Glendale, Ariz. — The Patriots traveled to the desert after the bye week, hoping to finish strong over the last four games of the 2024 season.
Although they were already eliminated from postseason contention, four quality efforts from head coach Jerod Mayo’s team could’ve been a springboard into the 2025 offseason. The Patriots are young, from a first-time head coach and personnel chief to a rookie quarterback. They were expected to take their lumps in the first season under Coach Jerod Mayo and Eliot Wolf. All you wanted to see from this group in their final four games was a competitive showing against the hardest remaining strength of schedule in the NFL by some metrics.
Unfortunately, the Patriots couldn’t muster any momentum in a 30-17 loss to the Cardinals on Sunday, where Arizona led 23-3 in the fourth quarter before two late touchdown drives by New England. For all intents and purposes, the Patriots weren’t overly competitive in this one.
The story of the game was that New England finished 0-6 on third down while getting stuffed on consecutive runs needing one yard, resulting in a turnover on downs on a promising drive that ended on the Arizona four-yard line in the second half. On the other side, the Cardinals offense was 10-15 on third down. The late-down execution and discrepancy in big plays were the Patriots demise on Sunday, which the coaches and players lamented in the post-game scene at State Farm Stadium.
Until he threw deep to wideout Kayshon Boutte in the third quarter, rookie QB Drake Maye didn’t attempt a pass over 10 air yards, with a passing script that emphasized getting the ball out quickly because the Pats expected a blitz and man coverage-heavy approach by Arizona’s defense. Overall, the Cardinals played man coverage on 34.5% of Maye’s 29 drop-backs and blitzed 11 times. The Pats approach led to Maye having 82 passing yards on 12 completions through three quarters, while averaging just -0.6 air yards per pass attempt in the first half. On the turnover on downs, the Patriots loaded up with eligible offensive linemen for back-to-back traditional runs from under center. Maye, who entered the week ranked fourth among quarterbacks in rushing yards since taking over as the starter (342), wasn’t given an opportunity to use his mobility as a threat to the defense on third or fourth-and-one.
With their defense allowing 30 points in the loss, the coaching staff might need to see if Maye can carry them to a win. Although it was in garbage time, the rookie began airing it out in the fourth quarter, where he went 7-for-7 for 120 yards and two scores while logging his only deep completion of the afternoon on a perfectly thrown go ball to WR Kendrick Bourne.
New England wants to use its last four games to see what it has roster-wise as it sets the table for 2025. The quarterback isn’t the only piece to the puzzle, but it’s time for them to let Maye loose and see if he can rise to the occasion with the game on his shoulders.
Here are nine takeaways as the Patriots drop to 3-11 on the season with a loss to the Cardinals in Week 15.
1. SERVPRO Spotlight: Christian Gonzalez’s Coverage on Cardinals WR Marvin Harrison Jr. a Bright Spot in Loss
In the silver linings column, Gonzalez continued to make his case for regular-season accolades with a stellar performance vs. the Cardinals.
Going back to the draft, there was a debate about whether the Pats should’ve selected Harrison to build up the roster before taking a first-round quarterback. Ultimately, New England took Maye with the third overall pick, and Harrison Jr. went with the next pick to Arizona. With the promise he has shown, it appears that Maye was the right choice.
Nevertheless, it was still interesting to see Harrison Jr. up close, and he has a bright future, but Gonzalez was too good. On 21 routes shadowing MHJ, Gonzo allowed one catch for 23 yards on five targets with three pass breakups, including two pass breakups in the end zone to prevent touchdowns and multiple perfectly covered man coverage reps.