Cat-atonic again
Lions — like Jags — stymie Pats
DETROIT — It’s hard to imagine the Patriots playing worse than they did a week ago in Jacksonville, but last night’s debacle in Detroit surely represented a new low.
The Pats didn’t record a first down until 3:40 remained in the second quarter. They didn’t force a punt until 9:18 remained in the entire game.
For the second straight week, the Pats didn’t look particularly strong — or even average — in any area. It was all Detroit, all the time, in a 26-10 defeat.
This marked the first time since 2012 that the Patriots lost consecutive games in September (it also happened in 2000 and 2001). And they seemed doomed from the start.
Patriots receiver Phillip Dorsett dropped a pair of passes on their second drive, including what would have been a third-down conversion over the middle. The Pats insisted on feeding Sony Michel the ball on stretch runs and tosses throughout the night, but he was largely unproductive. Michel gained 10 yards on seven carries before the break. Facing the league’s worst run defense, the Pats didn’t have much more luck in the second half.
Once again, the Pats got next-to-nothing from their receivers. Brady was 4-for-10 for 44 yards when targeting receivers. His 133 passing yards were his fewest in a full game since 2013.
Defensively, the Pats were dominated at the point of attack and routinely gashed on the ground by rookie tailback Kerryon Johnson. The Pats struggled to deal with Johnson’s agility and change-of-direction at the line of scrimmage. He became Detroit’s first 100-yard rusher in five years.
Despite a disastrous first half, the Pats had life early in the third quarter, as rookie linebacker Ja’Whaun Bentley intercepted Matthew Stafford on a poorly thrown ball intended for tight end Luke Willson. The Pats took over at their own 48-yard line and promptly drove downfield for their first touchdown of the night.
Brady placed the ball perfectly over James White’s shoulder for a 10-yard score. White beat Detroit defensive back Quandre Diggs on the play, which narrowed the gap to 13-10 and shifted the momentum to the visitors for the first time.
But the Lions answered immediately. They orchestrated a 10-play, 75-yard drive that ended with a 33-yard touchdown strike from Stafford to Marvin Jones.
Jones aligned on the left side of the formation and drew Stephon Gilmore in man-to-man coverage. Jones beat Gilmore on a deep post to the short right corner of the end zone, and Gilmore didn’t receive any help from free safety Duron Harmon. Jones separated at the top of the route and secured an easy touchdown grab.
Trailing 23-10 in the fourth quarter, Brady heaved a desperate throw deep into triple coverage. Dorsett wasn’t in position to make a play on the ball, and Lions cornerback Darius Slay pulled down the interception.
The Pats’ next drive ended with another desperation heave for Dorsett. This one fell incomplete along the right sideline.