Flashes and Fumbles: Patriots Seek Consistency After 1-2 Start
Matt Vautour/ Yahoo! Sports
Three weeks into the season, the Patriots are a coin flip. Which team shows up this week, and in which half? They’ve dropped two of three winnable games, sitting at 1-2. At their best, they flash division contender potential with crisp drives and stout defense. At their worst, they’re a penalty riddled, turnover prone mess, flirting with another top three draft pick. Sloppy play, like missed coverage assignments, penalties, and costly fumbles, has been the common thread in their losses.
As mentioned, inconsistency dogs the Patriots. Take their game against the Raiders: they led 10-7 at halftime, set to build momentum with the ball to start the third quarter. A touchdown or field goal could have set the tone for a new season. Instead, a holding penalty on their first play pinned them at their own 12-yard line. A few plays later, Drake Maye threw an interception. The Raiders pounced, marching 71 yards for a touchdown to take the lead and ran away with it. After that pick, the Patriots’ offense sputtered, punting on their next four drives, three of them three-and-outs. Multiple penalties killed any chance of a rhythm for the offense, flipping the coin from promise to the deja-vu of recent seasons’ struggles.
In Week 2, the Patriots showcased resilience, securing a 33-27 road victory against the Dolphins to even their record at 1-1. Quarterback Drake Maye delivered a standout performance, passing for 230 yards and two touchdowns while adding 31 rushing yards and a touchdown. Running back Rhamondre Stevenson powered the offense with 142 yards, exploiting gaps in Miami’s defense. Special teams proved pivotal, with Antonio Gibson’s 90-yard kickoff return touchdown shifting momentum after a Dolphins’ punt-return score. New England displayed heart, battling through the final minutes. The defense sealed the win with a critical fourth-down sack on Tua Tagovailoa, halting a potential comeback. Despite the inconsistency seen elsewhere this season, this gritty performance highlighted the Patriots’ ability to fight to the final whistle.
In Week 3, the Patriots fell 21-14 to the Steelers at home, a heartbreaking loss driven by turnovers despite offensive dominance. They amassed 369 yards and 26 first downs, led by Drake Maye’s 269 yards and two touchdowns on 28 of 37 passes. A first-drive fumble by Rhamondre Stevenson in the end zone gifted Pittsburgh a touchdown. In the second quarter, a 90-yard Steelers touchdown drive, fueled by 20 penalty yards, revived fans’ fears of a lost season. New England answered with a nine-play 77-yard scoring drive, seizing momentum. But a 17-play march before halftime ended with a tipped Maye interception at the two-yard line, and three more turnovers, a second Stevenson end-zone fumble, an Antonio Gibson fumble, and a late Maye fumble, sealed their fate. The defense, holding Pittsburgh to one first down over five possessions, showed elite potential despite Christian Gonzalez’s absence.
Through three weeks, the Patriots have shown flashes of promise amid their inconsistency. The offensive line has improved markedly from last season, providing better protection for Drake Maye and opening lanes in the run game, though there's still room for growth. Defensive lineman Harold Landry III has also stood out with disruptive plays, echoing the stout fronts Mike Vrabel built in Tennessee. Moving forward, cleaner execution is key, fewer penalties and turnovers would go a long way. While interceptions from aggressive downfield throws by Maye are tolerable as he develops, the fumbles must drop. Last week's fumble aside, Antonio Gibson deserves more touches. His speed and versatility has proven to add a dynamic element to the backfield.
One lingering question is the coaching staff's view of rookie running back TreVeyon Henderson. Drafted amid high expectations in April, Henderson hasn't seen the role many anticipated, especially after the fumbles from other backs in the Steelers game. Are Vrabel and offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels less enamored than scouts were, or is it a matter of easing him in? Regardless, with a favorable upcoming schedule, including home games against the Panthers, Browns, and Falcons, plus winnable road trips to New Orleans, and Tennessee, there's no excuse for the Patriots not to build momentum. They could easily enter early November at 6-3, heading into their Week 10 matchup in Tampa Bay with renewed confidence.
