The New England Patriots lost Sunday, and they got their asses kicked in a big way. The final score read 45-27 against the Green Bay Packers, a result that leaves no room for excuses. Head coach Mike Vrabel did not sugarcoat the reality for his team or the fans watching at home. “We lost, and we got our asses kicked. There’s no two ways around it,” Vrabel said after the game on Sunday. The running game failed to provide any balance when the team needed it most.
Rhamondre Stevenson, the centerpiece of the backfield, walked off the field with a knee injury and never returned to the contest. The team now faces a major question mark regarding their primary rusher just days before a trip to Germany. “I’m not sure the extent of what it is. He just came off, so we’ll take a look at it, and we’ll see. I don’t want to speculate right now,” Vrabel added in his postgame comments reported by Sports Illustrated. Without a healthy Stevenson, the offense loses its only reliable way to control the clock.
Best Players Must Step Up Now
The Patriots simply did not get enough from their top talent during the blowout loss. Christian Gonzalez surrendered a career-high 10 receptions for 187 receiving yards, He allowed 196 yards total in his first six games. Gonzalez admitted the struggle was tough to watch. “Obviously, it is frustrating. I want to be who I am for the team, and everybody that knows what I am. But, it’s football. I’m going to have a bad game,” Gonzalez said. Even quarterback Drake Maye looked shaky early, throwing three interceptions in a game where he finished 21-for-38 for 299 yards.
Head coach Mike Vrabel made it clear that the team cannot rely on luck or hope for better days. “When your best players don’t play good, you don’t have much of a chance in this league. So, we expect a lot more,” head coach Mike Vrabel said. The stats show the team is averaging only 4.1 yards per carry through nine games, a number that is far from great for a playoff contender. Per Sports Illustrated, the Patriots need to find ways to be balanced offensively to survive the cold weather months ahead. The next game is Sunday, Nov. 15, 9:30 a.m. ET, The New England Patriots play the Detroit Lions at FC Bayern Munich Stadium.
