Foxborough, MA – Several statistics illustrate the Patriots’ offensive woes following a 6-0 loss to the Chargers at Gillette Stadium on Sunday.
For the first time in their 64-year history, New England was forced to sit out two home games in the same season. The Patriots also became the first team in the Super Bowl era to lose three straight games while allowing ten or fewer points, and they are also the first team since 1950 to allow 26 points and all over a three-game span lost three games.
In the post-Brady era under head coach Bill Belichick, the Patriots were still able to win low-scoring games where their defense carried them and the offense made just enough plays to emerge victorious. These wins ensured the Pats remained relevant throughout the 2022 season. The defense should be holding its head high, but the offense is in such dire straits that Belichick’s team has fallen to 2-10, missing the wins that boosted their record a year ago. Wins over the Jets and Colts come to mind last season. These games are no longer going in their favor, and if that is the case, what else is left for this team?
The mood in the locker room after the game was that the defensive players felt defeated and the offensive players understood their frustration. New England has now tried two different starting quarterbacks, and with everything pointing to head coach Bill Belichick’s roster construction, Bailey Zappe has been as disappointing as Mac Jones.
Although the Chargers’ declines played a role in rainy conditions, New England turned in its best defensive performance in over a month on Sunday. Unlike the last two games, LA’s eighth-ranked offense features an all-star quarterback with notable talent players, and the Pats’ defense was well prepared for OC Kellen Moore’s offense. Despite the team’s record, the defense continues to play hard. The players and defensive staff deserve credit for continuing to pull the rope while the offense isn’t working.
“It’s about playing with pride. It’s about putting good stuff on film, representing your last name, representing your family. To go out there and compete because we’re 2-10, we’re not going to the playoffs. But it’s about pride, making good films that people want to see.
“Hold a top offense to six points. We hold them to six points and can’t even get into the end zone. I have nothing to hold on to. I’m proud of our defense. We have to close next week.” “You out. Goosebumps,” nose tackle Davon Godchaux told Patriots.com.
As a disgruntled Patriots fan, one can hope that the defense isn’t far from keeping up, especially considering the major personnel losses due to injuries. The other glimmer of hope is that with the Cardinals’ win over the Steelers, the Patriots now have the second overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft – #TheTanks is alive and well. That’s exactly where we are.
Here are eight observations as the Patriots fall to 2-10 on the season with a loss to the Chargers at Gillette Stadium on Sunday:
1. Powerful play presented by Enel: Chargers S Derwin James sacks QB Bailey Zappe on fourth down attempt in the fourth quarter
The defense deserves a lot of praise for its performance on Sunday, but we can’t in good conscience continue to highlight positive plays here when the Patriots are losing at this rate.
New England’s best chance to score came midway through the fourth quarter after the longest offensive play from scrimmage since Week 9. After a well-timed finish that saw second-year receiver Tyquan Thornton gain 39 yards, Zappe was sacked from behind -back-to-back plays to end the drive, including a sack on fourth-and-5 from the LAC 30.
Due to the rainy conditions, head coach Bill Belichick opted to play on fourth down instead of attempting a 47-yard field goal to make the score 6-3. Belichick said rookie kicker Chad Ryland was having trouble warming up with long distances because of the conditions.