The New England Patriots take on the Carolina Panthers in a regular season game at Gillette Stadium on Sunday, October 1, 2017.
New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady charges onto the field for to warm up before an NFL football game against the Carolina Panthers, Sunday, Oct. 1, 2017, in Foxborough, Mass. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa)
New England Patriots tight end Rob Gronkowski warms up before an NFL football game against the Carolina Panthers, Sunday, Oct. 1, 2017, in Foxborough, Mass. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa)
New England Patriots tight end Rob Gronkowski warms up before an NFL football game against the Carolina Panthers, Sunday, Oct. 1, 2017, in Foxborough, Mass. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa)
New England Patriots wide receiver Brandin Cooks warms up before an NFL football game against the Carolina Panthers, Sunday, Oct. 1, 2017, in Foxborough, Mass. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa)
New England Patriots quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo warms up before an NFL football game against the Carolina Panthers, Sunday, Oct. 1, 2017, in Foxborough, Mass. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa)
New England Patriots head coach Bill Belichick walks on the field during warm-up's before an NFL football game against the Carolina Panthers, Sunday, Oct. 1, 2017, in Foxborough, Mass. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa)
New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady (12) talks to team owner Robert Kraft, right, before an NFL football game against the Carolina Panthers, Sunday, Oct. 1, 2017, in Foxborough, Mass. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa)
Members of the New England Patriots stand along the sideline during the national anthem before an NFL football game against the Carolina Panthers, Sunday, Oct. 1, 2017, in Foxborough, Mass. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa)
Members of the New England Patriots stand along the sideline during the national anthem before an NFL football game against the Carolina Panthers, Sunday, Oct. 1, 2017, in Foxborough, Mass. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa)
New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady (12) passes against the Carolina Panthers during the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Oct. 1, 2017, in Foxborough, Mass. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa)
New England Patriots cornerback Malcolm Butler, foreground, intercepts a pass intended for Carolina Panthers wide receiver Damiere Byrd (18) during the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Oct. 1, 2017, in Foxborough, Mass. (AP Photo/Steven Senne)
New England Patriots cornerback Malcolm Butler, right, runs after intercepting a pass intended for Carolina Panthers wide receiver Damiere Byrd (18) during the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Oct. 1, 2017, in Foxborough, Mass. (AP Photo/Steven Senne)
Carolina Panthers quarterback Cam Newton (1) passes under pressure from New England Patriots defensive end Deatrich Wise (91) during the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Oct. 1, 2017, in Foxborough, Mass. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa)
New England Patriots kicker Stephen Gostkowski salutes after kicking a field goal against the Carolina Panthers during the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Oct. 1, 2017, in Foxborough, Mass. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa)
New England Patriots wide receiver Chris Hogan, right, catches a touchdown pass while Carolina Panthers safety Mike Adams (29) defends during the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Oct. 1, 2017, in Foxborough, Mass. (AP Photo/Steven Senne)
New England Patriots wide receiver Chris Hogan (15) celebrates his touchdown catch with Danny Amendola, left, and Brandin Cooks, right, during the first half of an NFL football game against the New England Patriots, Sunday, Oct. 1, 2017, in Foxborough, Mass. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa)
New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady (12) celebrates his touchdown pass to New England Patriots wide receiver Chris Hogan, center, during the first half of an NFL football game against the Carolina Panthers, Sunday, Oct. 1, 2017, in Foxborough, Mass. (AP Photo/Steven Senne)
New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady, rear, celebrates his touchdown pass to New England Patriots wide receiver Chris Hogan during the first half of an NFL football game against the Carolina Panthers, Sunday, Oct. 1, 2017, in Foxborough, Mass. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa)
New England Patriots wide receiver Chris Hogan celebrates his touchdown catch against the Carolina Panthers during the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Oct. 1, 2017, in Foxborough, Mass. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa)
New England Patriots running back Mike Gillislee, right, runs from Carolina Panthers defensive end Mario Addison, left, during the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Oct. 1, 2017, in Foxborough, Mass. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa)
