Quick observations from the Patriots’ 10-7 loss to the Giants
Bailey Zappe gave New England a chance, but Chad Ryland missed a 35-yarder with three seconds left.
COMMENTARY
The Patriots-Giants rivalry has yielded some of the most gut-wrenching losses for New England fans over the years.
Sunday’s 10-7 Giants victory – though defensive-minded and close like those games – didn’t carry quite the same sting.
In fact, it may prove to benefit the Patriots (2-9) long term, as they strengthened their chances at nabbing the No. 1 pick. The Giants (4-8) gave New England plenty of chances, but the Patriots didn’t seem overly keen on capitalizing.
“Just too much poor ball security on offense,” Patriots head coach Bill Belichick said.
Mac Jones struggled mightily in the first half, and Bailey Zappe was a smidgen better (but only a smidgen) in the second. Belichick said afterward that both “deserved to play.”
Despite their struggles, the Patriots still had a shot to tie it, but Chad Ryland missed a 35-yard field goal with three seconds left to seal one of the best worst losses in franchise history.
It felt eerily similar to the Colts game in many ways.
“Same thing, different week,” tight end Hunter Henry told reporters. “It’s not good enough, at all, at any level. We’re just killing ourselves. It was just bad.”
Here’s how it went down:
Mac Jones struggled mightily.
Belichick elected to roll with Jones once again, and once again, Jones put forth an uninspiring effort that led to his fourth benching of the season.
He finished the first half 12 for 21 for 89 yards and two interceptions and never found a rhythm. That was the end of his day, and perhaps the end of his Patriots career.
On the first pick, he floated the ball into triple coverage and Deonte Banks swooped in and picked it off. On the second, he panicked when pressure came and threw it right into Bobby Okereke’s arms.
The rest of his performance was exceedingly average, but the two miscues overshadowed everything else. His inconsistency made Belichick’s decision an easy one. Jones said he understood why he was pulled.
“I’m definitely prepared,” Jones told reporters. “I’m just not putting out a good product on the field.’
Bailey Zappe was slightly better, but only slightly.
Zappe entered and promptly led the Patriots on an 11-play, 60-yard scoring drive to start the second half, completing all six of his passes. Rhamondre Stevenson (21 carries, 98 yards) powered into the end zone from 7 yards out, tying the score at 7 with 8:02 left in the third.
He regressed from there, though, throwing a costly interception early in the fourth quarter that led to a winning 42-yard field goal from Randy Bullock.
“That’s just bad by me,” Zappe told reporters. “He made a great play … he sniped the cross, I have to see that. I had Tyquan Thornton, he was wide open in the flat.”
Okereke almost picked off another pass late in the fourth but couldn’t corral it. Zappe found JuJu Smith-Schuster for a fourth-down conversion with 1:53 remaining, which gave New England a chance, but Ryland couldn’t convert.
The defense was sharp overall, but it wasn’t enough.
The Patriots sacked Giants quarterback Tommy DeVito six times – Keion White, Jabrill Peppers, Ja’Whaun Bentley, Anfernee Jennings, Christian Barmore, and Deatrich Wise did the honors. Peppers also recovered a fumble on the opening drive.
New England held Saquon Barkley to 12 carries for 46 yards, however Jalin Hyatt racked up five catches for 109 yards. DeVito finished 17 for 25 for 191 yards, a touchdown, and no picks. The Patriots didn’t do anything out of the ordinary, as they managed to hold a below-average offense to below-average production.
“I think as a defense, we’re improving,” Wise said. “That’s the only side I talk about.”
Belichick entered 24-6 with the Patriots against rookie quarterbacks, but DeVito didn’t make any costly mistakes. The Giants managed to do just enough to squeak out a victory in a battle between two struggling teams.
“I thought we put ourselves in a position to finish it out, but they finished well,” Bentley said.
This loss will likely benefit the franchise.
For those hoping for a win Sunday, you’re out of luck. For the more realistic fan, Sunday’s setback was actually a positive development.
With games against the Chargers, Steelers, Chiefs, Broncos, Bills, and Jets remaining, the No. 1 pick is well within reach.
LIVE UPDATES
3:55 p.m.: Bailey Zappe gives the Patriots a chance, but Chad Ryland misses a 35-yard field goal, wide left, with three seconds left. That’ll do it. Final: Giants 10, Patriots 7.
3:35 p.m.: Patriots wide receiver Demario Douglas (head) is doubtful to return, per FOX Sports sideline reporter Shannon Spake.
3:31 p.m.: Randy Bullock drills a 42-yard field goal with 8:09 left. OK, this time that seriously might do it. Giants 10, Patriots 7.
3:24 p.m.: Xavier McKinney tricks Bailey Zappe into thinking a window was open. In fact, he was just sizing him up. McKinney glides in and picks off the pass intended for JuJu Smith-Schuster with 12:40 remaining.
3:10 p.m.: The Patriots try to get the Giants to bite on fourth and 1, with Hunter Henry lined up at quarterback, New York stays pat and the Patriots have to punt. After 3Q: Patriots 7, Giants 7.
2:51 p.m.: Rhamondre Stevenson scores from 7 yards out, with 8:02 left in the third, to tie it. Bailey Zappe on the drive: 6 for 6, 38 yards. He looked poised the entire way. A 15-yard grab from Tyquan Thornton helped set it up. Patriots 7, Giants 7.
2:41 p.m.: It’s Zappe time. Bailey Zappe is in for Mac Jones to start the second half.
2:29 p.m.: That’s it for the half. Mac Jones is 12 for 21 for 89 yards and two interceptions. DeVante Parker has three catches for 42 yards. Jabrill Peppers has three tackles, a sack, and a fumble recovery. Half: Giants 7, Patriots 0.
2:14 p.m.: The Giants take a 7-0 lead with 1:53 left in the half on a 12-yard touchdown pass from Tommy DeVito to Isaiah Hodgins. That might do it. Giants 7, Patriots 0.
2:08 p.m.: Mac Jones throws another brutal pick. This one was almost as bad as the one against the Colts. He tossed this one directly into Bobby Okereke’s arms.
1:57 p.m.: For those who love punts, this is the game for you.
1:38 p.m.: Mac Jones throws a pick with three seconds left, as Deonte Banks swoops in, corrals it and stays in bounds. No one expected a 42-41 game, but this one has featured even less offense than expected so far. After 1Q: Patriots 0, Giants 0.
1:32 p.m.: Christian Barmore swats a pass on third down. Another punt. No score, late in the first. If you turned it on late, you didn’t miss much.
1:15 p.m.: Following a three-and-out for the Giants – highlighted by a Jabrill Peppers sack – the Patriots get the ball back at their own 13. New England gains some momentum, but ultimately has to punt. Still scoreless.
1:07 p.m.: Mac Jones is starting at quarterback for the Patriots. New England goes three-and-out on its opening drive.
1:07 p.m.: The Giants’ come out flying to start the game, but they butcher a routine play and fumble in Patriots territory. New Jersey native Jabrill Peppers recovers.
11:33 a.m.: Julian Edelman is all in on the idea of tanking.
11:33 a.m.: Here are the Patriots and Giants inactives.
OT Trent Brown, WR DeVante Parker, CB J.C. Jackson, and LB Ja’Whaun Bentley are all active.
10:11 a.m. Mac Jones arrived in a gray suit, with an extremely serious and stoic look on his face. As of 10:30 a.m., it’s still unknown who will start at quarterback for New England.
9:50 a.m.: The Patriots will rock their road white uniforms against the Giants.
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