Crushing and embarrassing loss after an incredibly fun season.
McDaniels called a terrible game, but also hard to overcome a personnel group that was unable to block and create separation. Even though it’s nearly impossible to play QB in those conditions, Drake objectively played bad. Everything was awful across the board. Very similar game to last year’s Super Bowl. Mike Macdonald deserves as much credit as you can possibly give someone. He called one of the best defensive games I’ve seen with my own two eyes. He’s unbelievable.
The Patriots defense played really well too, but ultimately Klint Kubiak was the much better play-caller tonight. He found a way to provide answers despite the pressure.
It’s crushing as a fan, but Seattle is an incredible team and deserved to win the Super Bowl today. I was dead wrong on this one. Pretty awesome that a 4-13 team was able to even get to a Super Bowl, but it still stings badly in this fashion. What a ride this season was.
Every week we have to hear “the Patriots have to play that [team]’s defense” and never a word about how [team]’s offense has to play the Patriots defense.
They’ve allowed 2 touchdowns, turned the ball over 8 times and racked up 94 pressures in 3 playoff games. No clue why they’re still being treated as a side dish to the Patriots’ success this year.
Drake Maye faced the toughest path to the Super Bowl in NFL Playoff History.
No QB has ever beat 3 Top 5 defenses to get to the Super Bowl.
Until Drake Maye.
Chargers were #5 Defense
Texans were #1 Defense
Broncos were #2 Defense
PUT SOME RESPECT on Drake Maye’s name.
The Patriots are the first team in NFL history to beat three top-5 total defenses in the playoffs.
• Los Angeles Chargers (#5)
• Houston Texans (#1)
• Denver Broncos (#2)
Tough day for the “schedule” narrative…
#Patriots had a first half pick-6 vs Houston, yes. And 3 other INTs thrown in the 1st half by Stroud. But none of those other 3 INTs produced points for NE. Reread that, if need be.
In fact, NE only got 8 plays off those 3 picks…a fumble & 2 quick series punts. Those plays happened, but to no end 🤷♂️
The notion that the Stroud picks lost Houston the game is simply incorrect analysis, dead-ass wrong. That’s not what happened.
Patriots Defense:
*Just 2.2 YPC allowed on the ground
*Just 3.3 YPP allowed overall
*Just 241 total yards of offense allowed
*Allowed 25% red zone efficiency
*Allowed just 43% completion %
*5 sacks
All of these D markers are better than the Houston D was able to manage against NE’s O
Football fact is both defenses played very well, but New England’s defense did play better than the built-up legend of Houston’s D—independent of the INTs. NE hit on a few explosive plays in the passing game, Houston’s did not. And NE controlled things on the ground late offensively, something Houston’s offense could not do vs NE’s D
The other stuff is just fable 🦄
Derek Stingley Jr. when facing targets of 20+ air yards since the start of 2024:
vs. Kayshon Boutte: 2 targets, 2 receptions allowed, 72 yards, 2 TD
vs. all other WRs: 34 targets, 2 receptions allowed, 86 yards, 1 TD
🔥 Maye vs Houston D
🔥 Stroud vs New England D
🔥 Diggs vs former team
🔥 Two former players now coaching and revitalizing their franchises
🔥 PLAYOFF FOOTBALL.
Whatever storyline it is, IT’S HERE. 😤
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