Patriots: 6 Frustrations from Week 17 loss

2. Misconnections with Rob Gronkowski, Danny Amendola

Without Edelman on the field, the best targets at Brady’s disposal are Gronk and Amendola. Obviously.

But those guys combined for just 35 yards on four receptions, which is what Edelman usually produces in a single drive.

It’s not like Brady didn’t try to the get the ball to Gronk and Amendola. They just weren’t successful connecting. Gronk only caught two of his seven targets, and Amendola nabbed just two of four targets.

Patriots react to Week 17 embarrassment     

Meanwhile, the Patriots’ top two receivers were running backs, oddly enough. James White paced the team with two receptions for 63 yards, and Steven Jackson’s 20-yard catch and run was all he needed to rank second in receiving yards on the team yesterday.

Grrrrrr. Frustrating, frustrating. You’d at least expect Amendola to be targeted more than just four times, seeing as how he plays the role of Edelman without No. 11 on the field.

Next: 1. Timid, uninspired play