The New England Patriots obviously didn’t have the Week 1 they were hoping for. Not only did they lose in a horrible fashion, but they also lost A.J. Brown for the foreseeable future due to a high-ankle sprain.
This was arguably the worst opening game Patriots fans can remember, so let’s take a look at the panic meter in New England. What are the biggest concerns? Were there any bright spots? What can the Patriots do to fix their issues? There are many questions that need answering, so let’s dive in.
The Patriots were disappointing to say the least
Many fans and NFL media personalities thought the Patriots would come out absolutely firing on all cylinders.
That was not the case.
After running the ball on first down 14 times, it’s obvious the play calling needs some rejuvenating. I was definitely confused by the bland play-calling from an offensive guru like Josh McDaniels, and it’s something that needs to be fixed immediately, especially when you have the MVP runner-up at quarterback.
Before Brown was injured, I thought they could’ve fed him the ball much more than they did. You finally have a number one weapon, and you decide to run a dive play 14 times on first down. Many fans were baffled by the play calling, and they had every right to be. You need to open up the playbook and let Drake Maye get into a groove instead of handcuffing your best asset.
Now don’t get me wrong, Maye deserves some of the blame as well. You can’t throw an unnecessary pick when in field-goal range with the ability to go to overtime. That is unacceptable. However, I believe McDaniels could’ve done a lot more to help his young quarterback. The offensive line definitely improved from last season, which is nice, but Brown's injury pretty much deflated every Patriots fan on the planet.
Is it time to panic in New England?
The answer to this question is no.
It was week one, and everybody knows weird stuff happens during Week 1. For example, the Patriots lost to the Las Vegas Raiders in Week 1 last year, arguably the worst team in the league, and then made a Super Bowl run.
It’s a long season, and with Mike Vrabel at the helm, you know New England will likely be back on track in no time. Obviously, its star receiver being sidelined for at least four games is horrible, but it could’ve been much worse. Luckily, the Patriots will get him back this season, and they just need to hold on until he gets back. That is going to mean every other receiver stepping up in a big way.
I believe Romeo Doubs is going to be a huge piece of the puzzle here, even though he struggled and had a very bad drop. He will bounce back and likely turn into the engine of this offense, even when Brown comes back. Overall, fans need to trust Vrabel and realize that week one is always wild, so it’s not time to panic.
What can the Patriots do to get back on track?
It all starts with the play calling. I trust McDaniels to get things figured out, and he deserves that trust with his track record. He is one of the best offensive minds of this generation, and one bad game shouldn’t define him.
The second biggest thing is getting Maye back to his old self. In his best form, he’s a gunslinger, a playmaker, and an off-script player. He’s at his best on the run, making something out of nothing, and letting the ball rip downfield. That’s what the Patriots need to get back to with him. Opening up the offense will allow your best asset to wheel and deal against opposing defenses, and will build his confidence.
Overall, the Patriots need to just take a deep breath, let McDaniels and Maye cook, and just hang on until Brown gets back. And don’t forget to trust Vrabel.
Add us as a preferred source on Google