How coaching failed Jones and the Pats defense against Dallas

PATRIOTS FILM REVIEW

Sunday’s game should have been a gift for the Patriots. The NFL’s new scheduling formula had led the Cowboys into Gillette Stadium to serve as a measuring stick less than two years after their last visit. By beating Dallas, a solid road favorite, the Pats could prove they are the team they proclaim themselves to be. Instead, their now trademark mistakes and their own coaching staff robbed them of that opportunity.

Leading 14-10 with 1:30 left in the first half, Bill Belichick opted to kneel out the clock instead of chasing an opportunity to score at the end of the first half and start of the second. He declined to expound on the decision Monday, one that ran contrary to most of those he made from 200118, when the Pats led the NFL in successful double-scores. His offense had averaged 7.5 yards per play to that point; had the Patriots covered 40 yards, they could have kicked a field goal that may have swung the game.

No screens, quick-hitters or play-action passes? Not even one, just to try?

In overtime, Belichick called on his punt team facing fourth-and-3 at midfield. His defense had been scorched on five straight series that led to Dallas touchdowns or field goal attempts. The Cowboys punted once all game. Was it more likely the Patriots offense could gain three yards or suddenly stop Dak Prescott and Co. having already logged 82 snaps?

Defensive play-caller Steve Belichick had been a step behind most of the night, even with a chance to knock Dallas out on third-and-25 with seconds left. Except on that snap, the Patriots fielded only six defensive backs instead of seven in an obvious deep passing situation. Special teams ace Justin Bethel had been good enough to replace Jonathan Jones at nickel in the first half when Jones suffered a ribs injury, but wasn’t fielded then, when the game was on the line and Jones could have been bumped to safety, a position he knows well.

Offensively, Josh McDaniels strangely scrapped a winning game plan for the middle quarters. On special teams, the Pats allowed their second blocked punt of the season. The culprit? Backup linebacker Jahlani Tavai, who was signed to the active roster mid-week over Myles Bryant, a hybrid safety/corner who was one of the better defenders during the team’s win at Houston — and could have been used Sunday.

These critiques are not a product of holding the Patriots against a standard of perfection. It’s about holding them to a standard of winning they’ve set themselves over two decades by playing clean football, rising in critical situations and allowing lesser coaching staffs to unravel.

Here’s what the film revealed about the

Pats’ loss to Dallas: