The starting quarterback was different but the offensive struggles were the same for the Bailey Zappe-led New England offense in Sunday’s 6-0 shutout loss to the Chargers at a rain-soaked Gillette Stadium.
A pair of second-quarter field goals by Los Angeles kicker Cameron Dicker saw the visitors hold a 6-0 halftime advantage, the second straight week the Patriots were shut out in the first half. It was the first time the New England offense has been held off the scoreboard in the first half in back-to-back weeks since 1993.
Neither team scored in the third quarter, as the teams combined for a trio of punts in the period. Zappe and the Patriots actually finally injected some entertainment into the game with a couple late scoring opportunities, but in the end couldn't get the job done as the Chargers made just barely enough plays to escape with the win.
The loss dropped the Patriots to 2-10 on the season having now lost five games in a row for the first time since 1995. It was also the team's second shutout loss at home this season.
Before turning the page to the short week for a trip to Pittsburgh for Thursday Night Football, here are the lackluster highs and ongoing lows from the latest losing effort.
Thumbs up
Bryce Baringer – Stop me if you’ve heard or read this here before, but the rookie punter is one of the best, most consistent players on the Patriots roster right now. The sixth-round pick boomed a 70-yard punt that was downed at the Chargers 20. For a team that punts as often as New England, Baringer has become almost a weapon. He finished the day with seven punts for an 49.5-yard average with three downed inside the 20, which even included a rare 26-yard shank in the fourth quarter.
Defense – Despite playing without its best players since Week 4 and getting little to no support from its offense, the New England defense continues to fight the good fight. The Patriots held the top-10 Chargers scoring attack to just six points in the first half on pair of field goals with L.A. held to just 1.8 yards per rush in the first 30 minutes. The coverage and run defense were good throughout. The unit once again played more than well enough to win, holding the Chargers to 4-of-14 on third down and 220 net yards while shutting out Justin Herbert and Co. in the second half.
Ezekiel Elliott – The veteran went from questionable to play coming in to having to become the workhorse when Rhamondre Stevenson left with an ankle injury in the first quarter. Elliott ran hard and made the most of his opportunities for the most part, finishing with 17 carries for 52 yards.
Sure he got away with a fumble in the third quarter, but he also chipped in in the passing game to the tune of four catches for 40 yards, with a 23-yard long.
Throwback uniforms – Look good, play good. Right? Not so much, at least not for the Patriots offense. But the red, Pat Patriot throwback uniforms indeed looked good Sunday afternoon at Gillette Stadium. Even CBS halftime analyst J.J. Watt had to make note of the old-school look.
Foxborough “Faithful” – There were plenty of empty seats at kickoff of a game that saw get-in prices reach unprecedented lows on the secondary ticket market. But those fans that showed up and stuck around in the rainy, cool conditions deserve credit considering the lack of entertainment value the Patriots have provided over the last month-plus. They also deserve credit for the boos they let flow at various points in the game for a team that very much deserves such treatment these days.
Thumbs down
Bailey Zappe – There is a reason Zappe is a backup who was cut before the season started. He has limited skills including shaky accuracy that was on full display against the Chargers in the rain. Running a very conservative passing attack for the most part the young passer just couldn’t get anything going, leading an offense that had four three-and-outs in five first-half possessions, the other two ending in a punt after one first down and a turnover on a fumble. Zappe finished completing 13 of 25 passes for 141 yards with no touchdowns or interceptions for a 68.9 rating.
Bill O’Brien’s offense – O’Brien was seen as a would-be savior for the New England offense and Mac Jones’ career when he returned to the Patriots this offseason. Nothing of the such has come to fruition. It’s not all the coach’s fault, but he’s the point man tasked with trying to find a way to get the job done on offense, especially facing the NFL’s worst pass defense. The Patriots offense can't convert third downs with regularity. Can't score points. Can't make big plays. And sometimes can't get out of its own way. O'Brien has to take some of the blame for that, as he told the media this past week.
Key injuries – New England’s two best defensive players (Matthew Judon and Christian Gonzalez) have been on IR since after Week 4. Top receiver Kendrick Bourne is gone to a torn ACL. His stand-in, rookie Demario Douglas, missed Sunday to a concussion. The list of critical players absent to injury added Rhamondre Stevenson in the first quarter against the Chargers, the running back lost to a right leg injury as he was off to another hot start with 40 yards on nine carries.
Mike Onwenu/O-Line – There were too many mistakes by the offensive line against L.A. Trent Brown/Conor McDermott earned a 12-men penalty swapping out in the first quarter. McDermott whiffed on a block of Khalil Mack to allow a pressure. David Andrews whiffed on a block on a third down run leading to Elliott being tackled for a loss. Mike Onwenu really struggled on the afternoon, first as he whiffed on Mack for a pressure in the second quarter. Onwenu then allowed Mack to get an easy third-down sack in the third quarter. Zappe was sacked on consecutive third and fourth down plays in the fourth quarter to end a Patriots scoring threat. Mack finished the day with a pair of sacks, as just part of the problem for the New England line that wasn’t up to its challenge in this one.
Tyquan Thornton – One ugly play doesn’t usually land someone on the list here, but that’s exactly the case for the second-year receiver. Thornton was free behind the Chargers defense in the third quarter when Zappe dropped the ball right into his hands only to watch the former second-round pick fail to haul in the would-be big play for an offense that can’t afford such missed opportunities. Thornton did have a 39-yard run later, but it doesn't make up for the deep ball that's supposed to be his strength. Thornton’s failure to develop, progress or produce in this two seasons in Foxborough has been a massive disappointment that’s kind of been lost in the focus on the quarterback struggles the last two years.
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