Nitpicks & Nitwits: Patriots' JV Blasts Jets

I kinda miss Rex Ryan being on the sidelines.

Here’s a guy whose career coaching record was below .500 (65-68, including the postseason) and yet he possessed the swagger of Captain Jack Sparrow in the Pirates of the Caribbean film series. A guy who used his wit and humor more so than actual ability when it came to having success.

‘Never say die,’ even if you ‘never will win.’ Yeah. Miss that.

Ryan used a little of his personality this week as an analyst for ESPN, leading up to the Patriots’ game Sunday at the New York Jets – by saying in comparison to recent seasons and teams of the past, “this is the New England Patriots’ JV team. So to me, I’m like, Jets just stomp them.”

Same ol’ Rex. How’d this one work out? Thanks for the chuckle, though.

But he did have a point. The Patriots have been a mess. They still have Bill Belichick, however, which he did point out. What the Patriots (and the fans and media) haven’t had much of, is patience.

The team got its season back on proper footing Sunday in New York. It was a step in the right direction, but how long will it be until the next misstep comes along? Next week, perhaps, against the Colts?

It’ll happen because mistakes always happen. The key is to reduce them to a point where they don’t cost you a game. New England has made their fair share of mistakes, sure, and we nitpick ’em every week.

The Jets made the more egregious mistakes on Sunday, the Patriots didn’t – even if Mac Jones threw one of the worst passes of his young career for a Pick-Six that was called back for roughing the passer.

It was a game-changing call that the Patriots needed to potentially change their fate for this season. It was ugly. But perfect games don’t happen in football. They’re rare enough in baseball.

Having ol’ friend Rex opening his mouth and inserting foot every once in a while, is a welcome reoccurrence. And for my money, ol’ ugly is still better than ol’ nuthin’, every time there’s a “W” attached to it.

The drumbeat goes on

Six penalties for 54 yards against New England Sunday was an improvement in the mistake category, to be sure. But still…fortunate.

Defensively, an unnecessary roughness call on Jabrill Peppers helped push the Jets into an eventual touchdown in the second quarter, and two penalties on a drive right before the end of the first half forced the Patriots into a 4th down call – which they attempted and missed.

Why not kick for the points there, especially since you had the ball to start the second half?

Peppers, to his credit, bounced back nicely from the gaffe with a block that helped spring Marcus Jones on a big punt return in the second half.

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What was he thinking?

Mac Jones on a 4th and 1 pass attempt to Jakobi Meyers late in the second quarter from the Jets’ 21-yard line? It sailed over Meyers’ head.
Jones on his out route intended for Tyquan Thornton, only to be picked off by Michael Carter and returned 85 yards for a TD? Saved by a questionable roughing-the-passer call on John Franklin-Myers.
Cole Strange, who had a tough day at the office against the New York physicality up front, with a holding call with his team on the Jets’ 12-yard line and :23 left on the clock before the half. Red zone struggles? It turned a possible six into three on that possession.
Zach Wilson – at several points during the second half? He threw three interceptions, two to Devin McCourty, each worse than the previous one.

Where has that been?

As much as he gets hammered, it’s time to give Matt Patricia a little praise for his play selection.

After halftime, the Patriots decided to ride their horse and at an upbeat tempo, too. Not only did Rhamondre Stevenson burst through the line on a 35-yard play (he had 143 total yards on the day), but Jones was able to utilize the short passing game to help neutralize and slow down the physical Jets’ front.

Six plays, 62 yards, six points and virtual control of a game that was very much in doubt to that point.

And for what it’s worth…

Bill Belichick surpassed the late, great Hall of Fame coach George “Papa Bear” Halas for second on the NFL’s all-time coaching wins list with his 325th career victory. Sure, it would have been perfect to do that against his Chicago Bears last Monday, but hey…(bleep) happens. Belichick also moved past Don Shula for the second-most regular season wins in league history.

And Devin McCourty – who originally started out as a cornerback but worked his way into a Pro Bowl caliber safety during his career – had the 3rd two-pick game of his career and is now the interception leader for active NFL players, with 33. He’s three behind the Patriots’ franchise standard-bearers – Ty Law and Raymond Clayborn each had 36.