MORSE: Shocking Takeaways from the Patriots’ Disastrous 24-3 Blowout Against the Jets—What Went Wrong?

Watching last night’s game, it was clear early on that it was going to be a tough night for the Patriots. This team struggles to come from behind; they thrive on jumping out to an early lead and maintaining time of possession. Unfortunately, the offense faltered, and the defense couldn’t tackle to save their lives.

Here are my key takeaways from the disheartening 24-3 loss:

Aaron Rodgers was on fire. He delivered quick passes that rendered the Patriots’ defense ineffective, even when they beat the Jets’ offensive line. Rodgers was supposed to be a pocket passer post-Achilles injury, but his mobility was impressive. The defense only made things worse by taking poor angles and losing containment. He rolled out or scrambled out of pressure, going 6-for-6 in those situations, and finished with 27 completions on 35 attempts for 281 yards and 2 touchdowns.

Tavai’s performance was frustrating. He made only 1 of 4 plays early on, and one boneheaded mistake overshadowed his decent tackle of Breece Hall for a loss. He picked Hall up and suplexed him right in front of the referee—just plain stupid for the defensive playcaller.

Kyle Dugger needs to step up. His coverage was abysmal, and he struggled against the run as a linebacker. He’s not living up to the contract he signed in the offseason.

Mike Onwenu is not a fit at tackle. His lack of foot speed is a problem for the zone-blocking scheme AVP wants to run. It might be best to move him back to guard and shift Wallace to right tackle and Robinson to left guard.

The game ended with Zach Thomas at left guard and Demontrey Jacobs at left tackle. At one point, we had two rookies (Wallace and Robinson) and a third-year player (Thomas) with a total of just 36 plays between them. Jacobs stepped in for Wallace after two back-to-back holding calls—though I thought the first call was questionable.

Outcoached and outplayed. The Jets seemed to know exactly what the Patriots were planning. This was the coaching staff’s first short week, and they failed to adapt.

Rhamondre Stevenson’s fumbling is a concern. He fumbled for the third time in three games, leading to a Jets field goal. He might need to practice holding onto the ball—something the Patriots did with Kevin Faulk in his early years.

Brissett missed a crucial throw. He failed to connect with a wide-open Austin Hooper on a crossing pattern, which could have been a big gain.

The Jets brought relentless pressure on the quarterback, blitzing 40% of the time after only blitzing 14% in their first two games. They smelled blood and attacked from the opening play, even pressuring Drake Maye when he entered the game late. The Patriots need to analyze if they gave away too many tells.

Drake Maye’s brief appearance was promising. He was only 2-for-4 for 22 yards, but he showed off his mobility and strong arm. However, it’s crucial to keep him on the bench until the offensive line stabilizes.

Historic domination by the Jets. They became the first NFL team to hit five specific stats in a win: 400 total yards, 40 minutes of time of possession, 7 sacks, no turnovers, and no touchdowns allowed. Total control.

Demario Douglas finally showed up. He had 7 catches on 9 targets, although he had one moment where he pulled up on a crossing route that could have ended badly for him.

Patriots’ penalties were costly. They racked up 5 penalties for 80 yards, including two personal fouls that hurt them severely. The first one led to a Jets touchdown, while the second came after a 22-yard completion, flipping the field.

The Jets’ undisciplined play resulted in 8 penalties for 106 yards, which is the only reason the score wasn’t more lopsided.

Patriots’ offense was dismal. They managed only 139 total yards and were sacked 7 times (5 by Brissett, 2 by Maye).

Brissett struggled significantly, failing to pick up pre-snap blitzes and audibling correctly. The Patriots rushed only 15 times for 72 yards—a 5.2 yards-per-carry average, but most of those came after the game was already out of reach.

Christian Gonzalez had tight coverage on Garrett Wilson. The touchdown catch was just outside his reach, showcasing Wilson’s skill.

Roster updates: The Patriots added DE Jamree Kromah from the Bears’ practice squad, and he’ll need to be on the 53-man roster for three weeks. Standing at 6’4″ and weighing 275 lbs, he had an impressive college career but will need to prove he can handle the physical demands at the NFL level.

Chuks Okorafor has been officially moved to the left team/reserve list, meaning he’s out for the season. The CBA allowed a brief exemption period, but now he’s gone for good.