Stupor Bowl: More Mistakes Lead to Another Heartbreaking Loss For New England Patriots to New York Giants
The Super Bowl deteriorated into a Stupor Bowl. Nonetheless, the New England Patriots still can't beat the New York Giants.
Mac Jones was benched, replacement Bailey Zappe threw a key fourth-quarter interception and rookie kicker Chad Ryland missed a game-tying 35-yard field goal as time expired as the Pats lost to the lowly Giants, 10-7, at cold, wet, dreary MetLife Stadium Sunday afternoon. New England falls to 2-9, which improves its pick in next April's NFL Draft but drops them to their worst start since rookie Drew Bledsoe began 1-10 in 1993.
With another one-score, heartbreaking loss, Bill Belichick is suffering his worst season in 29 years as an NFL head coach.
This one was, as expected, low-scoring and minimally entertaining. Featuring the two lowest-scoring offenses in the NFL, each team scored only one touchdown and it was New England that made the most mistakes at the worst times.
Jones was benched for the fourth time this season after throwing two first-half interceptions. Zappe initially led the Pats to their only touchdown, but then threw a killer interception.
With New England down 10-7, Zappe converted a key 4th-and-4 at midfield at the two-minute warning, firing a 5-yard completion to JuJu Smith-Schuster. Belichick got ultra-conservative on 3rd-and-8 from the Giants' 20, calling a run to receiver Tyquan Thornton that picked up only three yards to set up Ryland's missed attempt.
The kick sailed wide left, forcing a disgusted Belichick to drop his head and the Pats to lose their fourth in a row. New England's last three losses have been by three, four and three points.
The Patriots' defense produced six sacks and held the Giants to only 220 total yards. But the offense - the pathetic Achilles heel all season - committed three turnovers and managed just the lone touchdown against a Giants' defense that two weeks ago surrendered 49 points and 640 yards to the Dallas Cowboys.
The Pats' quarterback tandem threw three interceptions, including one by Zappe early in the fourth quarter into triple-coverage on Smith-Schuster. The pick, returned by the Giants' Xavier McKinney to New England's 32, set up a 42-yard field goal by Randy Bullock for a 10-7 score.
Chad Ryland's missed field goal prompted another heartbreaking Patriots loss.
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Zappe replaced Jones and immediately drove the Pats to a touchdown for a 7-7 tie early in the third quarter.
He completed all five passes - including a 9-yard, third-down conversion to Demario Douglas - and New England converted a 4th-and-1 on a Stevenson plunge. The running back scored up the middle from seven yards to cap the 11-play, 60-yard drive.
The Pats went 21 drives between offensive touchdowns, back to the second quarter of the Nov. 5 loss to the Washington Commanders.
In a predictably putrid first half, the Patriots dug a 7-0 hole after a bushel of Jones miscues. The quarterback continued looking skittish in the pocket, overthrowing open receivers, displaying awkward footwork and throwing two interceptions that led to New York's lone touchdown.
The Pats drove 69 yards in 12 plays in the second quarter before another inexplicable throw by Jones. Pressured up the middle, Jones - like he did in the game-clinching interception two weeks ago in Germany - panicked and lofted a throw off his back foot. The ball was woefully short and well behind the intended receiver, and was easily picked off by the Giants' Bobby Okereke and returned 55 yards.
Cornerback Jonathan Jones then badly missed a tackle on 3rd-and-10, allowing receiver Isaiah Hodgins to scoot in for a touchdown and New York's 7-0 lead.
Jones also threw an ugly interception into triple coverage, and was lucky to not lose a fumble when sacked late in the half. He was benched at halftime after completing 12 of 21 for only 89 yards and the two picks.
