Patriots vs Saints Takeaways: Poor performance by New England results in another loss
This was supposed to be a come back week for the New England Patriots, but Sunday's game was anything but that. Instead the Patriots were shut out at home, falling to the Saints. And Mac Jones was benched for the second straight game. So it's clear things are not looking good for this team, with […]
This was supposed to be a come back week for the New England Patriots, but Sunday's game was anything but that.
Instead the Patriots were shut out at home, falling to the Saints. And Mac Jones was benched for the second straight game.
So it's clear things are not looking good for this team, with the issues at quarterback highlighting all the problems New England needs to straighten out.
FINAL SCORE: Saints 34, Patriots 0
Notable Plays
First Quarter
– Despite missing two top defensemen, the Patriots defense did not miss a step on the Saints opening drive. CB Shaun Wade had really good coverage on Michael Thomas, knocking the ball away from him. Ja'Whaun Bentley followed it up with an 8-yard sack on Derek Carr, getting right to him after the snap.
– On the Saints' punt, Jabrill Peppers was deep to catch, and seemed to make an interesting call. Instead of letting it go, Peppers opted to fair catch the ball on the six-yard line, providing New England with poor field position to start. Troy Brown had some words for Peppers when he returned to the sideline.
– The Saints get on the board first after Mac Jones is hit as he throws the ball, falling right into the hands of safety Tyrann Mathieu who runs it into the end zone for a 27-yard pick-six. Extra point is good.
– Demario Douglas hauls in a 24-yard pass from Jones, with the rookie having a highlight catch once again. After the play, Saints cornerback Marshon Lattimore was flagged for unnecessary roughness, providing the Patriots with an additional 15 yards.
New Orleans challenged that the catch was completed, but ended up loosing the challenge, resulting in the Saints losing a timeout.
– Chad Ryland attempts a 48-yard field goal and it went wide left.
Second Quarter
– Alvin Kamara punches it in on a two-yard touchdown run to get another six points on the board for the Saints. The extra point is good.
For the fourth time this season, the Patriots are trailing by double digits in the first half… and they have only played five games.
– Derek Carr connects with Chris Olave in the end zone for a 5-yard touchdown pass, providing the Saints with a 21 point lead.
This is the first time this season that the Saints have scored more than 20 points in a single game.
HALFTIME SCORE: Saints 21, Patriots 0
Third Quarter
– Mac Jones attempts to pitch the ball back to Rhamondre Stevenson, but the ball is high and ends up hitting off him and falls to the ground. Saints' Cam Jordan recovers.
– Saints kicker Blake Grupe nails a 54-yard field goal.
– The Patriots opt to punt despite being in Saints territory on a 4th and 3… and they are down by 24 points.
– Mac Jones attempts to hit Ty Montgomery, but he can't hold onto the ball after getting hit resulting in an interception.
– The Saints keep on going, with Carr hitting TE Foster Moreau for a six-yard touchdown.
Extra point is good.
Fourth Quarter
– Mac Jones was benched once again with the Patriots trailing 31-0 and it was Bailey Zappe who replaced him. And Zappe was met with a large cheer from the crowd as he took the field (probably the loudest cheer of the day).
– Patriots go for it on 4th-and-2 from their own 35, but Rhamondre Stevenson can't get any gain on the play resulting in a turnover on downs.
– Blake Grupe makes a 53-yard field goal for the Saints.
OLB Matthew Judon
G Cole Strange
WR Kayshon Boutte
T Tyrone Wheatley
T Calvin Anderson
QB Will Grier
Saints Inactives List
TE Juwan Johnson
S Lonnie Johnson Jr.
QB Jake Luton
G Andrus Peat
WR A.T. Perry
DE Kyle Phillips
OL Landon Young
Observations:
– The Patriots honored Boston Red Sox legend Tim Wakefield and former TE Russ Francis who passed away this week prior to Sunday's game.
– Coming off injured reserve prior to Sunday's matchup, Riley Reiff replaced Atonio Mafi during the first quarter at left guard.
Injuries (during the game)
– Demario Douglas (head) was marked questionable to return in the second quarter and was downgraded to out.
-Michael Onwenu (ankle) was marked as questionable, but downgraded to out.
-JuJu Smith-Schuster was sandwiched between two Saints defenders, suffering a harsh helmet-to-helmet hit. He was taken into the blue medical tent and was immediately ruled out.
– Jabrill Peppers (illness) is marked questionable to return in the fourth quarter. He returned.
– Patriots LB Ja'Whaun Bentley is marked as questionable to return with a shoulder injury late in the fourth quarter.