Following the team’s Week 11 win over the New York Jets, Mike Vrabel offered the following take on his team, specifically the offense: “The only thing that really stops us is us offensively.”
Well, that, and injuries.
The Patriots are now enduring their first meaningful dose of the injury bug, losing significant players.
Milton Williams went down during that Jets game, and was placed on IR, meaning he won’t be back until Week 17 the earliest.
And during Sunday’s 26-20 win over the Cincinnati Bengals, the team lost the left side of its offensive line, otherwise known as Drake Maye’s blindside protection.
Both Will Campbell (knee) and Jared Wilson (ankle) were carted off with injuries. Special teams ace Brenden Schooler (ankle) also left the game, as did defensive tackle Khyiris Tonga (chest).
At this stage, it’s anyone’s guess how long any of those players will be missing, although judging by Wilson being in a walking boot after the game, and Campbell having a towel over his head while being carted off, it won’t be any time soon.
While left tackle Vederian Lowe and left guard Ben Brown admirably held the fort, the Patriots just don’t have the kind of depth to withstand injuries to key players for a lengthy period of time.
Having the front office sit still at the trade deadline and not acquire reinforcements was bound to come back to haunt them. And this - trying to hold onto a division lead and maintaining position for the AFC’s top seed - might be the time.
To this point, they’ve survived.
They lost Kayshon Boutte and held up with Mack Hollins picking up the slack for a handful of games.
And while the win streak reached nine without Williams, Campbell, Wilson and the rest, they’re not built to survive multiple hits at key spots over the long haul.
Perhaps that could partially explain Vrabel not being in the best of moods following the win.
Or, along with the injuries, there was more behind the fact that he couldn’t muster a smile after improving to 10-2.
The fact his team was half asleep in the first quarter - coming off their mini-bye - didn’t thrill him. Drake Maye being unrecognizable early on was another mood killer.
But worst of all, the Patriots, could not for the life of them, get the ball across from the one-yard line on multiple occasions. Goal-to-go, all they could produce was three points.
Perhaps the bigger problem here is that injuries had nothing to do with Maye being out of sorts the first three series, or the run game being anemic against the league’s worst run defense, or generally struggling against the league’s worst defense, period.
That certainly fell in line with Vrabel’s remark about the only thing stopping them, is them.
Following the game, however, Vrabel didn’t want to hear anything about struggling against a bad defense, his team’s continued red zone woes, or much of anything else.
He also didn’t care much about being the first NFL team with 10 victories.
He was just happy to get out of town with a win, having the backups step up, and his defense making a stop with Joe Flacco just 26 yards away from a go-ahead score.
But Vrabel is also a realist.
He knows with the injuries mounting and everything else, the Patriots are going to be up against it over the course of the final five games, whether the opponent is Buffalo, Baltimore, or anyone else.
“That’s what happens in this league,” Vrabel said. “You need everybody. You go through the season, you go on the road, and it’s tough. I know everybody wants to talk about numbers and records. That doesn’t mean (expletive).”
Especially now, when the team has to deal with its first real adversity with bodies falling left and right, and less than desirable play invading the performance.
The encouraging signs?
Maye (22 for 35, 294 yards, 1 TD, 1 INT) was able to rebound from his horrible start, sailing balls all over the lot, and play more like an MVP candidate before halftime.
Throughout the year, the Patriots quarterback has remained unfazed by bad plays, or playing poorly for a stretch. He just keeps marching forward.
“That’s what this league is about — battling adversity,“ Maye said following the win. ”I gave them one early in the game and just battled back on the next drive. Just trying to have a ‘next play’ mentality. That’s what coach (Mike Vrabel) is preaching all the time, battling back from good plays and battling back from bad plays."
Hunter Henry (7 catches, 115 yards) also emerged from the fray to deliver a game-winning performance. He was a big play machine against the Bengals.
Meanwhile, kicker Andy Borregales, who had a rough start to his rookie season, was money with four field goals. And the Patriots needed every one of those.
As for the defense, per usual, it lived in bend but don’t break land. Injuries and all, the unit made enough plays on the Bengals final possession to close out the win.
“It was a 60-minute battle, and it took everybody,” Henry said. “Took everybody that came on the trip. Obviously, a lot of guys went down today, unfortunately. And a lot of guys had to step up, and they did, and found a way. That’s really what it’s about.”
For this week, anyway, the magic ride continued. Down the road, however, the Patriots are going to have to play much better than what they showed Sunday against the Bengals.
And likely have to do so without a number of key starters.
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