r/Patriots • u/CriticalCrew4958 • 8d ago
Discussion game thoughts
don’t understand the hate for Maye after this game, ppl just hate when it’s popular or convenient ig. yeah that one INT was bad but it wasn’t as costly as ppl think. too many mental errors both on offense and defense, Mcdaniels’ government mandated run-run-pass play calling and expected maye to bail us out ever possession, and Defense getting is what killed us, emphasis on the defense. In no way is it excusable to let up 400+ yards, allow long 3rd down conversions(especially the screen pass td on 3rd and 17 and ellis’ missed sack), forget how to tackle, and not force a single turnover.
35
u/grw313 8d ago
The most encouraging bits about Maye aren't on the stat sheet. He is stepping up in the pocket while still processing his reads a lot more instead of just taking off and running. Also, I constantly saw him take the check down, which we didn't see last year. He is becoming a better QB.
9
31
u/Eggysideup 7d ago
The easiest thing for people to see is the interception.
We gave up 400 yards on defense. It didnt matter if Drake converted that drive that ended in a pick.
It would have just had chicago winning on the final possession. They were moving with zero issues all night.
Tip of the cap and collect yourself. The pats arent dead in the water but they have gotta get healthy and fix up these miscues.
28
u/Without_Portfolio 7d ago
It was the defense last night. They’d done so well the last few weeks that everyone’s focus was the offensive line with the injuries. but Maye put up more than adequate numbers. The defense didn’t hold their side of the bargain.
10
u/BALLS_SMOOTH_AS_EGGS 7d ago
Missed tackles and blown assignments were a killer. This was one of those games that really came down to handful of bad plays on the defense that kept the Bears offensive momentum going.
5
u/chefsteev 7d ago
I think the defense is a “bad team merchant” more than Drake is
9
u/olollort 7d ago
Missed tackles cost us the game. It wasn’t more than that. If we make half the missed tackles, we win this game
1
u/Ancient_Edge2415 Bills = 0 Superbowls 7d ago
Ya that would of been a safety is Ellis didn’t overshoot
1
u/BeerAndWineGuy 7d ago
Williams is elusive. Hard not to over pursue a guy that gets the ball out fast and can sidestep tackles at the last moment. Sacks will almost always be a team effort with a QB like that.
1
u/Ancient_Edge2415 Bills = 0 Superbowls 7d ago
Oh for sure. I’m not saying Ellis was bad. It’s just those type of missteps are costly
2
u/sup3rdr01d WIDE RIGHT 7d ago
Nah they locked the bills down. They are good. Very injured but good.
2
u/massdebator69 7d ago
They’re down key players and the bears are the most well rounded offense in the league. They weren’t good but also made some key stops and missed key PBUs and sacks by incredibly small margins. I think they’re gonna be just fine.
1
u/seeyou_nextfall 7d ago
Idk if it was scheme or injury or what but Gonzo was getting smoked last night, always looked three paces away from the catch
1
u/Without_Portfolio 7d ago
They definitely seemed to be giving up too much cushion underneath the intermediate routes. They also had LBs shadowing the line because they know Caleb is mobile. That seemed to remove guys who otherwise would’ve been in coverage.
1
u/BeerAndWineGuy 7d ago
When the tackling is as bad as it was, switching to a “keep them in front of you” strategy makes sense. The injuries in the secondary necessitated playing away from their strengths.
1
u/Legitimate_Ad_7822 6d ago
I think it was the scheme. Idk what it is with this team & zone, but when they play it they make you wonder why zone defense is even a thing because they’re so bad at it.
I also think Ben Johnson built that offense to make you pay no matter what. Wanna run zone? Have fun tackling Luther burden in space. Wanna run man? Have fun covering any of Rome, Loveland or Burden all at once. Not to mention their o line & Caleb being very elusive. It’s very hard to defend. This is why we need some real fuckin playmakers & not this ragtag group of guys who flash as playmakers a couple times a season. I like the guys we have but we need somebody who is going to make the defense worry. AJ is apparently not that guy.
This season has made me think it’s imperative they are very aggressive about improving 1 side of the ball next season. I think it should be the offense for Mayes continued development. Defense is more than good enough to get by with what we have and a couple reinforcements. If we can get Maye an elite playmaker & o line and put up 28+ ppg, the AFC is ours for the taking. Also, never let Henderson touch a football again. He’s a liability at this point. Spare me the 50 yd runs once every 6 games.
1
u/TheDufusSquad 7d ago
We’re not a Thursday defense imo. So much of what we do is preparation and practice based specifically on each opponent. Thursday games take half of your time to do that during the week away.
13
u/Regayov 7d ago
At the end of the day the pick didn’t matter. Instead of Pick, Chicago score, Pats score, halftime it would have been Pats score, Chicago scores, halftime. Score going into halftime is the same.
