Patriots don’t make excuses after loss
It would’ve been easy for the Patriots to use this past weekend as an excuse.
The team was ready to fly to Kansas City, Missouri, on Saturday. Instead, New England found out Cam Newton tested positive for COVID-19. Everyone had to scramble to get tested multiple times Saturday, Sunday and Monday. Gillette Stadium closed down for the weekend, the game was delayed and the team had to travel on the day it played.
On Monday, the Patriots met for testing at 6 a.m. They were on buses by 8 and in the air an hour later. The team had two planes touch down in Kansas City around 11. Players got a chance to rest and eat before heading to Arrowhead Stadium around 3. Four hours later, they played and ultimately committed several mental mistakes in their 26-10 loss to the Chiefs.
The excuses are there. The Patriots, however, aren’t taking them.
“It was unique, I’ll say that. I certainly don’t want to use it as an excuse. Nor does anyone else on this team,” said captain Matthew Slater. “First time I’ve done that in 13 years in the National Football League, but look, anytime you get a chance to take the field, they give you a uniform and helmet, you go out there and try to make the best of it. That’s what we tried to do. ...
“I know that a lot of us are creatures of habit and our routines were thrown off. I do not want to use it as an excuse at all. We just didn’t make enough plays today. It was a tough outing for us.”
Last week, the
Patriots spent three practices gameplanning with Newton. Jarrett Stidham said he and Hoyer were the scout team quarterbacks. When they found out Newton tested positive, Hoyer and Stidham had to meet with offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels and quarterbacks coach Jedd Fisch to readjust the game plan.
Hoyer prepared to start without having any practices with the first-team offense. He struggled through three quarters, throwing for 130 yards with an interception, and made two mental errors (a timeout call and holding the ball too long) that cost a chance at two field goals in the red zone.
Hoyer was removed from the game at the tail end of the third quarter. Stidham came in and immediately led the Patriots down the field, hitting N’Keal Harry for the first TD pass of his career. That good feeling, however, didn’t last long. Stidham was intercepted by Tyrann Mathieu for a pick-6 when the ball bounced out of Julian Edelman’s hands at 8:48 of the fourth quarter. He was then intercepted by Rashad Fenton in the next series.
The Patriots’ defense held strong for most of the contest, but there were two dropped interceptions by Devin McCourty and J.C. Jackson.
Overall, a stressful weekend led to a mistake-filled performance in Kansas City. The Patriots, however, said they were still ready to play despite the circumstances.
“We were ready to go. I think we showed that,” said McCourty. “Traveling day of the game, I wouldn’t say that had any effect on us. We came out here and played tough. I think everyone that got on that bus and then on that plane were ready to go.”