Patriots fall to Dolphins in blowout, Jerod Mayo called into question
By Jordan Pagkalinawan
After the New England Patriots’ 28-22 loss to the Rams in week 11, many wondered if things could get any worse. As Tua Tagavailoa and the Miami Dolphins showed yesterday, they certainly can.
“Struggled” is an understatement for the Pats, who trailed 24-0 at halftime and 31-0 by the third quarter Sunday., ultimately losing 34-15. New England’s defense appeared nonexistent, allowing the Dolphins to tally 373 total yards and for quarterback Tua Tagavailoa to rack up 317 yards on 29 of 40 completions. Dolphins wide receiver Jaylen Waddle led the way with 144 receiving yards on eight receptions, finding the end zone once. Tight end Jonnu Smith, who played for the Pats from 2021 to 2023, had quite the revenge game against his former team: five receptions and 48 yards.
The Patriots offense, which scored all of New England’s points in the fourth quarter, finished with 269 total yards, 183 of them being receptions. Quarterback Drake Maye had 222 yards on 22 of 37 passes, though he also committed two turnovers. Wide receiver DeMario Douglas led the Pats in yards with 62 on five receptions. The main issue for the Patriots was penalties, as they committed six in the first half and ten overall. That, among other factors, has many questioning the abilities of first-year—and first-time—head coach Jerod Mayo.
Among those doubters is Boston Globe writer Chad Finn, who, in his “Unconventional Review” column, was convinced Sunday’s loss was the “low point” for the Pats.
“I’ve tried to give him the benefit of the doubt,” Finn wrote. “We’ve known him a long time — as a tough, hard-hitting player, as a brief media personality (the first branch on the ‘Quick Slants’ coaching tree), as an assistant coach under Bill Belichick. We know he’s smart and hard-working and has an easy way with people.”
“We also know he has no previous head coaching experience,” he continued. “And we are reminded of that virtually every single week, with puzzling — and at times, unjustifiable — tactical or game-clock decisions constantly rearing up.”
When discussing the team’s latest blunder, Mayo once again publicly criticized his players.
“Once those guys cross the [sideline] there’s nothing I can do for them,” Mayo said. “There’s nothing any coach can do for them once they cross the [sideline]. It’s my job to continue to prepare… them.”
As for how his players felt, the scene from New England’s locker room was surprisingly jovial, with numerous Patriots reporters commenting from Hard Rock Stadium.
MassLive’s Mark Daniels wrote: “Although not everyone was happy — several players were upset — the sounds of light laughter filled the side of the room where offensive players got dressed.”
One of the unhappy campers was Drake Maye, who addressed the media following the team’s performance and shared a message he told his teammates: “I told some guys on the sidelines, ‘Remember this feeling. Remember this feeling of getting your butts whooped today.’”
The Pats face the Indianapolis Colts on Sunday, Dec. 1, at 1:00 p.m.