Instant Takeaways From Patriots' 35-30 Loss To Seahawks
The New England Patriots lost in a thriller Sunday night, falling short to the Seattle Seahawks 35-30.
The Week 2 showing gave us a bit more insight as to what this year's Patriots team is capable of, while also showing us what they still need to figure out as they enter Week 3 with a 1-1 record.
Let's go over some of the instant takeaways following the primetime showdown.
Cam Newton Threw 30+ Times, And Overall Looked Good
There were some questions surrounding Cam Newton as to whether he could handle throwing the football quite a bit in a game. Against Seattle, he threw 44 passes, completing 30 of them for 397 yards, one touchdown and one interception. He also rushed for two scores.
While there were a few flaws with his mechanics and velocity throughout the game, overall, Newton looked very good as a passer.
Unfortunately for Newton, his individual performance wasn't enough to get a win. His career record against the Seahawks now falls to a measly 2-7.
Stagnant Run Game Affected Tempo on Offense
As a run-heavy offense in Week 1, New England could not find the same type of success on the ground in Week 2.
The Patriots averaged 2.7 yards per carry Sunday night, which is no good for a football team that was trying to dominate possession against a Seahawks squad with a potent offense. Not having James White played a part in that, but Sony Michel, Rex Burkhead and J.J. Taylor struggled to find any running lanes all night.
New England Needs More Help at Receiver
Julian Edelman had himself a day against Seattle, catching eight balls for a career-high 179 receiving yards. But this is part of the problem; last year, Edelman was heavily targeted during the first half of the season, which took a toll on his body. That's why he was dealing with several injuries by the end of the season. If this team wants to be productive in the passing game while keeping Edelman healthy, they need to find another option.
Yes, N'Keal Harry had eight catches and Damiere Byrd six, but it was evident late in the game that they were gassed because there is little depth at that position.
The Patriots are known for trading early in the season, which makes this upcoming week the perfect opportunity for Bill Belichick and company to shop around for a speedster at receiver. New England needs to add another piece to their receiver room, and adding one through free agency isn't the answer.
Patriots Let Russ Cook, And Got Gashed Downfield
Bill Belichick said it ahead of the Week 2 game - Russell Wilson is one of the best downfield passers in the league. And that's what the demise of New England was Sunday night. Wilson threw five touchdowns, two of which were 30+ yard passes (38, 54), and four of which were caught by wide receivers. To put those numbers into perspective - New England's secondary only allowed a total of four touchdowns to receivers in 2019.
The Patriots' secondary could not handle the speed of Seattle's receiver room. Four of their pass catchers averaged over 10 yards per catch in Week 2. However, a lot of it had to do with a lack of a pass rush by New England's front seven all night. Wilson had plenty of time in the pocket, and was able to scramble outside of it at will. The extra time allowed for plays to develop, and allowed Wilson to perform a little bit of magic when plays broke down. That's a recipe for disaster for opposing defenses facing Seattle.
New England's Defense Isn't What it Was in 2019
Many people were excited by the Patriots' defensive performance in Week 1. But it was evident against Seattle that New England benefited from playing a lowly opponent in the season opener.
Aside from a pick-six on the first drive of the game, the Patriots defense had no answer for Wilson, Seattle's run game or their pass catchers. A lackluster pass rush impacted every other unit on the defense, which allowed the Seahawks to march up and down the field with relative ease.
This year's Patriots defense isn't nearly as good as the 2019 unit. That was made very clear Sunday night.
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