IT’S TOO EARLY TO WRITE BRADY AND PATRIOTS OFF
But paltry numbers are cause for concern as perennial contenders start season 1-2
The Cleveland Browns have a better record than the New England Patriots three weeks into the 2018 NFL season.
The Browns are 1-1-1 while the Patriots are 1-2.
No more startling fact than that can lead off an item on the early-season struggles of the two-time defending AFC champion Patriots. But other stats similarly open one’s eyes and paint the same uncommon picture.
All point to this. What the heck is wrong with New England? The defence can’t stop the run (only Detroit is worse at it) and the offence can’t pass worth a lick.
The only clubs with less prolific passing attacks than New England’s 202 yards per game are those with quarterbacks who are either inexperienced, old or banged-up: Cleveland (191), Chicago (178), Tennessee (162), Buffalo (148), Dallas (145) and Arizona (132).
“It’s no way to play football,” beleaguered Patriots quarterback Tom Brady said following New England’s 26-10 thumping Sunday night at the hands of the previously winless Detroit Lions.
An anemic passing attack is a big reason behind the Patriots losing back-to-back games by double digits for the first time since December 2002.
But know this. The last time the Pats opened with two September losses, in 2014, they went 10-2 thereafter, before running the table in the playoffs to win another Super Bowl.
Even if the Pats lose on Sunday at home to 3-0 Miami, know the only other Belichick/ Brady-era New England team to lose three of its first four was the first, the 2001 team. The team finished 11-5 and won the franchise its first Super Bowl.
After the Miami game, the offence returns one proven difference-maker at wide receiver in Julian Edelman (drug suspension). Newly acquired receiver Josh Gordon could be added as soon as this week (hamstring injury). Each should provide an immediate boost to the passing attack.
“We’re not executing well enough on a down-by-down basis,” Brady said. “And we have to get it corrected soon.”
ALLEN A-OK
Those still clinging to their belief the Buffalo Bills would have been better off sticking with Tyrod Taylor over rookie Josh Allen at QB might want to digest these numbers.
Each has played 2½ games this season, Taylor with Cleveland. Here’s how their aggregate stats compare:
Allen: 55.7 per cent completions, 515 passing yards, two TDs, two interceptions, 76.8 passer rating, 11 sacks taken, two rushing TDs, 97 rushing yards, 612 total yards.
Taylor: 48.8 per cent completions, 462 passing yards, two TDs, two interceptions, 63.7 passer rating, 13 sacks taken, one rushing TD, 125 rushing yards, 587 total yards.
What’s more, since Allen was named the Bills’ starter two weeks ago, he has thrown for more passing yards than New England’s Tom Brady (441 to 367) and personally accounted for more touchdowns, passing and running (four to three). Tiny sample size, granted.
That said, Allen appears farther along than any of us would have thought possible nearing the end of his first month in the league.
ROUGH JUSTICE
The NFL’s new, unduly harsh, over-the-top roughing-the-passer penalty must be revised. Like, this week.
This year for the first time, defenders who sack the quarterback cannot land with their body weight on top of the passer. Official league language qualifies that slightly, to say it’s a foul if a defender lands “with all or most” of his weight on a passer.
Green Bay’s Clay Matthews has been flagged once in each of the Packers’ three games. Each time he, and everyone else but NFL folk, couldn’t believe their eyes when he was flagged. The second one cost Green Bay a win against Minnesota in Week 2.
Former perennial all-pro Cleveland Browns offensive tackle Joe Thomas implored the NFL in a tweet to “tell us how a player, running at full speed, can tackle a quarterback squarely from the front, and not land on said quarterback with most of his weight? I’ll hang up and listen now.”
Fox Sports analyst and Hall of Fame quarterback Troy Aikman sounded so angry Sunday about a bogus such penalty given to Cowboys defensive end Tyrone Crawford of Windsor, Ont., during Sunday’s Seattle-Dallas game that he said, in obvious disgust, “I’m not even going to comment on it anymore. It’s just ridiculous.”
CARRY ON, KERRYON
Could it really be so? The Detroit Lions can finally rush the football?
If you missed it Sunday night, rookie Kerryon Johnson became the first Lion to rush for 100 yards in a game since Reggie Bush did it nearly five years ago, on U.S. Thanksgiving Day in 2013. Johnson finished with 101 yards on 16 carries in an upset win over the New England Patriots.