5 takeaways from the Patriots’ 40-38 loss to the Giants
COMMENTARY
It’s on to Kansas City – but, first, five takeaways from the Patriots’ 40-38 loss to the Giants in the preseason finale…
Jacoby Brissett’s most meaningful preseason minutes were preceded by talk of whether the Patriots’ 2016 third-round pick could be playing for his job – and if that speculation was indeed accurate, New England’s third quarterback acquitted himself quite well while playing from wire-to-wire.
His night included an interception that was returned for a touchdown after defensive end Kerry Wynn stepped in front of a screen pass, but otherwise Brissett absolutely looked the part of a capable NFL signal caller. The Patriots’ offense operated at a good pace, appeared to get in and out of the huddle smoothly, and there was a decisiveness to the operation – despite the fact he was frequently on the field with mostly guys who’ll be looking for work when the real season kicks off next week.
His accuracy was impressive, as was his pocket presence and arm strength, particularly on the Pats’ third-quarter scoring drive. Facing third and 10, Brissett took the ball from the shotgun, kept his eyes up field while shuffling left to escape some pressure, then got his feet set enough to drill a strike to Devin Lucien. Later in that same series he again stood in with heat coming, fading onto his back foot as a defender dived at his legs, and lofted an all-arms throw to Lucien.
Brissett finished the night 28-of-39, with 341 yards and four scores through the air, plus another touchdown with his legs after he broke the pocket and juked a defender near the goal line. All told it was about as good a night as New England could’ve hoped for from the quarterback – and if his job really is in jeopardy, Thursday’s performance assured that Brissett won’t be unemployed for long even if the Pats opt to roster only Tom Brady and Jimmy Garoppolo.
CYRUS JONES GOES DOWN
Another early 2016 draft pick thought to be on the bubble was cornerback Cyrus Jones, and his roster status might’ve come into clearer focus Thursday – for the wrong reasons.
Jones’s knee appeared to give out while he was running in coverage along the sideline, and he needed assistance in getting up and walking to the Patriots’ sideline. He was led to the locker room and didn’t return.
A week after Julian Edelman’s torn ACL reminded New England of how devastating those types of non-contact injuries can be, Jones could certainly be facing a long-term situation – and that could mean the Patriots can place him on injured reserve rather than needing to make a decision about keeping him on the 53-man roster. Entering the preseason finale, Jones’s best chance of making the team (aside from the fact he was a second-round selection a year ago) appeared to be as a returner, but against the Giants the Pats seemed to be giving DJ Foster every chance to win that role, even while Jones was healthy. On kickoffs, it was Foster deep, not Jones. And the Pats’ defensive struggles didn’t force a punt early enough to give Jones another final shot at showing his goods in that situation. In the end, Jones didn’t appear to certify his spot with his play on the field.
GENEO GRISSOM SHOWS UP
The Patriots’ thinnest position may be at defensive end, with injuries and the retirement of Rob Ninkovich leaving opportunities to be seized – and Geneo Grissom took advantage Thursday night.
The third-year product of Oklahoma had a sack of Geno Smith in the second quarter, then helped cause another while forcing the quarterback to step up in the pocket later in the same sequence. He played with high energy and capped a camp in which Bill Belichick had earlier noted his improvement by showing up on the game field.
However, it’s worth noting that the right tackle he repeatedly tortured was a sixth-round rookie who’s unlikely to make it beyond cut down day. It’s also worth pointing out that Grissom has flashed in the preseason before, yet it wasn’t enough to carve out a role as a rookie, and last year he was let go in the final round of cuts. He ultimately re-signed with the Pats, and became a presence on special teams. But the combination of opportunity at his position and performance this summer could make him a candidate for an increased role early this season.
CONFIDENCE FOR THE KICKER
The pressure was hardly what it’ll be come next Thursday – in fact, there really was no pressure – but give Stephen Gostkowski credit. Before the Giants answered, the kicker drilled a last-minute, go-ahead field goal for the second time in seven days. This one was a 55-yard boomer that reached the back net, might’ve been good from 65 yards, and split the uprights nearly evenly.
If nothing else it’s a confidence boost, as are his converting all five extra-point tries. Again, it’s only the preseason, though if he’d followed up a miss in Detroit with another in Foxborough it could’ve sent him into the regular season carrying a sour taste. Instead, he should hurtle toward the Chiefs game feeling good about his trajectory.
DEFENSIVE STRUGGLES AGAIN
The Patriots allowed fewer points than any team last season, and added big-ticket cornerback Stephon Gilmore during the offseason. The defense is expected to be more than capable, but the final two preseason games suggested that the bottom portion of New England’s 90-man roster didn’t feature a great deal of talent that’s ready to make a difference once games count.
A week after giving up a 24-0 lead in Detroit, New England’s fringe defenders gave up 40 points to New York’s backups, allowing 483 yards and 29 first downs en route. Beyond Grissom they didn’t get much pressure on Giants’ quarterbacks, they struggled on third down for most of the night, and surrendered 8.3 yards per pass and 4.1 yards per rush. The coaches will determine what it looked like for certain individuals (most notably veteran Jonathan Freeny, who played deep into the fourth quarter), but collectively it wasn’t pretty.