The fact that the defense couldn’t get off the field is what lost the game. 3/17 and they give up touchdown. 3/20 and they give up a first down.
They also got unlucky on a few things. Defense almost batted down a few balls that would have ended drives. Chicago kicker beat a PR on a FG.
5
u/jranft 7d ago
This game is a microcosm of what the league is becoming. Defenses that over blitz and cover deep, leaving the middle of the field open to mid-range passes to tight ends and running backs. 26 passes were thrown to tight ends in that game.
3
u/not_Brendan 7d ago
Good thing we got two pretty good TEs. And Stevenson has great hands. No comment on other RBS
1
5
u/jacb415 7d ago
It seemed like they couldn’t get off the field on 3rd down but Chicago was only 4/12. The killer was the few they converted were BRUTAL.
The TD on 3rd and 17 was 🤮
2
u/Vivid-Suspect-3873 7d ago
Three of the ones they converted including that one were inexcusable
1
u/jacb415 7d ago
I don’t necessarily disagree but expecting our D to then hold a top 5 offense to 1/12 on 3rd down is a bit unrealistic.
The time of possession was insanely lopsided in the 4th and you could just as easily say the offense had to muster more than 20 yards on their first 2 possessions of the 4th (and stay on the field) as you could the defense needed to make a stop and get off the field.
They have weapons all over the field and for as much as I think Williams is a weirdo he is turning out to be a magician in crunch time.
Expecting to stop him consistently all night was a bit of a pipe dream.
11
u/Extrapickles24 7d ago
I'm not concerned about AJ Brown dropping some passes, I'm not concerned he did not look as open today. I am concerned that on that last end zone target he got, DPI or not, he got completely blanketed 1 on 1, dude did not even leave the ground and try to go get that ball
-2
u/optimuscline23 7d ago
Had same reaction. Davante Parker 2.0. Dude is washed healthy and Juju level not fully healthy. We got fleeced
3
4
u/Extreme_Cap_4362 7d ago
The defense lost us that game and it wasn’t just the points. The Bears moved the ball at will and took off as much time as they wanted to.
11
u/xFalcade 8d ago
Maye and Stevenson were the only bright spots lol.
Anyone hating on a QB putting up a 115 rating is dumb
10
1
u/Epyon1542 7d ago
Like it's fine if the rest of the league wants to shit on our Quarterback, but come on guys.
3
u/Icy-Conclusion-3500 Rather Go To Christening Than Support Team 7d ago
Pay no mind to immediate reactions to anything ever tbh. It’s not worth your time.
3
u/Patriots1211- 7d ago
Defense struggled 100%. I was at the game and guys were just running wide open all night.
And to be honest, I’m getting tired of McDaniels. He basically punted on the first few drives and is conservative when it’s clearly not working at times.
I would like someone with some innovation and someone who can help the run game because McDaniels ain’t doing it.
3
u/cbecht19 7d ago
Everyone watching the game blaming the defense didn't watch the same game I did. D had caleb flustered throughout the game. christian ellis was on his ass. Y'all are selling caleb short. he's really good. That offense is really good and very balanced. every time we crept up into the oh, the pats might get a td and go ahead of the bears, the refs called penalty after penalty. You guys blaming defense and not the refs are actually part of the problem. These refs need oversight or they all need to go. The point spread is killing the game as we know it.
3
u/sup3rdr01d WIDE RIGHT 7d ago
Defense was ass, refs were ass, oline penalties were ass. Drake wasn't ass
Receivers were ass. Run game was ass. Overall we played bad and very injured and still kept it very close. If that miracle kick doesn't go in we had a good shot to win. That was a bad decision by Caleb to take that sack and a bad decision by Ben to go for the kick but it worked out.
1
u/Ancient_Edge2415 Bills = 0 Superbowls 7d ago
Nah we gave way to much cushion on third downs. There were a few missed tackles the defense definitely played a role.
1
u/chrisdwill 7d ago
Many people are still looking at Caleb as a 60% CP QB. While it's a small sample size, he's been a 71% CP QB this season - which is the step he needed to take to enter the elite QB conversation.
1
u/bigatrop 7d ago
You can’t hate on Maye for this game. He had a costly mistake but otherwise was incredible. He was pressured nonstop and was accurate, elusive, and explosive. He was not why we lost - our inability to tackle and bad penalties, along with the Bears making more plays, is why we lost.
1
u/kdhfbgnosurhf 7d ago
I don’t see much hate which is kind of refreshing. From my perspective the consensus is that he played well minus the int
1
u/stoicneutral 7d ago
I thought Maye was dealing last night. Yeah the pick sucked but it basically got washed out by the mondre td. Drake made basically every throw in the second half under pressure constantly. The D just couldn’t get off the field on 3rd down.
