The New England Patriots dropped their eighth loss of the season in Sunday's Week 11 clash with the visiting Los Angeles Rams.
There was no carryover effect for the Patriots' defensive masterpiece against the Chicago Bears last week. The same unit that had nine sacks and 13 quarterback hits on rookie quarterback Caleb Williams didn't register a single sack on Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford.
That led to the Rams carving up the Patriots' defense for 402 total yards and handing them a 28-22 loss in their home building. It wasn't all bad for New England with at least a couple of standout performances from players.
Here are the studs and duds in the Week 11 loss to the Rams:
DUD: WR Ja'Lynn Polk
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I hate to continue piling on to rookie wideout Ja'Lynn Polk, but his false start penalty on a crucial 4th-and-inches situation late in the fourth quarter was a game-changer for the Patriots.
The mistake forced the Patriots to kick a field goal when they could have gone for it and potentially scored a touchdown on the drive. Boston Herald's Andrew Callahan noted that Polk has more penalties than he does catches since October 1.
Yikes.
STUD: WR Kendrick Bourne
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Kendrick Bourne being benched last week had some wondering how involved he would be in the offense moving forward. That question was answered emphatically on Sunday with the veteran receiver hauling in five catches for a team-high 70 yards. This was Bourne's best performance and the most he's been involved in the offense this season by far.
DUD: Coaching
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The Patriots got out-coached by the Rams. There were way too many head-scratcher moments in this game, including the team's decision to leave Jonathan Jones on an island alone with Rams receiver Cooper Kupp early in the third quarter. Kupp easily burned Jones and took the ball to the house for a 69-yard touchdown.
The coaching staff also made the decision not to have star cornerback Christian Gonzalez shadow Kupp or Puka Nacua. Both receivers ended up recording over 100 receiving yards each.
STUD: QB Drake Maye
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Drake Maye looked so calm and poised in the pocket for a player only making his sixth NFL start. He made some tight window throws while under pressure against an aggressive Rams defensive front. There isn't much help around Maye, but he continues to elevate his teammates and give them a chance to compete every week. What more could you ask from a 22-year-old quarterback in the NFL?
DUD: CB Jonathan Jones
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Cooper Kupp turned Jonathan Jones into burnt toast on a blown blitz early in the third quarter. The Patriots sent the house on defense and left Jones in one-on-one coverage with Kupp. It ended up being a big mistake as Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford hit Kupp for a long touchdown to break the game wide open.
DUD: S Kyle Dugger
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This was a rough return game for Kyle Dugger, but he's also been out the last two weeks recovering from an ankle injury. He missed multiple tackles in the game, and it wasn't a performance fitting of his talent. The Patriots desperately need him to settle in and get back to being a key playmaker on the defensive unit.