport on his shoulders.
Here are 9 takeaways because the Patriots drop to 3-11 on the season with a loss to the Cardinals in Week 15.
1. SERVPRO Spotlight: Christian Gonzalez’s Coverage on Cardinals WR Marvin Harrison Jr. a Bright Spot in Loss
In the silver linings column, Gonzalez continued to make his case for regular-season accolades with a stellar efficiency vs. the Cardinals.
Going again to the draft, there was a debate about whether or not the Pats ought to’ve chosen Harrison to construct up the roster earlier than taking a first-round quarterback. Ultimately, New England took Maye with the third general choose, and Harrison Jr. went with the subsequent choose to Arizona. With the promise he has proven, it seems that Maye was the best alternative.
Nevertheless, it was nonetheless attention-grabbing to see Harrison Jr. up shut, and he has a vibrant future, however Gonzalez was too good. On 21 routes shadowing MHJ, Gonzo allowed one catch for 23 yards on 5 targets with three cross breakups, together with two cross breakups ultimately zone to stop touchdowns and a number of completely coated man protection reps.
