Patriots won’t win until they improve at football’s most basic element | Karen Guregian
New England Patriots quarterback Jacoby Brissett (7) is brought down by Seattle Seahawks linebacker Boye Mafe, center, in the second half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Sept. 15, 2024, in Foxborough, Mass.
FOXBOROUGH – Lead with the run. Control the line of scrimmage. Pass when necessary. Avoid turnovers at all costs.
That pretty much sums up what we’ve seen from Alex Van Pelt’s offense over the course of three games.
The Patriots are averaging 13.0 points per game with that blueprint. That’s a hair below their woeful 13.9 ppg average last season, which was tied for worst in the NFL.
Their largest output this season was 20 points against the Seahawks. It wasn’t enough.
Last season, with Bill O’Brien calling the shots on offense for the Patriots, the team scored 20 or less in 13 of the 17 games. That led to a 4-13 record.
Thus far, Van Pelt is 3-for-3 in that category.
At this stage, the statistics that don’t paint the greatest offensive picture. The team is last in the league in total yards, 30th in sacks per pass attempt, and 27th in red zone conversion. Perhaps most telling of all, the offense under Matt Patricia in 2022 fared better, most notably in points per game (21.4)
It’s early for the 2024 Patriots, but they’re going to have to score more if they want to remain competitive. The defense, as good as it might be, can’t hold every team to 12 points or less.
Wide receiver DeMario “Pop” Douglas knows the math, but wasn’t worried about the team’s lack of scoring. He believes it’s only a matter of time.
“We got a young team, new DNA, we’re getting to know each other, but it’s early,” Douglas said Monday. “We got a whole season to go. We’re just getting started.”
Having Douglas (7 catches, 69 yards) get more involved in the Week 3 loss was one of the few positive takeaways from the Thursday night beat down by the Jets.
His output, however, didn’t help on the scoreboard.
Obviously, Jacoby Brissett & Co. have been hampered by an offensive line that is greatly challenged when it comes to pass blocking.
And there doesn’t appear to be a cure-all remedy in sight.
John Hannah isn’t walking through that door. Neither is Logan Mankins.
Patriots offensive line coach Scott Peters has to take a page out of Dante Scarnecchia’s book and make the best out of the hand he’s been dealt. That means honing techniques, and having the group better prepared to deal with blitzes.
Against the Jets, Brissett had to deal with unblocked rushers at every turn. Perhaps the eventual return of several injured linemen – Vederian Lowe, Sidy Sow, Cole Strange – will help a battered and overmatched left side hold up a little better. It’s hard to get worse than the seven sacks allowed, and 52.2 % pressure rate allowed.
Whatever the alignment, the offense won’t improve, until the line does.
Scoring is, after all, the object of the game
The Buffalo Bills, who improved to 3-0 with their win over the Jacksonville Jaguars Monday night, are averaging 35 points per game. The Minnesota Vikings (28 ppg), Kansas City Chiefs (25 ppg) and Seattle Seahawks (24 ppg) are also unbeaten and above the 20 water mark.
The 3-0 Pittsburgh Steelers, who lead with the run much like the Patriots, aren’t scoring a ton, but just enough at 17 points per game.
Running back Antonio Gibson, like Douglas, believes the Patriots offense will get going. He pointed to the red zone, an area where the team has converted just 3-of-9 opportunities, as one place to start.
