The New England Patriots‘ final game of 2024 perfectly encapsulated the entire season – a new low.
The game? A disaster. The Saturday slot? A nuisance. The weather? Miserable. The Patriots’ performance? Unwatchable. Yet, thousands of fans still showed up after Christmas to endure this painful display. Kudos to their commitment.
The home team? Nowhere to be found. It’s no surprise that chants of “Fire Mayo!” echoed through Gillette Stadium in the fourth quarter. After a season full of disappointments, this loss marked the absolute rock bottom for Jerod Mayo’s team.
This may have been the Patriots’ last game of 2024, but unfortunately, their season isn’t over yet — they still face the Buffalo Bills next week.
What went wrong in Saturday’s crushing 40-7 defeat to the Los Angeles Chargers? Here’s a breakdown:
- The Patriots, looking like a team already broken, were steamrolled by the Chargers, who cruised into the playoffs without even trying.
- The Chargers dominated possession, holding the ball for a staggering 23:20 in the first half alone, while the Patriots had possession for a mere 6:40. By the end of the game, New England had the ball for less than 20 minutes.
- The offense was a mess from start to finish. There were fleeting moments of promise, but they were few and far between, never enough to spark a real drive.
- Third downs were a nightmare. The Patriots couldn’t convert when it mattered most, failing on a crucial 0-for-4 attempt that ended with a brutal sack from their own 39-yard line.
- Quarterback Drake Maye, who took a hit to the head earlier, was once again thrown into harm’s way as the offensive line collapsed. Every play he takes in this offense feels like a ticking time bomb.
- Maye’s passing stats seemed decent for a while, but negative plays like sacks and a botched pitch dragged his numbers down. He finished 12-of-22 after a promising start.
- Pop Douglas was a rare bright spot, catching a 36-yard touchdown and showing some of the best playmaking the offense has seen all season.
- Derwin James wreaked havoc on defense, including a sack on Antonio Gibson that showed just how far the Patriots have fallen compared to elite teams like the Chargers.
- The running game? Nonexistent. Stevenson and Gibson both failed to make any headway, and there was no spark to be found on the ground.
- The only offensive success came from Maye scrambling, which is far from ideal when keeping him healthy should be the team’s No. 1 priority.
- For fans wondering why the Patriots didn’t draft Ladd McConkey, the rookie had a monster game, catching two touchdowns while the Patriots continued to flounder.
- The Patriots dodged a bullet when the Chargers’ 93-yard punt return touchdown was called back for holding. But really, it barely mattered in the end.
Another miserable loss in a season full of them, and the pain isn’t over yet.
