Brian Hoyer's first start with the Patriots did not go as well as he would have liked.
The 12-year veteran struggled and was pulled in the third quarter following a strip-sack in the red zone. Hoyer finished 15-for-24 with 130 yards, an interception as well as the fumble.
Speaking via video conference after the game, Hoyer took responsibility for the poor play.
“It was just try to set up, obviously we’re in field goal range, and I was getting ready to throw it and I just have to do a better job of protecting the football," he said of the strip-sack.
Hoyer also made another mistake in the red-area at the end of the first half when he took a sack on a play from the 10-yard line when the Patriots did not have any timeouts left. Instead of getting a chance to kick a field goal to tie the game at six, the clock ran out and the Patriots went into the locker room trailing, 6-3.
“Josh said to me in the helmet, ‘Let’s take a shot and no bad plays,’" Hoyer said. "Like I said, I looked and I knew I was in the pocket so I didn’t want to intentionally ground. I just have to do a better job of just throwing it over someone’s head.”
Following the strip sack, Hoyer was pulled in favor of second-year player Jarrett Stidham.
“It’s disappointing," Hoyer said. "You never want to get taken out of a game. Coach made the decision and I understand. Just two bad decisions in the red-area really cost us points. It’s frustrating. It’s disappointing. I have to do a better job.”
It was a long day for the Patriots, as they traveled to Kansas City early in the morning and were still working through finding out Cam Newton would not be able to play following his positive COVID test over the weekend.
Hoyer admitted it was unique, but wouldn't use it as an excuse.
“Like I said, it was just a whirlwind, but that’s just the world we’re living in in 2020," he said. "You just have to make the most of it. It had nothing to do with the bad plays that I had.”
