Jakobi Meyers says the Patriots’ game-losing play against the Raiders on Sunday falls on him. Rhamondre Stevenson disagrees.
Meeting with reporters after the 30-24 loss -- a game that should have at least gone to overtime -- Stevenson acknowledged that he screwed up by pitching the ball to Meyers in the first place and not just going down.
“I think the coaches gave us a play to just kind of run the time out, get down,” Stevenson said. “There were only a couple seconds on the clock. I feel like I should’ve done just that, just got down.”
Stevenson was asked if there was any option to pitch the ball when the play came in. He said there wasn’t, admitting it was just a simple draw play and that he needed to be more aware of the situation.
“No, I mean the play call was just a draw play,” he said. “Nothing more than that, nothing less. I’m supposed to know the situation. I’m supposed to know how much time’s left on the clock and critical situations. I failed to do that today. So, it is what it is.”
When informed of Meyers taking responsibility -- Meyers, of course, threw the backwards pass that wound up getting picked off and returned for the game-winning touchdown -- Stevenson insisted that it was his fault for putting Meyers in that position in the first place.
“I mean, the play started off with me with the ball. So if I didn’t pitch it back to him, Jakobi wouldn’t have had the chance to do that,” Stevenson said. “I take full responsibility for that play. I just have to know the situation and know what’s going on in the game.”
Stevenson had an otherwise outstanding day, running for 172 yards and a touchdown on 19 carries. Unfortunately, his role in the final play of the game is probably going to be remembered more.
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