Late Thoughts (Week 13): Rare Err for the New England Patriots

There’s a lot to be said for consistency and the Patriots have basically rewritten it on the subject for the last decade and a half. But a funny thing has suddenly happened on the way to an unbeaten season.

Dec 6, 2015; Foxborough, MA, USA; New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady (12) sits on the ground after throwing an interception that was returned 100 yards for a touchdown by the Philadelphia Eagles during the third quarter at Gillette Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Stew Milne-USA TODAY Sports

It’s been an interesting 96th season for the National Football League as we saw an unprecedented amount of teams get off to great starts this year while too many clubs have hovered around or below the .500 mark this season.

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As for those five clubs that jumped out to 6-0 starts, four of them would eventually lose as the Carolina Panthers remain the league’s lone unbeaten club at 12-0.

But a funny thing happened on the way a setback for those four teams. The Green Bay Packers would open 6-0 and proceed to lose three straight games. The Denver Broncos’ 7-0 start was followed by losses to the Indianapolis Colts and Kansas City Chiefs. Then the Cincinnati Bengals dropped two in a row after winning their first eight games this season.

Last week, the 10-0 New England Patriots owned a 21-7 fourth-quarter lead on the way to a 30-24 overtime loss at Denver. But let’s remember that this is a club that doesn’t ordinarily lose consecutive games. In fact, it hadn’t since Weeks 2 and 3 of the 2012 season.

Philadelphia Eagles 35, New England Patriots 28. The Birds entered the contest riding a three-game losing streak and had allowed 90 points in their last two games.

Who knew?

Dec 6, 2015; Foxborough, MA, USA; New England Patriots head coach Bill Belichick watches from the sidelines during the first half against the Philadelphia Eagles at Gillette Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark L. Baer-USA TODAY Sports

Looking to place the blame on someone for the loss? Well, the Patriots offense and special teams didn’t do their club many favors.

Although the Patriots did give up their share of rushing yards in the loss—Eagles running back Darren Sproles had 66 of Philadelphia’s 128 yards on the ground—Belichick’s defenders allowed a mere 248 total yards of offense on the afternoon.

Now the bad news. The Patriots surrendered a total of 206 yards on three plays that had nothing with the Birds’ offense. A 14-7 New England lead turned into a 28-14 third-quarter deficit when 1) linebacker Najee Goode scooped up a blocked punt 24 yards for a score 2) safety Malcolm Jenkins picked off Tom Brady at the Philadelphia one-yard line and took back the ball 99 yards for a touchdown and 3) Sproles returned a New England punt 83 yards for a score.

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Belichick’s offense rolled up 427 yards on Sunday and Tom Brady did throw for 312 yards and three scores. But he was also picked off twice and sacked four times and a late fourth-quarter rally came up a bit short.

Let’s keep in mind that the Patriots are still 10-2 and own a three-game lead in the AFC East over the New York Jets with four games to play. Of course, two weeks ago New England was five games up in the division and had not lost this season.

There’s no real cause for concern in Foxborough at the moment. And if Belichick’s club can get a little healthier on both sides of the ball, this is a team fully capable of being in Santa Clara for Super Bowl 50.

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Getting back the likes of wide receiver Julian Edelman, tight end Rob Gronkowski and linebacker Dont’a Hightower will eventually help.

But like some of the other clubs that got off to great starts this season, it’s interesting to note that even the reliable Pats can stub their toes two games in a row. And things won’t get any easier next Sunday night at Houston against J.J. Watt and that Texans defense.

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