FOXBORO — Ten games and 11 weeks into the season we’re still trying to figure out who the Patriots are and where they’re going.
Are they the team that handed the Kansas City Chiefs their only loss and the Chicago Bears their only home loss? Or are they the team whose three defeats have come by 11, 16 and 24 points?
Are they the team that made it look easy against the Miami Dolphins? Or are they the team that made it look difficult against the equally [...]
FOXBORO — Ten games and 11 weeks into the season we’re still trying to figure out who the Patriots are and where they’re going.
Are they the team that handed the Kansas City Chiefs their only loss and the Chicago Bears their only home loss? Or are they the team whose three defeats have come by 11, 16 and 24 points?
Are they the team that made it look easy against the Miami Dolphins? Or are they the team that made it look difficult against the equally hapless Buffalo Bills?
The Patriots, though, are confident in their identity even as it appears to be a case of a mistaken one.
“We know who we are,” running back James White said Wednesday before the Patriots departed for a four-day, bye-week hiatus. “We just have to be better.
“We’ve had splashes here and there where we’ve shown what we’re capable of. I still don’t think we’ve played a full, 60-minute game.”
White was talking about the offense, but his words apply to the defense and special teams, as well.
And time is running out to not only display that capability, what with six games remaining.
Tom Brady has been a major topic of conversation since the Patriots absorbed a 34-10 beatdown by the Tennessee Titans last Sunday.
While the 41-year-old quarterback has gotten his turnovers under control with one interception in the past five games, he’s only tossed one touchdown in the past three games. And outside of yardage, his production has been ordinary in a season in which passers are putting up record-setting numbers.
Brady suggested a lack of continuity has led to bouts of inconsistency by the offense.
And it’s true receiver Julian Edelman was suspended for four games and tight end Rob Gronkowski (3), running backs Rex Burkhead (7) and Sony Michel (3), tackle Marcus Cannon (3), and guard Shaq Mason (2) have all missed multiple games due to injury.
“We’ve got to get out there and practice together and that transitions,” Brady said. “If you practice well, you can gain a lot of confidence and ultimately you go out and you play confidently because you can play aggressively knowing what the other guys are doing.
“We just haven’t had that, I would say, overall consistency and the ability to practice together — which, that’s not an excuse.
It sure sounded like an excuse, though. And that’s not what one expects from an organization that has typically embraced the “next man up” ethos during Brady’s tenure.
That said, the Patriots will be loaded at the skill positions once Gronkowski, Michel and Burkhead return to health, the line is ranked eighth in the league by Pro Football Focus and offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels is an elite play caller.
Whether the offense can cover for the defense remains to be seen.
While Brady was getting discussed and dissected last week, the D somehow received a free pass despite a desultorily display that saw the Titans put up 34 points — or double their season average entering the game.
The Patriots, as often is the case, rank near the bottom of the league in yards allowed. But they uncharacteristically bend and break, checking in 19th in points allowed, 20th in the red zone and 25th on third down.
Underperformance, rather than injuries, has been an issue. Defensive linemen Adrian Clayborn, linebacker Dont’a Hightower and safety are among a large group of players who have struggled or disappeared for various lengths of time.
Defensive end Trey Flowers, who, along with cornerback Stephon Gilmore, has been the exception to the rule with his impactful play, said the Patriots need to get “back to the basics.” That means combining improved technique with a trait we’ve seen little of thus far, toughness.
“I just think playing physical would eliminate a lot of the problems we may see coming from different offenses and things like that,” Flowers said.
Still, the Patriots are 7-3, including 5-0 at home and 3-0 in games decided by seven points or less. They have four games remaining against the New York Jets, Bills and Dolphins (combined 11-19) and historically have been at their best after Thanksgiving (105-29 since 2001).
The Patriots are all but guaranteed to reach double digits in wins and finish first in the AFC East. But it’s never been about making the playoffs, rather what happens what they get there.
And right now there’s a legitimate cause for concern this season will turn out more like 2010 rather than 2001.