It would be hard to imagine anyone predicting that the Patriots would go into their home game against the Packers on Sunday and look like a completely unprepared team, lacking any real competitive spirit, after beating the Dolphins on the road just last week.
Because they have historically struggled whenever they play in Miami, it was a real feat for Drake Maye to lead the team to his second win in South Beach. The hope was that momentum would continue against a very good Packers team this week, but it quickly became the worst game of the Mike Vrabel era.
From a penalty on the first offensive play of the game to an interception by Drake Maye right after, to Christian Gonzalez having the worst game of his career, it was an all-around frustrating game to watch, and Vrabel felt that while speaking to reporters at the podium.
Although there are a lot of factors contributing to their current struggles, most notably the mounting injuries that seem to get worse every week, there are plenty of things that the team brings upon themselves and puts them in a situation they can't get out of.
Their effort against the Packers was the latest example.
Mike Vrabel couldn't have had a better way to describe the Patriots' Week 9 loss
Vrabel didn't sugarcoat or try to make excuses for what happened on Sunday, and instead was super candid when describing what we saw on the field in Foxboro in Week 9.
“We got our a**** kicked. There’s no two ways around it.”
To some extent, his assesment would be putting it lightly.
The Patriots lost 45-27, which looks closer than it was, and much of their struggle was self-inflicted. Four turnovers, pre-snap penalties by the defense, missed opportunities by wide receivers, and an offensive line that couldn't block led to an absolute stinker.
They didn't deserve to win this game based on how they played, and knowing the kind of coach Vrabel is, he surely won't let them forget just how bad their day was.
That's the kind of reality check this team needs, especially with just one game separating them from their bye week and then another brutal stretch in the schedule. Games will only get tougher from here, and if they continue to make careless mistakes, it'll only make their jobs harder.
Winning the NFL isn't easy as it is. They don't need to make the same mistakes over and over to make it that much more difficult.
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