The Patriots made too many mistakes to upset the Los Angeles Rams on Sunday, but despite dropping to 3-8 on the season for the first time in a long time there were signs of better things to come. Most of those came on the offensive side of the ball, where Drake Maye once again looked the part as the Patriots franchise quarterback.
But that wasn't the only aspect of the rebuilding Patriots that offered some promise for the future. There were elements on display that should have the fanbase excited about what could be down the road with an offseason of further development and potential personnel additions on the horizon.
*Let's start with Maye, who turned in the best performance of his six starts thus far. His first half was about as good as it gets for a rookie. He handled the Rams fierce pass rush to perfection, alertly avoiding hits while keeping his eyes downfield on his targets.
His first quarter throw to DeMario Douglas crossing the field while absorbing a hit from Michael Hoecht and dealing with a safety blitz was outstanding. Maye took the hit to his right hip while elevating his arm angle before throwing to Douglas in stride, then watched his slot receiver turn it upfield for a 28-yard gain.
Maye also showed a willingness to check it down for modest gains, which allowed the offense to stay ahead of the chains and keep the ball. It's common for young quarterbacks to force the ball down the field too often rather than take the safe throws for positive yardage. Maye is still learning in that regard, but he was able to use Hunter Henry and Rhamondre Stevenson effectively in that manner against the Rams.
There were some mistakes as well – two more turnovers that ultimately led to defeat – but considering what he's working with and his limited experience, Maye is developing into a frontline quarterback before our eyes. Even Rams coach Sean McVay came away impressed.
"You can really see his ability to create off schedule," McVay said. "I thought he did a great job of being able to make plays in the pocket today, extend drives. I thought he was patient, taking some underneath check-downs where guys were able to create. We had tighter coverages, and he was able to fit the ball into tight windows.
"He looks like a stud. I didn't do too much work on him coming out. I do know a lot of people that studied him really hard who I truly respect their opinions loved what he was all about. You can see just the impact that he has on his teammates, the way people talk about him here. He looks like he's going to be a special player for a long time, and he gave us fits today."
*Along those lines, Alex Van Pelt deserves some credit for the development Maye has shown thus far. Many evaluators during the pre-draft process felt Maye was going to need time – some thought at least a year – to be ready for NFL action. Van Pelt has Maye looking like a seasoned veteran after only six starts, and the first-time play-caller is also showing signs of improvement in that department.
Two weeks ago in Chicago, Van Pelt designed a nice sequence near the goal line when he used Ja'Lynn Polk as an inline blocker on the right side of the formation, then shortly thereafter slid the rookie to the same spot on the left side. After setting up the play with the previous run, Polk slid past the corner and was wide open for an easy touchdown.
This week Van Pelt reached into his bag of tricks and used Vederian Lowe as a tackle eligible, and the big guy was uncovered for another easy short touchdown throw. More conventionally, Van Pelt is finding ways to better incorporate tight end Austin Hooper as well as Douglas in the screen game. It all added up to a season-high 382 yards of total offense, the high-water mark for the season, and Van Pelt's fingerprints were all over the success.
*Van Pelt also gave us a glimpse of Marcus Jones on offense. Although the corner saw just two snaps, one of which resulted in a 5-yard end-around, Jones' presence on that side of the ball gives the group a dynamic playmaker, something that is sorely lacking in the Patriots attack. Jones' continued use could lead to some chunk plays and perhaps provide an easier path to points.
*Kendrick Bourne responded to last week's "benching" in Chicago and turned in his best game of the season. Bourne always brings infectious energy but at times lacks attention to detail, particularly in his route-running. But healso possesses the ability to ad-lib, and given Maye's ability to perform off script the two seem to be fitting in well.
Bourne caught all five passes thrown his way against the Rams, resulting in a team-high 70 yards. He consistently worked back toward the quarterback to make himself available, and Maye found him as an outlet consistently. After sitting and watching against the Bears, Bourne was ready to go when his number was called and gave hope that he could serve as the veteran of the receiving group going forward.
*The defense didn't not play well against the Rams but that did little to dampen the enthusiasm surrounding the return of Christian Barmore. After sitting out the first 10 weeks of the season due to problems with blood clots, Barmore returned for 21 snaps and finished with three tackles. His presence on the field alone provided a boost, but when he gets more acclimated with some practice reps his performance figures to improve as well.
*Despite the shoddy defensive effort, the Patriots look to have two young pieces that should be part of the puzzle in the future. Christian Gonzalez and Keion White, the team's top two draft picks in 2023, both have played well for much of the season. Gonzalez has been an effective cover corner while White has provided pressure all year up front. The pair should be building blocks for the defense next season.
Head scratchers
Jerod Mayo is still finding his way as a first-year head coach but there were a few decisions made in the Rams game that were worth second-guessing. The one that received the most attention – the choice to kick a field goal on fourth-and-goal from the 2 trailing 21-10 midway through the third quarter – certainly fell into that category.
Even the Rams seemed surprised by the conservative approach, but in all honesty, I didn't find the decision to be egregious. Joey Slye's kick got the Patriots back within one score at 21-13, which was a more beneficial spot to be in than a failed fourth down attempt would have been.
After the Rams added another touchdown to make it 28-13, the Patriots found themselves in a familiar spot. Maye's touchdown pass to Lowe cut the lead to nine, but unlike a month earlier in London when Mayo opted to go for twoin a similar spot, this time he sent Slye out for the PAT.
In full disclosure, kicking the extra point makes more sense, cutting the lead to one score in the fourth quarter. Mayo, and many analytics experts, insist that going for two down nine is the right call because it allows you to know what you need for the remainder of the game. But whichever philosophy is right is irrelevant; the head coach changing course over the span of a month is concerning, and the Rams game actually would have been more conducive to going for two because there was 12:45 still to go, leaving the Patriots more time to make up for the lost points. In London, only 8:33 was left on the clock, making the two-point conversion much more crucial.
Ultimately the kick was blocked and the Patriots found themselves in the same spot as against the Jags – still down two scores in the final quarter.
Earlier in the game Mayo opted to punt on fourth down from the Rams 37 rather than send Slye out for a 55-yard field goal. This call is more understandable, though, as Slye struggled in that direction during pregame, missing from 48, 53 and 58. The kicker explained after the game that he and Mayo felt that distance was pushing the limits of his range and the choice to punt was likely a wise one.
Power 5
1. Detroit (9-1) – The Lions continue to dominate and take over the top spot.
2. Buffalo (9-2) – Josh Allen and the Bills knocked the Chiefs off the perch.
3. Kansas City (9-1) – Despite the loss, Patrick Mahomes isn't going anywhere.
4. Pittsburgh (8-2) – Huge win over the rival Ravens lifts the Steelers.
5. Philadelphia (8-2) – Still don't truly believe in Nick Sirianni but the Eagles talent is undeniable.
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
