The erratic Patriots seemed unprepared to rally against the Dolphins, and that’s on the coach
FOXBORO, Mass. – The Patriots lost their chance for a late-game comeback victory over the Miami Dolphins at Gillette Stadium on Sunday afternoon. But because these are the 2024 Patriots, and because these are the 2024 Dolphins, the Pats were given a gift second chance for a late comeback win. And they ruined that one too.
Final score: Dolphins 15, Patriots 10.
We’ll get into the details of these two discs in a moment. But first, let’s get to Patriots coach Jerod Mayo’s post-game press conference.
“Not to sound like a broken record…” Mayo said, and we pause here for a moment to make a few observations about press conferences, whether sports, politics or entertainment. Like when someone says, “I personally like so-and-so…” (Fact: That means they actually hate so-and-so.) Or when they say, “To avoid making excuses…” (Fact: The odds are 100 percent that an apology will soon follow.) And this: “Not to sound like a broken record…” (Fact: You’re about to hear a broken record.)
GO DEEPER
Dolphins snap losing streak, top sloppy Patriots 15-10: Takeaways
And so when Mayo said after Sunday’s loss to the Dolphins, “Don’t sound like a broken record,” he followed up with, “It’s about execution, especially in critical situations.”
But it’s not so much the lack of execution (especially in critical situations!) that explains why the Patriots are 1-4. That’s just a perfumed way of saying your team sucks. What really bothers the Patriots – and sorry we have a broken record here – is that they are still a clumsy, undisciplined mess, which isn’t necessarily the same as being a garden variety worthless. And let’s face it: it’s the coach’s job to make sure his players don’t do clumsy, undisciplined things.
We can talk about why it should be rookie Drake Maye, and not veteran Jacoby Brissett, doing the quarterbacking. We can talk about the lack of star power. We can talk about a ripped, spare-parts offensive line. But this time it was more than that. So much more.
GO DEEPER
Jacoby Brissett, Patriots offense remains historically poor after tough loss to Dolphins
Let’s start with that penultimate ride. The Patriots managed to move the ball from the New England 30 to the Miami 12 and then back to the 17 after a false start against Hunter Henry. At that point, Brissett made an incomplete attempt to reach Henry on fourth-and-15, ending the drive with 59 seconds left. That’s the Cliff’s Notes version of what happened. If you look a little closer, you’ll see a second New England penalty, and a total of twelve on the day. Look even closer and you’ll see a New England touchdown until it wasn’t a New England touchdown after a review found that Ja’Lynn Polk didn’t go in with both feet when he caught a 12-yard pass from Brissett .
This is deep in the weeds footage, but Polk’s catch, while nice to watch, violated NFL rules in that the receiver had a heel out of bounds. And according to the NFL rulebook, “If any part of the foot goes out of bounds during the normal continuous motion of taking a step (heel-toe or toe-heel), then the foot is out of bounds.”
It appeared the Patriots had a go-ahead goal late in the 4th, but the play was reviewed and the call was overturned. Thoughts? pic.twitter.com/6O7Om8NnRE
— FOX Sports: NFL (@NFLonFOX) October 6, 2024
Polk, speaking to reporters after the game, was asked if he thinks he had both feet in the box.
“Yes,” he said. “It’s clear to see, it’s clear to see that I have one foot in it. But we’re not in that situation if I do my job the whole game.”
Polk is a 22-year-old rookie. He will learn. And it is commendable that he took some general responsibility. But at this point — or as of the end of the work day on Sunday — he hasn’t been coached on what is and isn’t a touchdown.
For what it’s worth, Mayo said, “It was close.” But in my opinion it was the right decision, but I will have to go back and watch the movie. I saw the replay live. Just a tough decision.”
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As for New England second chance at a comeback victory late in the game, the Dolphins outpaced the Pats by niftily going three-and-out on their final possession. Jake Bailey kicked the ball 46 yards and Marcus Jones returned it 15 yards to the New England 43.
Brissett connected with Kendrick Bourne for 21 yards to give the Patriots a first down at the Miami 36.
Brissett spiked the ball to stop the clock with 12 seconds left.
KAYSHON ➡️
📺: FOX pic.twitter.com/G7p1OMxmld
— New England Patriots (@Patriots) October 6, 2024
This is where and when the Patriots would either go for the end zone or a quick completion out of bounds.
Instead, Brissett spun over the middle to Henry for 25 yards near the Miami 11 before… 3…2…1… Drive safely on your way home and don’t forget to fasten your seat belts.
These are just the last two drives of the game. We don’t have room to delve into the 12-man-on-the-field call on fourth-and-1 that wiped out a Miami punt and gave the Dolphins a first loss. That’s how it continued for the Patriots, leading Mayo to say after the game, “I expected to take my lumps, just like a lot of other first-year head coaches.” Look, that’s fine with me. Again, it’s about the guys in the locker room, and we have to be better. Us, including me.”
Now, please, we’re not talking about hastily organized press conferences to announce a coaching change. We are also not suggesting there is a “mutiny” in the locker room, as suggested by an internal football writer on the team’s internal podcast last week. Again, the Patriots just aren’t very good. But on this day, in this game against the Dolphins, they weren’t prepared either.
And that’s on the coach.
(Photo of Patriots coach Jerod Mayo, right, meeting with Dolphins coach Mike McDaniel after Sunday’s game: Adam Hunger/Getty Images)
