New England Patriots: Review of dramatic loss to the Tampa Bay Bucs
The New England Patriots running game was historically dismal
A bad showing to say the least was the Patriots’ own non-rushing game. Basically, it didn’t exist for New England. At all.
The backs had eight carries for minus-one yards. That’s right, negative yardage. Nothing like putting inordinate pressure on your rookie quarterback to carry the load.
It can’t get worse. It didn’t exist all night. And yet they somehow managed to stay in the game and had a chance to win it at the end.
This was as pathetic a running performance by the team as they have had in their entire history. That’s since 1960 folks. It was a performance for the ages, an exercise in absolute futility.
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Not sure what other adjectives could describe this aspect of the offense except a complete and utter disaster.
Bell cow back Damien Harris had a grand total of minus one yards on four carries. Mac Jones could have fallen forward for more than that.
And J.J. Taylor fumbled. That’s an every game occurrence it seems as the Patriots lost the turnover battle zero to two. Forget about winning against a team like Tampa Bay if you give away the rock.
A disgraceful performance from the backs and the offensive line. And a favorite subject, the offensive line, opened no holes for them at all.