Glendale, Ariz. — The Patriots traveled to the desert after the bye week, hoping to finish strong over the last four games of the 2024 season.
Although they were already eliminated from postseason contention, four quality efforts from head coach Jerod Mayo's team could've been a springboard into the 2025 offseason. The Patriots are young, from a first-time head coach and personnel chief to a rookie quarterback. They were expected to take their lumps in the first season under Coach Jerod Mayo and Eliot Wolf. All you wanted to see from this group in their final four games was a competitive showing against the hardest remaining strength of schedule in the NFL by some metrics.
Unfortunately, the Patriots couldn't muster any momentum in a 30-17 loss to the Cardinals on Sunday, where Arizona led 23-3 in the fourth quarter before two late touchdown drives by New England. For all intents and purposes, the Patriots weren't overly competitive in this one.
The story of the game was that New England finished 0-6 on third down while getting stuffed on consecutive runs needing one yard, resulting in a turnover on downs on a promising drive that ended on the Arizona four-yard line in the second half. On the other side, the Cardinals offense was 10-15 on third down. The late-down execution and discrepancy in big plays were the Patriots demise on Sunday, which the coaches and players lamented in the post-game scene at State Farm Stadium.
Until he threw deep to wideout Kayshon Boutte in the third quarter, rookie QB Drake Maye didn't attempt a pass over 10 air yards, with a passing script that emphasized getting the ball out quickly because the Pats expected a blitz and man coverage-heavy approach by Arizona's defense. Overall, the Cardinals played man coverage on 34.5% of Maye's 29 drop-backs and blitzed 11 times. The Pats approach led to Maye having 82 passing yards on 12 completions through three quarters, while averaging just -0.6 air yards per pass attempt in the first half. On the turnover on downs, the Patriots loaded up with eligible offensive linemen for back-to-back traditional runs from under center. Maye, who entered the week ranked fourth among quarterbacks in rushing yards since taking over as the starter (342), wasn't given an opportunity to use his mobility as a threat to the defense on third or fourth-and-one.
With their defense allowing 30 points in the loss, the coaching staff might need to see if Maye can carry them to a win. Although it was in garbage time, the rookie began airing it out in the fourth quarter, where he went 7-for-7 for 120 yards and two scores while logging his only deep completion of the afternoon on a perfectly thrown go ball to WR Kendrick Bourne.
New England wants to use its last four games to see what it has roster-wise as it sets the table for 2025. The quarterback isn't the only piece to the puzzle, but it's time for them to let Maye loose and see if he can rise to the occasion with the game on his shoulders.
Here are nine takeaways as 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 performance vs. the Cardinals.
Going back to the draft, there was a debate about whether the Pats should've selected Harrison to build up the roster before taking a first-round quarterback. Ultimately, New England took Maye with the third overall pick, and Harrison Jr. went with the next pick to Arizona. With the promise he has shown, it appears that Maye was the right choice.
Nevertheless, it was still interesting to see Harrison Jr. up close, and he has a bright future, but Gonzalez was too good. On 21 routes shadowing MHJ, Gonzo allowed one catch for 23 yards on five targets with three pass breakups, including two pass breakups in the end zone to prevent touchdowns and multiple perfectly covered man coverage reps.
Gonzalez played textbook man coverage from out of phase on one of his pass breakups. Out of phase means he's initially beaten, but corners are taught to play the hands to get the ball out before the receiver completes the catch rather than turn around to find the ball. By playing that technique perfectly, Gonzo gets the ball out before Harrison can complete the process, forcing Arizona to settle for a field goal.
Along with Maye, the Patriots have two building blocks in their most recent first-round picks.
2. QB Drake Maye Doesn't Find a Rhythm in Sunday's Loss to the Cardinals
The lament for the Patriots rookie quarterback following the game was a lack of rhythm for him and the offense as a whole to start the contest.
New England's game plan to get the ball out quickly on short throws was aimed to get Maye into a rhythm. However, the Pats couldn't get into that flow where Maye said they could've started pushing the ball downfield more aggressively. Once the defense begins respecting the short game, throw it over the top, or that was the idea from this perspective.
On the stat sheet, Maye went 19-for-23 for 202 yards and two total touchdowns with one interception. The Pats rookie QB added +0.14 expected points, with that number increasing in garbage time to a respectable 61st percentile, so it's better than it felt watching live.
Although it didn't happen until it was too late, Maye's talent flashed in four plus plays in the fourth quarter. Maye set up one touchdown with a 39-yard bomb to Bourne, where he placed a go ball perfectly in the bucket on a big-time throw. Maye showed off his off-script ability to flip a touchdown to Pop Douglas to finish that drive with a touchdown.
On the downside, we had Maye with three "minus" plays based on live charting, with one sprayed throw on an open crosser, and he checked into a screen on third-and-10 where it looked like the offense expected the Cardinals to blitz.
On Maye's interception, this is split three ways. Maye purposely threw slightly behind Boutte to protect him from the deep safety, but the quarterback was a beat late to the dig on the high-low concept due to Cardinals NT Naquan Jones's pressure, which allowed the safety to enter the frame. Boutte should have made that catch, but center Ben Brown allowed the pressure, and Maye was a beat late as a result.
Overall, this was a weird game for Maye, who only felt like he really got going once the game was decided. The Pats need to start faster offensively.
3. Lack of Attention to Detail and Big Plays Sink the Patriots Defense
Speaking to reporters after the game, multiple Patriot defenders said the defense must focus more on the details to take their preperation from the practice field to the game field.
