12 immediate reactions to the Patriots' debilitating Week 3 loss to the Jaguars

The start of the 2026 season has been eerily similar to what we saw with the Patriots last year, but for some reason, things feel much worse this time around.

They went into their Week 3 matchup against the Jaguars needing a big win, despite having just beaten the Steelers at home the week before. The same could be said about the Jaguars, who beat the Browns in Week 1, yet got humbled by the Broncos the following week.

So, a lot was on the line for both teams, and the result likely depended on which version of each showed up. Unfortunately for the Patriots, the struggle-filled group we saw in their season opener against the Seahawks took the field in Jacksonville, and it's hard to feel optimistic about anything regarding this team's immediate and long-term future from top to bottom.

That became painfully clear with this brutal beating by the hands of an AFC contender.

12 instant reactions to the Patriots (win/loss) vs. the Jaguars in Week 3

1. Turnover problems continue, as Drake Maye records his fifth of the season in perhaps the weirdest fumble you will ever see. The football fell out of the quarterback's grip as he went to throw it, and the Jaguars recovered it immediately.

He threw another interception later in the game, leading to a quick touchdown run by the Jaguars, which only made things worse. The team can't keep doing this if it wants to stay competitive and get into an offensive rhythm.

2. The wide receivers continue struggling to gain separation, and Maye is paying for it. The offensive line had great protection throughout the game, but the quarterback had no one open to throw to. That will create a lot of problems if it doesn't improve.

3. This team keeps shooting themselves in the foot with costly mistakes that lead to turnovers or penalties. That was the case on an extra drive given to the offense by an impressive Marcus Jones interception that would have allowed them to tie the game 7-7, only for a holding call on Morgan Moses to take away a 21-yard rushing touchdown by Maye, followed by offensive pass interference on Romeo Doubs to push the offense back to a 1st-and-30.

4. Drake Maye's confidence is clearly shot. Looking back at last season's playoff run, he hasn't looked like the quarterback who was just on the verge of winning the MVP Award. His careless mistakes and poor decision-making are putting the offense at risk. He needs to figure out how to turn things around before it's too late.

5. The quarterback made it clear it's not a lack of talent that is preventing the offense from moving the chains, since some fans took to social media to proclaim Maye is the second-coming of Mac Jones, which he showed with consistent plays on the drive that ended in a 40-yard field goal: 10-yard pass to Hollins, 18-yard pass to Hollins, 21-yard pass to Doubs, and a 34-yard pass to Kyle Williams.

6. Mack Hollins has been the only bright spot for this offense over the past two weeks. Part of that is because A.J. Brown is injured and out, but it's also because Maye has built chemistry with him since the 2025 season, and that comfort is invaluable right now.

7. The lack of pass rush is incredibly concerning; granted, Dre'Mont Jones was not in this game, so that certainly took a hit to their production. But relying on young players like Gabe Jacas and Elijah Ponder as the sole rushers won't cut it when they face more mobile quarterbacks, starting with Josh Allen next week.

8. The non-existent run game is taking a toll on the offense's overall production. Despite having two capable running backs, Rhamondre Stevenson and TreVeyon Henderson, they just can't get anything going.

9. Josh McDaniels' conservative play-calling has been criticized at the start of the season. But there might be a reason; could it be Maye's continued struggles? Or is that giving an excuse to the offensive coordinator?

10. Self-inflicted penalties are a huge problem. From back-to-back neutral zone infractions that gave the Jaguars help to penalties that cost Maye a 21-yard rushing touchdown, the Patriots continue to be their own worst enemy.

11. The team looks dysfunctional overall. It's hard to say what could explain their downfall, but something is off, and Mike Vrabel will have to figure it out and fix it as soon as possible.

12. Mike Vrabel might want to entertain the idea of burying this game tape, as Bill Belichick did during the dynasty, because this was one ugly game.

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