New England Patriots: Ranking Top 5 Disappointing Playoff Performers
By Hal Bent
In the 2017 NFL playoffs, the New England Patriots fell short of some of their goals. Here are five players who disappointed.
The New England Patriots fell short on their drive for back-to-back Super Bowl victories. While many factors contributed to their 41-33 loss in Super Bowl 52 to the Philadelphia Eagles, there were a number of players on both sides of the ball who played poorly. After getting through the through the first two rounds of the playoffs, New England was beaten by a deep and talented Philadelphia Eagles team. Even wit their backup quarterback, the Eagles were able to defeat the Patriots.
However, the Patriots were fortunate to reach the Super Bowl with a flawed roster–particularly on defense. Getting to play the Tennessee Titans in the first round was certainly a big break. If the Patriots played the Chiefs instead, that same Andy Reid offensive philosophy for the Chiefs likely would have eaten up the Patriots defense had they not inexplicably choked away a 21-3 lead against the Tennessee Titans.
In the AFC Championship Game, the Jaguars got very conservative with a lead. If the Patriots were playing the dynamic offense of the Steelers, they might not have had a chance to mount a comeback.
Looking back at their three playoff games, there are five players who stood out with weak performances in the playoffs. These players failed to step-up on the biggest stage. While some of them are secure for 2018, others will not be on the roster next year. With all eyes on them, these five New England Patriots players were the most disappointing performers in the 2017 NFL Playoffs: