There have been plenty of explanation why the New England Patriots got here up simply brief of their 25-24 loss to the Indianapolis Colts in Sunday’s Week 13 recreation at Gillette Stadium, and purple zone struggles needs to be on the prime of the record.
The Patriots had little or no hassle transferring the ball towards the Colts protection all recreation. They made six journeys into the purple zone, however they solely scored two touchdowns on these drives. And in a detailed recreation that noticed many lead adjustments, the distinction between a area purpose and a landing on only one drive could possibly be the distinction in a win or a loss.
What was the reason for the Patriots’ incapacity to complete drives within the purple zone?
“I assumed we ran the ball up till we bought to the purpose line fairly properly,” Patriots rookie quarterback Drake Maye stated in his postgame press convention. “I feel within the passing recreation, I feel perhaps get by my development. It was powerful down there. It was tight. Tight home windows. Tight throws.
“I’ve to provide our guys some possibilities. I feel that is most likely the largest factor. And penalties – I feel one in every of them was penalties. We bought again into, like, a first-and-goal from the 20. Simply cannot accept 4 area objectives within the purple zone and count on to win ball video games.”
The occasion Maye is speaking about got here within the first quarter on the group’s second drive. The Patriots marched all the way in which right down to the 2-yard line, the place operating again Rhamondre Stevenson took a direct snap and ran to the best for a landing. However the rating was taken away due to a holding penalty on offensive lineman Mike Onwenu. On the very subsequent play, rookie left guard Layden Robinson additionally was penalized for holding.
So the Patriots went from first-and-goal on the 2-yard line to first-and-goal on the 22-yard line. They settled for a area purpose on that drive. A landing seemingly would have modified the ultimate outcome.
The opening drive of the sport additionally ended with a Patriots area purpose within the purple zone. The drive stalled when Maye took a sack on third down, which he took blame for.
“Yeah, I am unable to take a sack there,” Maye stated. “Pink zone sacks, particularly if we’ve got an opportunity to perhaps get some yards and go for it. I am unable to keep in mind the play, however I feel perhaps – which means had been we going? We had been going that means. I feel I perhaps had an opportunity on the again facet. If I bought again facet, I ended up scrambling out. Simply have to remain within the pocket and get again to the again facet of the development.”
Patriots head coach Jerod Mayo pointed to dangerous execution as the basis of the group’s purple zone issues.
“I am going to return and watch the movie. It is finally execution at that time within the recreation,” Mayo stated in his postgame press convention. He added: “We simply should do a greater job executing.”
The Patriots have the fourth-worst touchdown scoring rate within the purple zone after Sunday. There are plenty of issues this group wants to enhance throughout its upcoming bye week, and purple zone offense is definitely one in every of them. Mayo could be sensible to dedicate plenty of observe time towards fixing this side of the group’s offense.
The Patriots have the second-toughest remaining schedule within the league. They will not win any extra video games in the event that they preserve settling for area objectives contained in the 20-yard line.
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