It’s probably not a slogan that will grace the cover of any media guides or run on any promotional videos at Gillette Stadium, but through three games this season, the Patriots’ deficiencies in the red area have stuck out like neon lights in Amish Country.
Despite the fact that the Patriots (2-1, 1-1 AFC East) have tallied the fourth-most total yards in the NFL in 2009, they’ve been utterly stagnant inside of their opponents’ 20-yard line, settling for nine field goals and four touchdowns in 13 red-zone trips. It’s been even worse in their last two games, when they’ve kicked eight field goals in nine red-zone opportunities.
“You always want to score seven points when you get in the red zone, but we scored three,” running back Kevin Faulk said after the Patriots kicked four field goals in five red-zone trips during their 26-10 victory against the Atlanta Falcons. “I think it’s always good to go over your mistakes with a ‘W’ instead of a loss.”
The Patriots have averaged 5.7 yards per play this season before they get into the red zone, but they’re only averaging 3.1 yards per play inside the 20. Through three games, the offense has gained 116 yards on 37 plays after entering the red area. Quarterback Tom Brady has completed 11-of-26 passes for 91 yards and two touchdowns, and the Patriots have only gained 25 yards on 11 rushing attempts.
But here is the most staggering number: Of their 37 offensive plays in the red area, 25 have gone for two yards or less (including Fred Taylor’s one-yard rushing touchdown against the Buffalo Bills). As a result, all of Stephen Gostkowski’s nine converted field goals have come after the Patriots have entered the red area.
“We can’t keep kicking field goals, I know that,” Brady said. “We’ve got to be better than that.”
The Patriots have a difficult test against the Baltimore Ravens (3-0, 1-0 AFC North), who have kept their opponents out of the end zone in six of eight red-zone trips this season, and the Ravens haven’t allowed a red-zone touchdown in six consecutive possessions over their last two games.
That isn’t exactly a great sign for the Patriots, who have been downright awful in the red zone in their last two contests. Against the Jets and Falcons, the Patriots have gained 52 yards on 25 plays, and 19 plays (76 percent) have gone for two yards or less. Brady is 6-of-18 for 30 yards and no touchdowns in that span, and they’ve run the ball seven times for 22 yards and one touchdown. Take away Taylor’s back-to-back carries for 14 total yards against the Falcons, and the numbers are even uglier.
Wes Welker’s injury and Joey Galloway’s slow start haven’t helped the matter. Without Welker, who had one red-zone catch for 13 yards against the Bills, teams have been able to overload their coverage toward Randy Moss, who has only caught one pass (in four targets) for seven yards in the red zone over the last two games. Meanwhile, Galloway has failed to record a red-zone reception in four targets this season.
The rushing game has been just as sporadic. Taylor has led the way with four red-zone rushes for 17 yards and two touchdowns, but no one else has had as much of a chance. The Patriots had nine red-zone plays in their 16-9 loss to the Jets, but they only had one rushing attempt, which resulted in a two-yard gain by Faulk. Over the course of the season, Sammy Morris has just one red-zone rushing attempt, and it went for no gain. Faulk has three carries for seven yards, Brady has one carry for two yards, and Laurence Maroney has two carries for minus-1 yard.
Naturally, the Patriots’ high-octane offense should improve in the red zone as the season progresses, especially once Welker recovers from his knee injury. Their red area issues cost them against the Jets and nearly did against the Bills. The Patriots can’t allow the trend to continue Sunday against the Ravens, who have scored the second-most points in the NFL this season.
“I think we have to do a little bit more to execute our [red-zone] offense,” Taylor said. “It’s coming. We’re going to keep pounding away at it. I don’t want to sit here and B.S. you and search for an answer, but I really do believe it’s coming.”
