THE New England Patriots lost his eighth defeat of the season in Sunday’s Week 11 matchup against the visiting Los Angeles Rams.
There was no carry-over effect for the Patriotsdefensive masterpiece against the Chicago Bears last week. The same unit that had nine sacks and 13 hits against rookie quarterback Caleb Williams did not record a single sack against Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford.
This led to the Rams splitting the Patriots defense for a total of 402 yards and handing them a 28-22 loss at home. It wasn’t too bad for New England with at least a few notable performances from the players.
Here are the highlights and misses from the Week 11 loss to the Rams:
DUD: WR Ja\’Lynn Polk
I hate to keep leaning on rookie Ja’Lynn Polk, but his false start penalty on a crucial 4th-and-inch situation late in the fourth quarter was a game-changer for the Patriots.
The mistake forced the Patriots to score a field goal when they could have done so and potentially scored a touchdown on the drive. Andrew Callahan of the Boston Herald noted that Polk has had more penalties than catches since October 1.
Yeah.
BOY: WR Kendrick Bourne
With Kendrick Bourne benched last week, some wondered how involved he would be in the offense moving forward. That question was answered emphatically Sunday when the veteran receiver had five catches for a team-high 70 yards. This was Bourne’s best performance and by far the one where he was most involved in the offense this season.
DUD: Coaching
The Patriots were dominated by the Rams. There were far too many head-scratching moments in this game, including the team’s decision to leave Jonathan Jones alone on an island with Rams receiver Cooper Kupp early in the third quarter. Kupp easily burned Jones and took the ball to the house for a 69-yard touchdown.
The coaching staff also made the decision not to let star cornerback Christian Gonzalez overshadow Kupp or Puka Nacua. Both receivers ended up recording over 100 receiving yards each.
BOY: QB Drake Maye
Drake Maye looked so calm and collected in the pocket for a player making just his sixth NFL start. He made some tight window throws under pressure against an aggressive Rams defensive front. There isn’t a lot of help around Maye, but he continues to elevate his teammates and give them a chance to compete every week. What more could you ask for from a 22-year-old NFL quarterback?
DUD: CB Jonathan Jones
Cooper Kupp turned Jonathan Jones into toast on a botched blitz early in the third quarter. The Patriots sent the house on defense and left Jones one-on-one with Kupp. It ended up being a big mistake when Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford hit Kupp for a long touchdown to open the game.
DUD: S Kyle Dugger
It was a tough return game for Kyle Dugger, but he has also been out the last two weeks with an ankle injury. He missed several tackles in the game, and it was not a performance worthy of his talent. The Patriots desperately need him to settle in and become a key playmaker again on the defensive unit.
This article was originally published on Patriots Wire: Patriots vs. Rams: The cleats and misses of New England’s Week 11 loss
