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On the last calendar day of 2023, the New England Patriots added another "L" to the loss column of their miserable campaign.
Despite a valiant second-half effort in Buffalo, the Pats fell 27-21 to the Bills and subsequently fell to 4-12 on the year. The good news? New England currently holds the No. 2 overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft.
Here are five immediate thoughts from the penultimate game of the season:
5 - Deja vu at Highmark Stadium.
In last season’s Patriots season finale in Buffalo, Bills running back Nyheim Hines returned New England’s opening kickoff 96-yards for a touchdown to open their first game since the Damar Hamlin incident against the Bengals.
Patriots wide receiver Jalen Reagor returned the favor on Sunday.
The former Viking and Eagle returned kicker Tyler Bass’ opening boot 98 yards for a score to start the contest, getting the points going just 12 seconds in. The touchdown marked the second straight season that Pats vs. Bills at Highmark Stadium began with an opening kick return for six.
Unfortunately, that’s almost all of the scoring New England could muster up on Sunday.
4 - Turnover happy first half kills Pats offense.
When speaking very highly of his quarterback Bailey Zappe following last weekend’s win on WEEI’s the Greg Hill Show, Patriots head coach Bill Belichick mentioned the importance of ball security in offensive success:
“The most important thing is ball security and protecting the team and not turning the ball over,” he said. “That’s definitely gotten better for him.”
On Sunday, it definitely got worse as the quarterback thew three interceptions in the first half - all three of which resulted in Buffalo points.
On top of Zappe coughing the ball up, tight end Pharaoh Brown fumbled in the first half and Kevin Harris almost did as well before ultimately being ruled down.
It was reported that coordinator Bill O’Brien had a “calm but stern” talking to with New England’s offense after the flurry of mistakes and while they didn’t turn it over in the second half, the offensive output was ultimately not enough in the 27-21 loss.
3 - Young defensive talent remains New England’s bright spot.
The defense remains a massive bright spot for the Patriots organization moving forward, and Sunday was yet another example of that.
Cornerback Alex Austin, who New England signed at the beginning of November, recorded the first interception of his career on Sunday with an incredible bait job on Bills quarterback Josh Allen. Take a look:
Rookie defensive end Keion White also shined on Sunday. Though the box score says he only tallied one tackle, the 2023 second-round pick’s presence was felt far beyond the stat sheet. White registered several hits and pressures on Josh Allen, making his life miserable for majority of the contest.
While there’s a lot that needs to be done in New England before they’re Super Bowl contenders again, almost none of it has to do with the defense.
2 - New England shuts down Josh Allen in 2023.
One of the better quarterbacks in football, Josh Allen was compared to Tom Brady this week by Bill Belichick:
“Just kind of like [Tom] Brady. Once Brady got to a certain point there in 2003, that's pretty much the way it was the rest of his career,” the head coach said on Wednesday. “...once he got to a certain point there about the midseason of the 2003 season and then the playoffs. From then on, it was his level of performance and play and consistency was at the very top of the league. Different style of play. Once those quarterbacks, usually when they get to that point, they're able to sustain it.”
On Sunday, Belichick made him look like anything but one of ‘those quarterbacks’.
Allen was incredibly errant in Buffalo’s win against the Patriots on Sunday, completing just 15 of 30 passes for 169 yards and an interception with a passer rating of just 53.3.
If there’s anything to take away from this now 4-12 season in New England, it’s that they may have some answers to the best signal caller in their division.
1 - The Patriots need a quarterback.
While the Bailey Zappe era in New England was a fun one, and his second half performance in Buffalo was (sort of) promising. One thing is clear after Sunday:
The Patriots need a new quarterback heading into 2024.
Zappe has showed us something over the last several weeks as New England’s starting quarterback. What was it, you ask? That he’s worthy of an NFL roster spot. No more, no less.
It’s looking like New England will wind up having a top-five pick in the 2024 NFL Draft, with the potential to land as high as No. 2 when it’s all said and done.
There’s at least three quarterbacks in this coming class that have franchise QB-plus potential in Caleb Williams, Drake Maye, and Jayden Daniels. They all have incredible upside and may have the ability to win a Super Bowl one day.
Bailey Zappe, as a starter, does not.
Make sure to follow Mike on Twitter @mikekadlick, and follow @WEEI for the latest up-to-date Patriots and Boston sports news!
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