When you lose by three scores, the quotes are never good. The best case scenario is just a bunch of rehearsed one-liners about not making enough plays, or not being on the same page, or having to go back and look at the tape to see what everyone did wrong.
The worst case scenario is, usually, openly calling out teammates/coaches. And, if you can believe it, the Patriots' vibes after their Week 15 loss in Arizona were way closer to the worst case scenario.
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After the Patriots' offense more-or-less sputtered up and down the field for three and a half quarters, they made the final score look (relatively) respectable with a pair of touchdowns in the final eight minutes of the game.
And while that certainly could have been a product of the Cardinals' defense going into cruise control, some players talked after the game about how changing up the tempo seemed to work well. One of those players, wide receiver Kayshon Boutte, didn't exactly mince words about why it took so long for the Pats to look competent.
Kayshon Boutte doesn't hold back when asked about Patriots' playcalling in Week 15
"We knew they was gonna play man the whole game," Boutte told reporters after the game. "But I feel like it's disrespectful when they go man first quarter, you know? So I feel like we need to be better at attacking that instead of being shy about it."
Yikes! I know that no one's specifically mentioned by name here, but it's not like there are a bunch of play callers to try and pick from. It's also not the first time that guys have thrown shade at Alex Van Pelt this season (including maybe his own head coach). And maybe the guy who was responsible for the Patriots' most embarrassing turnover of the afternoon isn't the best person to voice complaints about play calling, but whatever – it's Week 15. It'll be over soon. We're almost there.