Carolina Panthers linebacker Luke Kuechly, rear, tackles New England Patriots running back Mike Gillislee (35) during the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Oct. 1, 2017, in Foxborough, Mass. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa)
New England Patriots cornerback Malcolm Butler celebrates his interception against the Carolina Panthers during the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Oct. 1, 2017, in Foxborough, Mass. (AP Photo/Steven Senne)
Carolina Panthers safety Kurt Coleman (20) tries to tackle New England Patriots tight end Rob Gronkowski (87) during the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Oct. 1, 2017, in Foxborough, Mass. (AP Photo/Steven Senne)
New England Patriots tight end Rob Gronkowski (87) tries to shake free from Carolina Panthers safety Mike Adams (29) after catching a pass during the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Oct. 1, 2017, in Foxborough, Mass. (AP Photo/Steven Senne)
New England Patriots running back Dion Lewis (33) scores a touchdown in front of Carolina Panthers cornerback Kevon Seymour (27) during the second half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Oct. 1, 2017, in Foxborough, Mass. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa)
New England Patriots running back Dion Lewis (33) scores a touchdown in front of Carolina Panthers cornerback Kevon Seymour (27) during the second half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Oct. 1, 2017, in Foxborough, Mass. (AP Photo/Steven Senne)
New England Patriots wide receiver Danny Amendola, center, uses a fan's banner to celebrate his touchdown catch against the Carolina Panthers during the second half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Oct. 1, 2017, in Foxborough, Mass. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa)
New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady, right, celebrates his touchdown pass to wide receiver Danny Amendola, left, during the second half of an NFL football game against the Carolina Panthers, Sunday, Oct. 1, 2017, in Foxborough, Mass. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa)
Carolina Panthers kicker Graham Gano, left, kicks the game-winning field goal as Michael Palardy (5) holds at the end of an NFL football game against the New England Patriots, Sunday, Oct. 1, 2017, in Foxborough, Mass. The Panthers won 33-30. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa)
New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady (12) and Carolina Panthers backup quarterback Derek Anderson (3) speak at midfield after an NFL football game, Sunday, Oct. 1, 2017, in Foxborough, Mass. (AP Photo/Steven Senne)
New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady (12) and Carolina Panthers defensive tackle Vernon Butler, right, speak at midfield after an NFL football game, Sunday, Oct. 1, 2017, in Foxborough, Mass. (AP Photo/Steven Senne)
Carolina Panthers defensive end Kyle Love (93) and New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady, right, speak at midfield after an NFL football game, Sunday, Oct. 1, 2017, in Foxborough, Mass. (AP Photo/Bill Sikes)
New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady, left, and Carolina Panthers head coach Ron Rivera speak at midfield after an NFL football game, Sunday, Oct. 1, 2017, in Foxborough, Mass. (AP Photo/Steven Senne)
New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady leaves the field after an NFL football game against the Carolina Panthers, Sunday, Oct. 1, 2017, in Foxborough, Mass. The Panthers won 33-30. (AP Photo/Steven Senne)
New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady speaks to the media following an NFL football game against the Carolina Panthers, Sunday, Oct. 1, 2017, in Foxborough, Mass. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa)
New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady speaks to the media following an NFL football game against the Carolina Panthers, Sunday, Oct. 1, 2017, in Foxborough, Mass. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa)
New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady departs after speaking to the media following an NFL football game against the Carolina Panthers, Sunday, Oct. 1, 2017, in Foxborough, Mass. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa)
New England Patriots head coach Bill Belichick arrives to speak to the media following an NFL football game against the Carolina Panthers, Sunday, Oct. 1, 2017, in Foxborough, Mass. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa)
New England Patriots head coach Bill Belichick speaks to the media following an NFL football game against the Carolina Panthers, Sunday, Oct. 1, 2017, in Foxborough, Mass. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa)
Esta tarde los Patriots sufrieron su segunda derrota de la temporada cuando cayeron derrotados 33-30 frente a los Carolina Panthers.
"Al final no hicimos las suficientes jugadas para ganar. Solo tenemos que hacer un mejor trabajo en general. Sencillamente no fue suficiente", resumió Belichick en su conferencia.
Una derrota que preocupa ya que puso otra vez de manifiesto que la defensa de New England tiene mucho que mejorar, particularmente la secundaria ya que esta fue la responsable de jugadas claves en momentos claves, jugadas que al final dieron como resultado la segunda derrota en el Gillette Stadium.