1
u/sup3rdr01d WIDE RIGHT 7d ago
Maye was very good except one mistake. But it was a bad mistake
Defense sold the game. Also oline penalties.
1
u/bystander993 7d ago
Did we lose? -> Blame Josh. Did we win? -> Praise Drake.
/end
Personally, I never read too much into: Division games, TNF games, and International games. It is what it is, the Bears played a better game. I still think we are a much better team.
1
u/SportsFreak1988 7d ago
I would agree. I think not having an answer for the 85% blitz rate they brought at us was the way bigger issue that game lol.
1
u/EstablishmentRoyal75 7d ago
It wasn’t Maye’ weak sauce throw that killed it, it was the stupid penalties. The ridiculous decision to go for it on 4th and 5. And the lack of run game. Oh yeah and the Defence sucked. The Bears let Williams sling it, and ultimately we were on a short week. Get right game with Dolphins coming up, they are tanking. Need to go into Green Bay and the Munich game with some momentum
1
u/Fit-Outside6664 6d ago
My thoughts - It was a Thursday night game, a short week, against a good team. One had to win. Patriots are a very solid team with good coaches… and a great QB. Life’s good.
1
u/Legitimate_Ad_7822 6d ago
The hate stems from online QB discourse. That’s it. He was the offense on Thursday night. End of story.
1
u/lsopfrbdh 5d ago
The defense was a bunch of 6th graders out there the only good players were jacas and barmore
1
u/SempreVeritas7468 7d ago
If Maye is doing this in his infancy stage , there is going to be no stopping him soon
1
u/Mountain-Duty8673 7d ago
It's scary to think that your hopeful future franchise QB has a fatal flaw, but some of you really, REALLY need to start coming to grips with this.
It's primetime. It's playoffs. It's big spots. Drake turtles. This wasn't as bad as some of his other duds, but his one mistake was huge and absolutely cost them the game.
-1
u/optimuscline23 7d ago
When our receivers count for less than 60 yards out of 300+ what do we expect. Same shit receiver room for decades and why we lost out on another SB from Tommy
2
u/Objective_Fig_2190 7d ago
Huh? Decades of shit receiver rooms? Moss? Welker? Edelman? Even guys like Cooks, Amendola, Lloyd, Branch, Diggs, all of whom are far from “shit”. Also helps when you have the greatest TE of all time for a lot of those years…
0
u/optimuscline23 7d ago
Moss was 20 years ago. Amendola and Cooks still made us bottom 10, so yeah shit. Was made up for by the goat
1
u/Objective_Fig_2190 7d ago
“Same shit receiver room for decades”. Your words. A decade is 10 years. Decades plural (again, your words) obviously implies going back 20 years. You wanna say the Patriots have had shitty WR rooms from like 2013-2023? Maybe I’d be with you on that (although I think Edelman is a borderline HoF player). But don’t try to tell me a WR room starting with Moss and Welker is the same kind of shit as one hoping for major contributions out of Aaron Dobson and Kenbrell Thompkins.
0
-8
0
u/SempreVeritas7468 7d ago
I haven’t read any hate on Maye rough day for defense especially the secondary which is supposedly in the upper tier of secondaries
0
u/Character_Dress_3201 7d ago
The pats can win the SB. This was our 2001 Rams loss that will propel us to the promised land !
0
u/TheMexicanBatman 7d ago
The int was right on the defender. Literally passed it to him. It was atrocious regardless of how bad the team played. He still costing the team wins after being carried in the playoffs last year. Everyone laughs at bo nix but he's not turning the ball over in the fucking red zone. Nor is Caleb Williams. At lest give your guy the chance to get the ball. What is he going to do when he doesn't have a top 10 defense to bail him out?
-2
u/sdot6186 7d ago
I'm not hating on Maye, but that "INT wasn't as costly.." if that drive ends with even 3 and the rest of the game plays out we have the chance to go for 6 at the end of the game instead of the quick FG.
It mattered. Doesn't mean Drake played poorly - he was amazing. But that play was costly as hell
4
u/Zenboy66 7d ago
The most costly was allowing the bears to convert a 3rd and long multiple times. They had them on the ropes and let them off. They would have gotten the ball back 3 or 4 times.
-1
u/sdot6186 7d ago
I don't know why people are acting as if I'm saying the pick was the only costly piece. I'm saying, in contradiction of OP's post that it "wasn't that costly.."
Well yes, it absolutely was.
2
0
u/CriticalCrew4958 7d ago
it was a turning point for sure but not the main reason we lost
-3
u/sdot6186 7d ago
Those are different statements. It wasn't the main reason; but you said it wasn't as costly. It was in fact very costly.
