Yesterday's loss was the worse game in the Mike Vrbel era in New England.
Nobody said it better than New England Patriots head coach Mike Vrabel. In his post-game press conference after his team's 35-6 loss to the Jacksonville Jaguars, Vrabel said his concern level for this team was "very high."
The takeaway here is that the Patriots were thoroughly outplayed by every Jaguars player on Sunday afternoon. They also missed numerous opportunities to put up points and instead were plagued by turnovers, penalties, and even missed field goals.
Concern is very high for those on the outside looking in at Patriots headquarters, including the fan base and members of the media. Even if the team was going to have some mishaps early in the season and seemingly have a Super Bowl loss hangover, nobody thought things would look this bad.
New England was the worst team on the field on Sunday, Statistically
All that remains in Week 3 is a Monday Night Football matchup between the Eagles and Bears, so only one game stands in the way of this stat being locked into the books on the 2026 season. For now, though, the Patriots were statistically the worst team on the field during Sunday's slate of games.
The Patriots managed only six points. They were 0-3 in the red zone and averaged just 5.3 yards per play. Drake Maye being the key factor in three turnovers didn't help either.
For now, at least, the Patriots put up the fewest points in Week 3. Mike Vrabel's former team, the Tennessee Titans, put up seven points in their 12-7 loss to the New York Giants. The Patriots have tallied only 36 points on the scoreboard in three weeks. That is much less than what we saw at this point last season
Maybe the Patriots' defense isn't as good as we thought
New England's defense knows how to make an impact on the field. Under defensive coordinator Zak Kuhr, they have many key players who can do that. However, they entered the Jaguars game with what was believed to be a powerhouse defense that could carry the Patriots for some time till Drake Maye's confidence was restored. Allowing the opposing offense to score 35 points says otherwise, though.
Despite great plays in the secondary from Marcus Jones, Christian Gonzalez, and Carlton Davis III, the defense couldn't stop the Jaguars from spreading the ball around the field.
The Patriots had no way to stop the run. The Jaguars wracked up 137 rushing yards on 30 carries and scored two touchdowns. Both backs helped Jacksonville do it. Bhayshul Tuten had 15 carries for 73 yards and a touchdown, and Chris Rodriguez Jr. had 8 carries for 37 yards and a touchdown as well.
Is it time for a new kicker in New England?
The only person to score for New England on Sunday was kicker Andy Borregales, and even he struggled. Borregales had missed three kicks in the preseason matchup against the Colts. He also missed a 47-yard attempt last week against the Steelers.
On Sunday afternoon, he missed a 38-yard attempt at a crucial time, when the team needed points before halftime.
Borregales' inconsistency is overlooked right now and overshadowed by the disastrous performance by Drake Maye, but Mike Vrabel gave a blunt answer about Borregales’ missed kicks back in preseason that subtly suggested he would be willing to explore other options if he didn't get things on track.
Drake Maye doesn't need confidence; he needs an edge on the field
You hate to make the Tom Brady comparisons, but for twenty years, Brady was a football sociopath. The nickname "Psycho Tom," given to him by Skip Bayless, has a lot of merit. Brady, even against a good team, was locked in on an untouchable level that put him in the stratosphere of competitors. It was a sight Patriots fans got for 20 years.
Maye is in his third season. He’s 24 years old. He's not going to go destroy a defense right now, no matter whether his style of play is good or bad. Maye has confidence; you can see it in how he speaks to the media. He's an "ah shucks" southern gentleman. There’s no lost twinkle in his eye. He feels confident in himself, but he is going to need something on the field that ignites a spark on every Sunday.
Something that doesn't turn him into a locked-in, laser-focused psychopath who calls audibles, but something that balances his style of play so he can escape the pressure that chases him on the field and, for now, off it.
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