Un mal juego de la secundaria
EL CB Stephon Gilmore es sin duda el rostro más representativo de esta mediocridad defensiva mostrada por New England. El esquinero coronó su débil actuación cuando fue castigado por 'uso ilegal de la mano', penalidad (su segunda del partido) que anuló una captura lograda por el DE Deatrich Wise, una jugada que hubiera regresado el balón a manos de Brady a solo 2:28 del final.
"Tenemos que hacer un mejor trabajo. Tenemos que entrenar mejor, jugar mejor. Tenemos que mejorar en las 3 fases del juego por 60 minutos. Fuimos demasiados inconsistentes", insistió Belichick.
La mala actuación de Gilmore también tuvo otro momento central cuando finalizando la primer mitad, una mala comunicación con el CB Eric Rowe deja solo al WR Kevin Benjamin de Carolina quien suma fácilmente 43 yardas. Dos jugadas después, otra mala comunicación entre estos defensores resulta en un fácil pase de anotación de 10 yardas del QB Cam Newton a su WR Devin Funchess.
"Tengo que hacer un mejor trabajo comunicándome, tengo que hacer un mejor trabajo con eso…Es frustrante…Tengo que mejorar y no dejar que eso ocurra", dijo desde los vestidores el CB Stephon Gilmore.
Al final, el QB de los Panthers completó 22 de 29 pases para 316 yardas y 3 TDs.
Y no fue únicamente la secundaria, el 'front 7' también pasó apuros controlando el juego terrestre. No solo de los corredores de Carolina que sumaron 98 yardas, sino también del QB Newton quien añadió otras 44 yardas extras en 8 acarreos, frustrando a los pass rushers de New England que solo sumaron 2 capturas (Dont'a Hightower y Kyle Van Noy).
El juego de carrera de los visitantes logró 7 'primer downs' a través del juego terrestre.
Buen juego ofensivo de Brady
Ofensivamente Tom Brady sin jugar perfecto produjo el daño acostumbrado, repartiendo sus pases entre 10 diferentes receptores para completar 32 de 45 pases para 307 yardas y 2 TDs. Otra vez el QB de New England recibió castigo por parte de los defensores rivales con 3 capturas y 7 golpes.
El QB orquestó el empate 30-30 en el último cuarto de juego al anotar 2 touchdowns consecutivos.
""Tenemos que hacer un mejor trabajo en tercer downs y jugando un futbol complementario. No tuvimos mucho el balón en el tercer cuarto. Fue nuestra culpa. Logramos 2 anotaciones en el último cuarto pero no fue suficiente", expresó Brady en su conferencia.
James White (10 de 12 recepciones para 47 yardas), Danny Amendola (6 de 7, 42 yardas, 1 anotación), Chris Hogan (5 de 9, 60 yardas, 1 anotación) y Rob Gronkowski (4 de 5, 80 yardas) fueron sus armas aéreas preferidas.
Amendola como siempre fue el jugador 'clutch', aquel que siempre cumple cuando la situación apremia al conseguir receptar un pase de touchdown en una situación de 4 y 1. Una anotación que significó el empate 30-30 a solo 3:14 del final.
"No jugamos lo suficientemente bien porque no ganamos el partido. Esa es la meta final. Queremos ganar los partidos a toda costa y aunque jugamos duro no lo pudimos lograr", manifestó Danny Amendola.
El juego de carrera estuvo otra vez liderado por Mike Gillislee (12 acarreos, 49 yardas) y Dion Lewis (4 acarreos para 18 yardas y 1 TD). En general la contribución del juego por tierra no fue más que discreta (19 acarreos para 80 yardas y 1 TD).
Resumiendo
Sin duda una derrota descorazonadora y decepcionante. Se esperaba más de este equipo a estas alturas de la temporada. Defensivamente aún hay mucho por hacer y mucha compenetración que lograr. La secundaria, a pesar de contar con jugadores de gran renombre, está siendo castigada constantemente. De no mejorar, no bastará que Brady ponga en el marcador 30 o 40 puntos, ya que la defensa cederá una cantidad similar (o mayor) al adversario.
Será una semana corta ya que jugaremos el jueves frente a los Buccaneers. No hay tiempo para lamentos, solo para realizar mejoras. El tiempo apremia y la necesidad de un triunfo también.