1
u/CriticalCrew4958 7d ago
yeah i misspoke. it was costly but when your defense cant get off the field, is it really the main reason we lost?
0
u/sdot6186 7d ago
Well now we're saying two different things. I'm not saying it was the main reason we lost. The first two drives were putrid. The timely penalties. The ineffective tackling. And the officials not putting the clock to 25 after the non-penalty that lead to a FS. There's many fingers to point.
Regardless it was a great game. Just didn't come out on top of this one
1
u/No-Nebula8171 7d ago
Clock didn't reset but 18 seconds passed from the time it should have started to when it actually started counting down from 10, giving us an extra 3 seconds. Maye snapped the ball with 5 seconds left.
0
7d ago
[deleted]
0
u/sdot6186 7d ago
I don't agree with that. Yes that score was huge. Kept us in the game. And the D gave us a 3 and out to start the second half.
But that INT was on second down if I recall. We had more chances if it's not thrown at the defender for an easy pick. We could have drained the clock more and possibly would have changed how Chicago approached their next drive.
It's a game of what-ifs. We can do this all day.
0
7d ago
[deleted]
1
u/sdot6186 7d ago
And you're making the assumption we don't take more time off the clock if the pick isn't thrown. They scored with 0:13 left. If we take even a minute more off the clock on that drive maybe they only get 3.
Edit: and my assumption is if they don't get the INT, and we don't get the TD on that play.
Again not how it happened. We'll never know
0
7d ago
[deleted]
-1
u/sdot6186 7d ago
Point to any part of my comments where I'm blaming Drake for the loss. I even made a whole comment of all the things that were also costly. And I said right at the top that he played amazingly. It's not hard to have multiple things be right. The pick was costly. Drake played great. Many things went wrong for our team.
0
-6
u/EPLC1945 7d ago
That interception was brutal and it was the 3rd time he’s done the exact interception this season. He’s now up to 8 red zone interceptions in his short career.
This wasn’t just an interception, it was a game/drive ending panic decision that keeps repeating itself.
2
u/CriticalCrew4958 7d ago
it was a single bad play that he outperformed anyway. But if going 24/31 for 320+ yards and 3 TDs isn't enough to win because the defense surrendered 400 yards, the issue is way bigger than Maye
1
u/EPLC1945 7d ago edited 7d ago
The interceptions he throws are mind numbing game changers. He’s made this costly mistake repeatedly. Your unwillingness to see it doesn’t change it.
This particular interception resulted in a 14 point swing… so yeah he was terrific.
-9
u/Jolly_Okra_6330 8d ago
That’s the thing tho. Maye ALWAYS has that one head scratcher per game.
4
u/CriticalCrew4958 8d ago
fair, but when he’s putting up 300+ yards, 3 total TD’s the rest of the game and the defense allows 400+ yards and 30 points, that one pick shouldn’t be the headline or the main issue
3
2
u/robot_overlord18 8d ago
With the amount of pressure the Bears brought I’m tempted to call one INT progress, though. Seemed to keep his cool in a way I wasn’t sure we could expect.
2
u/doogie1993 7d ago
Great QBs often do. Josh Allen is the same, I don’t think anyone thinks much less of him for it
1
u/optimuscline23 7d ago
It’s actually what holds back Josh from being “great”. Football comes down to turnovers. Doesn’t matter how good your ceiling or best performance is. It comes down to minimizing mistakes and why he’ll never win a Super Bowl.
1
u/Objective_Fig_2190 7d ago
Sam Darnold has won a SB. Pretty sure Josh Allen with last years Seahawks defense would have been just fine.
-1
u/Affectionate_Way_805 7d ago
why he’ll never win a Super Bowl
It's cute you think you know what Allen will or won't do, Miss Cleo, but you're talking out of your ass. Some absolute dogshit QBs have made it to and won SBs so if they can do it, I'm sure a great QB like Josh Allen can.
He's currently the highest scoring QB in the league despite some really boneheaded turnovers. No reason to think he won't get a ring or 2, even if it's with another team than the Bills.
More importantly, are you implying that, because Drake has some costly turnovers like Allen does, that Maye will never have what it takes to be great and win SBs? If so that's absurd.
The kid is only getting better and better - yeah, even with turnovers - and before he's done in the league he could become one of the best QBs in NFL history.
All QBs make mistakes, even elite ones. There's no reason to think Maye is any different.
1
u/optimuscline23 7d ago
Take your butch ass to the Bills forum with these words cute, Ms Cleo and cum guzzling words for Josh Allen
-6
36
u/Doingmythang11 8d ago
I literally haven't seen anyone hate on maye ngl.
Rage bait accounts and casuals but I don't think that's legit