Instant Observations Following Patriots' 37-20 loss to Ravens in Week 9

Here are some instant observations made during the New England Patriots' 37-20 loss to the Baltimore Ravens in Week 9.

There is a lot to unpack in the New England Patriots' 37-20 loss to the Baltimore Ravens, which is the Patriots' first loss of the season. 

Much of the game showed a bunch of things we really haven't seen all season. Let's talk about some of them in our instant observations.

Tom Brady and the offense outplay the defense

This might be the first game this year that Tom Brady and the offense actually outplayed the defense. 

Brady looked crisp. He started off slow, but picked it up and consistently found targets for Julian Edelman, Mohamed Sanu, and James White. He moved the ball in a fashion that we really have not seen thus far this season. Hopefully, he can go into the bye week and build on his performance. 

Mohamed Sanu goes off in only his second game with New England

Sanu had 10 catches off 14 targets and seemed to have a decade-long relationship with Brady. He had 81 receiving yards and a redzone touchdown. 

If he can continue to do what he did tonight, he will have been well worth the second round pick. 

Bethel builds on strong start with another great game

Justin Bethel was all over the field tonight on special teams. He had a really strong night on punt coverage. Swapping him for Jordan Richards was absolutely a great grab by Belichick. 

Isaiah Wynn cannot seem to come back any sooner

Marshall Newhouse is just bad. Newhouse is like, really bad. There are times when defenders are getting in the backfield before he can even get his hands up. By the time he gets out of his three-point stance and gets his hands up to block, he is turning his head around and running back into the backfield to find his assignment mauling Brady. 

Isaiah Wynn is designated to return from the IR. The moment he does will be a big sigh of relief for all of New England. 

Turnovers and penalties costly for Patriots

It seemed like whenever the Patriots would put themselves in a good spot on offense, a penalty or turnover would be sure to ensue. They had several drive-killers during multiple promising possessions. This was not ideal.  

Lamar Jackson torches Patriots on ground; Simon especially struggles

Jackson was slipping through spaces that quarterbacks are simply not suppose to get through. It seemed like he was going to get sacked several times during this game, yet he would find a way to squeeze out a seven yard gain. 

The option really gave the defense headaches. Especially John Simon, who was guessing wrong several times during these plays. 

The Ravens really gashed the Patriots with Jackson's legs and those read option plays. 

James White gets majority of snaps tonight over largely inefficient Sony Michel

Sony Michel has had his struggles this season. Tonight, he only had four carries. Burkhead had four carries. James White had nine and a touchdown in a goal line situation. This had to be refreshing for James White as he has been somewhat underutilized this season. Could this be a sign of things to come? 

Baltimore offensive line deserves some major credit

They started off by manhandling the Patriots' pass rush in the early goings and they opened up so many running holes for Ingram, Jackson and Edwards. They pulled their tackles and guards on different run plays and really abused them with their fullbacks and tight ends. Major props to everyone involved in their blocking game, handling an elite defense. 

Baltimore game plan exposes the defense; forces defense to adjust their plan

Harbaugh's plan on offense was to try his hardest to get the Patriots' defensive formation to shift. He knew that in order to beat this defense, he would have to make the defense guess early and force them to shift into a base defense. 

After guessing wrong a few times on defense and overselling their hand, the Patriots got away from what they were accustomed to doing on defense and played the game on the Ravens watch. 

This defense is notorious for forcing teams into long pass situations and they just could not do that against a mobile quarterback like Lamar Jackson. 

Jackson took what he could get and beat the defense with shallow crossers and outside runs with Ingram and Edwards. 

The Ravens owned the time of possession and made things very difficult for Brady and company by chewing up any time to comeback. 

The Patriots now head into a bye week and will play the Philadelphia Eagles in Week 11.