Patriots 2022 Season Thread

Everybody is saying the Bears are horrendous. they played well. the Patriots played horrendous.

So what did the QB uncertainty have to do with a slow confused defense? Nothing really but it didn't help the gameplan which likely carried over to the D which couldn't stop Fields. The guessing game with the press was stupid. In the end they played favorites.

This was pretty easy to figure out. Zappe should have stayed utill he lost or Mac had picked things up in practice to the point where he made them start him again. Both these QBs throw lollypop passes when they have to throw, down a score. If they can't run depend on pay-action and get good D early, they probably aren't going to pass their way to a W.

Bad day in every phase of the game. Special teams were horrible. Offense couldn't do much of anything. Defense was nonexistent. The worse game I have seen in 20 years. After the last couple of games, I was getting excited. Now this.

I like Zappe, but he's so short it's easy to see why several of his passes were swatted down. That could be a long term problem.

The QB mess the team is in started when BB decided not to replace McDaniel with another OQ. It got worse when Mac got hurt and a green kid came in to stay the course. What happened last night is simply unbelievable from an experienced HC. The reaction from Myers was honest and to the point and I give him credit for sticking up for a team mate. BB needs to look up what trust means in the dictionary, his head has gotten too big for his own good!

The bigger issue was the D allowing Bears to hold ball for over 37 minutes. It was like a horrible offense turned into the Eagles with Foles, everything they did worked. I don't know what happened there, yet that has to be fixed.

The Bears weakness on D is rushing D, yet if your offense can't stop them it requires to change things up.

I don't know what Bill was thinking. I can get behind starting Mac Jones or Zappe. Yet you need to pick and stick with the guy unless it gets crazy. Both young QBs and they need full QB1 reps, not them being split. Basically in my mind, only way this makes sense is if you want Zappe going forward. Had to give Mac his chance. Yet if that's the case, you name Zappe starter now. A QB controversy isn't good for the team. Still shocked they pulled Mac Jones like that. I would have just started Zappe. Bill has created a mess and he has to fix it.

I really don't know who I would pick. I can understand the its Mac Jones or Zappe. There's pluses and minuses for both of them. One thing is clear though, Zappe either is a better fit in this offense or has learned it quicker than Mac Jones. With Zappe it's he is a rookie, with questions about his arm strength, yet it's not horrible. Mac Jones just looks lost, where's the guy who makes the right smart play most times? He's throwing bombs to Junnu Smith? Same offensive plan for both QBs this week. I'm beginning to believe the endless reports about Mac Jones not being happy might be true. Yet I have a huge problem with that because Zappe is picking up the system and doing well in it.

Bill has created one huge shit show and he better fix it. Everything combined that might be Bills worst coaching performance if not ever, in a long time.

On the QB situation 2021 Mac Jones is SIGNIFICANTLY better than 2022 Bailey Zappe (who is playing better than 2022 Mac Jones - though there are many who believe that it's not as significant as the stats would indicate). So, as UMASS asks, where did 2021 Mac Jones go and can he be found again. If he can be, that's the ideal scenario.

The main problems from last night can be attributed, at least partially, to the talent at certain positions (gotta give UMASS credit for leading the charge on these - though few disagreed):

Offensive Tackles - We all know Wynn has been terrible and, yet, Brown might have had one of the worst games I've seen from any starting caliber tackle the Pats have had in a while. That was brutal. It was a miss not adding someone there

Linebacker - My amateur brain would tie the success Fields had running here (someone smarter than me could certainly tell me otherwise - missing Barmore, for example, couldn't have helped). I thought they'd be better here but no (or not yet, at least). He's more of an edge but could Uche have helped here??

They need to figure the above positions out as part of next year's offseason (cap room and draft capital). Just not sure it can be done in season (unless Cajuste comes back from IR and can offer SOMETHING??)

Late yesterday and into this morning, there has been some Zapruder-like analysis of whether or not Mac Jones' interception hit a camera wire or not.

TBH, I'm not sure why it really matters. Much like many (including myself) have been saying the result (TDs) only tell part of the story with Zappe, to be consistent, we should say the same thing with Mac. It was a BAD decision to throw that ball. And that has been a problem all year. Whether it actually led to an INT or not doesn't change the issue.

Can't see how it could have possibly been handled worse in any area. Bill really gummed this up for no reason, and now the team is at an inflection point it never needed to be at right now.

My take was that this was to make a point to Jones. He got the start, but then did or handled something in a way Bill didn't like - not throwing a pick in and of itself, but maybe the decision-making that went into that play, or maybe something completely unrelated - and was pulled as a result.

To be clear this is just my personal 2 cents, and even if that is the reason I don't think it means much in the long run. The more of Zappe we see, though, the more I will wonder.

Also possible Jones was simply more hurt than they/we/he thought, although I feel like even Belichick would have said at least something if that was the case.

Agree with your assessment and insight. Hard to believe this is the same head coach that won six championships. 

Ray to PS - IR per Ray (not sure if there is a difference between that and regular IR - in terms of whether he can return in some form - or not)

Per Reiss