BOSTON — The preseason is over for the Patriots, ending with a 23-6 loss to the Raiders in Las Vegas. The following time the Patriots play a recreation of soccer, it will depend.
That could be a bit worrisome contemplating the workforce did not look all that nice throughout the preseason. Friday evening’s finale was no exception, because the first-team offense struggled of their closing tune-up earlier than dealing with the Dolphins in Miami on Sept. 11.
The Patriots do not actually look prepared for video games that depend. They now have two weeks to place it collectively. However earlier than we transfer on to Miami, listed below are some takeaways from New England’s preseason finale.
The offense nonetheless does not look good
Mac Jones and the offensive starters received 4 drives on Friday evening, and all they mustered was a area purpose. They’d two three-and-outs and one other drive ended on a horrible Jones interception. After changing a fourth-and-3 and driving down the sphere on their closing possession, they’d a landing taken off the board due to a DeVante Parker OPI.
There was additionally some questionable play-calling, with Jones going for a deep move to Parker on a third-and-3. They did not join on the heave. No less than the offense stayed on the sphere and Jones delivered a dart to Kendrick Bourne on fourth right down to preserve the drive alive.
Jones was pissed off on the sideline and did not look comfy on the market, even when the offensive line was giving him time to do his factor.
The offense, as a complete, doesn’t look prepared for the common season. The starters received seven sequence within the preseason, and solely one among them ended with a landing. 4 of these drives ended with a three-and-out.
The offense has numerous work to do main as much as Week 1 in Miami.
Ty Montgomery’s damage is worrisome
Montgomery was set to have an enormous position within the offense, giving Jones a flexible menace out of the backfield. However the veteran needed to be carted off the sphere after struggling an ankle damage within the first half and didn’t return.
If Montgomery misses time to start out the season, Rhamondre Stevenson could also be in line to catch passes out of the backfield, with J.J. Taylor one other candidate if he makes the roster.
Points alongside the offensive line
On the primary operating play of the sport, the road gave Stevenson nothing to work with and he was taken down for a four-yard loss. Stevenson picked up simply 22 yards on his 5 carries as the road continues to battle with the brand new run scheme.
The road did give Jones a while to do his factor once in a while, however the quarterback was sacked twice and hit 4 instances on the evening.
Michael Onwenu was additionally hit with a maintain to start out the second drive, forcing the offense to take care of a first-and-20. The beginning offensive line was on the market for 4 sequence, and the Patriots offense could not do a lot of something.
Protection received torched on Las Vegas’ first drive
Friday evening began out as a “Jarrett Stidham Revenge Sport” because the Raiders QB torched Patriots starters for 72 yards on Vegas’ first drive. Ja’Whaun Bentley missed a deal with to let DJ Turner go for a 14-yard pickup, and the center of the sphere was onve once more broad open as Jesper Horsted broke free for a 30-yard reception. The Raiders had been within the pink zone after simply three performs.
Las Vegas needed to accept a area purpose after Kyle Dugger — who bit exhausting on Stidham’s play-fake on the Horsted completion — got here up with an enormous run stuff on third-and-2. However what we noticed from the beginning protection was not all that uplifting.
Matt Judon remains to be Matt Judon
No less than Matt Judon stays a beast. He crushed Chase Garbers on the ultimate play of the primary quarter to power an incompletion and a Raiders three-and-out. It was a welcome sight after Las Vegas scored on every of its first two possessions.
Bourne makes his debut
It has been an odd summer time for Kendrick Bourne. He did not play final week towards the Panthers after he received the boot from joint practices for combating, and eventually made his preseason debut on Friday evening.
He solely caught two passes for 16 yards, however one among his catches got here off a pleasant fourth-down route to maintain the drive alive for New England. It was good to see the Jones-to-Bourne connection that shined for giant stretches of final season.
Penalties price the Patriots factors
This may drive Invoice Belichick mad, even within the preseason. A DeVante Paker OPI took a landing off the board within the first half, and a Jalen Wydermyer maintain price the Patriots one other landing within the third quarter. The Patriots needed to accept area objectives on each drives, with pink zone penalties costing them eight factors on the evening.
Jack Jones has a nostril for the ball
The rookie is a rocket on the market and had some good performs within the second half. Early within the third quarter he delivered one pop that knocked the ball out of Austin Walters’ fingers on third down.
He additionally had two good pass-breakups within the third quarter. Jones confirmed off some actually nice closing pace all through the summer time and appears like he may develop right into a play-maker within the secondary. He does take numerous probabilities on the market, however he’ll have loads of alternatives to make performs as a rookie.
Marcus Jones too
The opposite different Jones within the defensive backfield made a pleasant play too, as Marcus Jones knocked a landing away from Keelan Cole by leaping his slant route in the long run zone within the fourth quarter.
The Raiders scored on the following play, however it’s at all times good to see rookies making performs on the market.
Good Run by the Rook
Persevering with that pattern, rookie operating again Kevin Harris broke off a pleasant 33-yard run on his first carry of the evening, getting the Patriots to the Las Vegas 3-yard line.
Harris discovered a pleasant groove and made some good strikes on his approach to 44 yards on 4 carries. He did, nonetheless, fumble away his final carry of the evening with underneath two minutes to play.
Zappe was picked by a former Patriots broad receiver
Does that scream closing preseason recreation, or does that scream closing preseason recreation?
Bailey Zappe pressured a throw with the protection in his face, and it fell into the arms of Isaiah Zuber downfield. That may have been a great factor a number of years in the past, however Zuber is now a receiver (and apparently a defensive again) for the Raiders.
Jennings retains making use of the strain
We’ll shut on a optimistic, and that’s the continued strain coming from Anfernee Jennings. He isn’t solely locked down a roster spot, however could possibly be a large presence in the course of the protection this season.
