After the Patriots had a chance to clinch the seventh seed in the AFC with a victory yesterday, today feelings about the New England Patriots are mixed. The effort was there for sure yesterday and you cannot deny that but the execution, especially on special teams, was lacking. From the start the Patriots were behind the eight ball as they allowed Nyheim Hines to take the opening kickoff back for a touchdown.
Thru my Lens..Nyheim Hines opening kick return. It was the first time the Bills touched the ball since the last time they touched the ball in Cincinnati. It was very emotional on the field in Cincy that night. This day electricity was sky high after this return. #3🙏 pic.twitter.com/r3piqDi48f
— Scott Swenson (@ScottSwenson4) January 9, 2023
Anyone would have figured that Highmark Stadium would have a palpable energy after the incident that happened the prior week to Damar Hamlin but allowing that kick return to start the game was a death sentence for the Patriots. Special teams would also allow another kickoff return to Hines again after the Patriots took the lead 17-14. Hines would take the second one 96 yards to give Buffalo the lead 21-17. From there on out Buffalo would maintain a healthy lead for the remainder of the game.
Special Teams Meltdown
So, looking back at the Patriots season now there were many costly things that contributed to their second losing season in three years. Throughout the NFL this season there was a total of six kick returns ran back for a touchdown. THREE OF THEM WERE AGAINST THE PATRIOTS! Going back to the start of the 2021-22 season there was much skepticism about Cam Achord becoming the special teams coordinator. Last year there seemed to be cracks in the armor of New England’s usual lockdown approach in the kicking game. This year showed even more of an issue with constant penalties on special teams.
Nyheim Hines has tried to do for Buffalo what Steve Gleason once did for New Orleans: pic.twitter.com/UuhZ1CKqfu
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) January 8, 2023
Yesterday also on both kickoff returns, all four of the gunners on the outside, two on each side, came down inside of the numbers which is a cardinal sin for any special team’s player. If there is anything that the New England Patriots have known since Bill Belichick has been in Foxboro is that special teams have had blunders few and far apart. We know Belichick is preaching about punctuality in the kicking game and Achord clearly cannot coach at the NFL level or even relay a simple message to his players.
The Patriots also had the least net punting yards this season and have the most blocked punts in the past two season.
Patriots’ Defense Had a Historic Season but Things Look to Be Changing
The Patriots were able to hold a prolific Bills offense to 21 points and caused problems for the Bills offense at times. Outside of the 49-yard touchdown pass from Josh Allen to Stefon Diggs, the Patriots secondary played excellent. The Patriots were able to force three turnovers held the Bills offense to under 20 first downs, and 327 yards.
The Patriots finished seventh in yards per game and total yards, sixth in rushing yards, second in turnovers, and scored seven defensive touchdowns. Their 20.4 points per game were tenth in the league as well.
Overall though the one thing the Patriots did well this season was their ability to get after the quarterback. The finished third in sacks with 54 as a team and their main two contributors were Matthew Judon and Josh Uche. Both Judon and Uche were top ten overall in the NFL in sacks with 15.5 and 11.5 respectively.
Unfortunately, the Patriots already look to be losing Jerod Mayo as the Cleveland Browns reached out to the defensive assistant to be the Browns defensive coordinator. Not only is this a huge loss for the Patriots, if they are to lose Mayo then he will be moving to another team you are contending with in the AFC.
The Cleveland Browns, who relieved defensive coordinator Joe Woods of his duties, requested permission today to interview Patriots’ inside LB coach Jerod Mayo for their defensive coordinator job, per source.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) January 9, 2023
With Devin McCourty looking to be heading to retirement, New England will be losing the longest tenured Patriot on that side of the ball and the defacto team captain. His leadership will surely be lost but even at 35 years old McCourty was still a very productive player defensively.
Other free agents on the defensive side of the ball are Jonathan Jones, Jabrill Peppers, Raekwon McMillan, Myles Bryant, and Mack Wilson. A few of those guys were depth players for sure but they did make impacts throughout different portions of the 2022-23 season.
The biggest loss out of these guys is Jonathan Jones. Jones was the number one corner back for majority of the season as the Patriots need depth in the secondary this season with how many injuries they sustained throughout the season. Jones led the Patriots with four interceptions and three forced fumbles. Jones’ calculated market value looks to be about 12.5 million which is a step up from the 5.5 AAV he made the past four season.
The Patriots will have to cut bait with players for sure but replacing them will be a difficult task for sure with how great this defense was.
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