For example, Patriots safety Jabrill Peppers took responsibility for taking a poor angle on Cardinals RB James Conner's 53-yard run that was a huge play in the first half. Although he could've played it better, Peppers telling reporters that the Pats repped against that exact scheme in practice during the week but couldn't execute against it during the game was one thing that stood out from those on the defensive side of the locker room.
The other message that rang through the defense was about making sure they're prepared to defend the play before the ball is snapped. According to players, things like correctly aligning the front, pre-snap communication, and other details weren't sharp enough.
Along with the run defense giving up explosives, Arizona had man coverage beaters ready in the passing game. Cardinals QB Kyler Murray completed six passes for 107 yards when the Pats played man coverage. Eventually, New England adjusted away from man coverage, playing it 35.3% of the time, which is below their season average.
New England's defense is taking their share of the blame pie during a 3-11 season. The Patriots weren't sharp enough on the details, and it didn't feel like they were rallying to the ball with enough urgency to prevent positive gains from becoming explosives in Sunday's loss.
4. Patriots Offensive Line Struggles Continue in Loss to the Cardinals
We'll get into this more during the week as the O-Line struggles continue to be a consistent theme. On Sunday, the group was inconsistent again, especially early, where a holding penalty (Layden Robinson) and a sack prevented third-down conversions (Vederian Lowe). In all, left tackle Vederian Lowe allowed two quarterback pressures and three run stuffs based on live charting, while center Ben Brown had two low snaps.
In the short term, after allowing two hurries and having snapping issues, we might see OL Cole Strange take over at the center for Brown. The best thing Brown had going for him was a clean operation, with that in doubt due to Strange's inexperience at center. If Brown is not giving them that, it's time to get Strange involved. While discussing the Patriots upcoming roster moves this offseason, every conversation should start and end with ways to upgrade the offensive line.
5. RB Antonio Gibson's 29-yard Run is Something to Build on Offensively
Although it doesn't matter as much when you lose, the Patriots had some success running the ball, with running backs Rhamondre Stevenson and Antonio Gibson averaging over five yards per attempt (102 yards on 20 carries). The Pats RB duo has run the ball well recently, and they've incorporated Maye into that run game, but they need to do more of it.
For example, Gibson's 29-yard run came on a gap-read concept where the Patriots left the backside edge rusher unblocked. The thought is that the edge player will have to account for Maye, who could keep the ball around the corner if the defender vacates the edge. That gives the Pats a numbers advantage to the play side, while that slight pause allows Gibson to run away from the unblocked rusher, and the Pats running back is off to the races.
The Patriots have shown that they'll incoperate Maye's mobility into the scheme sometimes, but it might need to be a bigger part of the offense moving forward.
6. Patriots Give Opportunities to All Four Active Wideouts on Sunday
With only four wide receivers active for the game due to rookie WR Javon Baker's concussion, the Patriots spread the wealth with their wideouts on Sunday. Here were the snap counts for the Pats WRs: Kayshon Boutte (43), DeMario Douglas (29), Kendrick Bourne (25), and Ja'Lynn Polk (20). Rookie tight end Jaheim Bell also played four snaps on offense.
Speaking after the game, Boutte told reporters that the Patriots need to make defenses pay for coming out in man coverage against them. Boutte felt the team wasn't aggressive enough while attacking man coverage, using the word that they "shied" away from it at times. The onus is on these receivers to separate downfield vs. man coverage, but the play calls to get them running deeper downfield to make defenses pay for playing man-to-man could help as well.
7. LB Anfernee Jennings Flagged for Roughing the Passer, Wiping out Pats INT
One key turning point in the game came midway through the third quarter when it appeared the Patriots had intercepted Cardinals QB Kyler Murray at the Arizona 18-yard line. The Pats dialed up a well-designed blitz that produced a pressure for pass-rusher Yannick Ngakoue. Ngakoue forced Murray to leave the pocket, where he threw an ill-advised pass that Patriots corner Jonathan Jones picked off. However, Jennings, who closed on Murray from his zone drop to force a throw rather than a scramble, was called for roughing the passer for a high hit.
On replay, there doesn't appear to be much there. The explanation Coach Mayo got was that Jennings hit Murray too high near the head, and Murray was evaluated for a concussion before returning to the game. It was a tough call on the Patriots that wiped out a takeaway that would've likely led to points in a 16-3 game where a comeback was still possible.
8. Patriots K Joey Slye Goes 1-for-2 on Field Goal Attempts vs. Cardinals
With former draft pick Chad Ryland kicking for Arizona, current Patriots kicker Joey Slye went 1-for-2 with a make from 50 yards and a miss from 53 yards. Although it was a 50-plus miss, Slye has now missed seven field goals this season, with misses in back-to-back games. Last week, the Patriots signed kicker John Parker Romo to the practice squad, so we'll see how they approach the position moving forward.
9. Patriots Currently Hold Third-Overall Pick in 2025 NFL Draft
If you want to look ahead to the 2025 NFL Draft, the Patriots currently hold the third-overall pick in next April's draft at time of publish. At 3-11, only the Giants (2-12) and Raiders (2-11) are ahead of New England in the draft order. Vegas plays its Week 15 game on Monday night.
DISCLAIMER: The views and thoughts expressed in this article are those of the writer and don't necessarily reflect those of the organization. Read Full Disclaimer
