10. Week 5 at Broncos: Marshall completes dagger drive in Denver
This was the first indication the Patriots would have a tough time closing out games on the road. Quarterback Kyle Orton led a 12-play, 98-yard drive that was capped off by Brandon Marshall’s game-tying, 11-yard touchdown with 5:21 remaining in the fourth quarter. Orton hit Marshall with a short pass near the left sideline, and the bulky wide receiver broke Leigh Bodden’s tackle to find pay dirt.
9. Week 12 at Saints: Henderson parts the New England sea
It was the epitome of the Patriots’ defensive disaster in New Orleans. Wide receiver Devery Henderson broke through the Pats’ zone coverage — because safety Brandon Meriweather inexplicably ran to the wrong side of the field — and quarterback Drew Brees hit him for a 75-yard touchdown to give New Orleans a 17-7 lead in the second quarter.
8. Week 2 at Jets: Brady can’t connect with replacements
Despite getting outplayed in New York, Tom Brady and the Patriots still had one last chance in the game’s final minutes. They took over at their own 10-yard line, trailing 16-9, with 1:48 remaining. With Wes Welker out of the game with a knee injury, Brady had a miserable time trying to find a rhythm with his receivers, particularly veteran Joey Galloway, who only caught five of the 12 passes thrown in his direction. Brady started the drive with an 18-yard pass to rookie Julian Edelman, but the quarterback followed with four consecutive incompletions, the last of which went to Galloway. Cornerback Dwight Lowery knocked away the pass to seal the victory for the trash-talking Jets, who had declared their desire to “embarrass” the Patriots all week.
7. Week 1 vs. Bills: Down goes Mayo
Linebacker Jerod Mayo injured his right knee in the first quarter of the season opener during a second-and-7, when Fred Jackson gained 16 yards on the ground. Possibly downtrodden by their leader’s injury, the Patriots’ defense allowed the Bills to go down the field and score the first touchdown of the game. Mayo missed the next three games and returned ahead of schedule, but he was seemingly affected by the knee for much of the season.
6. Week 10 vs. Colts: Fourth-and-2
Whether or not you agree with Bill Belichick’s decision to go for it on fourth-and-2 from the Patriots’ 28-yard line with a 34-28 lead and 2:08 remaining in the fourth quarter, there’s one indisputable factor: The Patriots didn’t pick up the first down, and the gutsy call didn’t work. Here is the complete breakdown of the play that will forever been known by its down and distance.
5. Week 13 at Dolphins: Brady’s poor pick
Brady forced a pass to Randy Moss in the right side of the end zone, and the low throw was intercepted by rookie cornerback Vontae Davis, who had no trouble snatching the ball away from Moss with 9:39 remaining in the fourth quarter. It was easily one of Brady’s worth throws of the season, and the Patriots blew their chance to add to their 21-19 lead. Dan Carpenter kicked Miami’s game-winning field goal about eight minutes later.
4. Week 10 vs. Colts: Maroney drops the ball
Running back Laurence Maroney was in the process of revitalizing his career this season, but his fumbling issue caused him to fall out of favor with Belichick. It all started in Indy, where the Patriots had a 24-14 lead with a chance to extend their advantage in the third quarter. Brady drove the Patriots 86 yards to the Colts’ 2-yard line, and Maroney took the handoff and ran off the right tackle. He lost the ball going into the end zone, and a touchdown turned into a touchback.
3. Week 14 vs. Panthers: Moss decelerates
Four days after being sent home for showing up late to a team meeting, Moss had a low-effort performance against the Panthers, and he was mercilessly booed as a result. Moss slowed up on a sideline out-route in the first quarter, and Brady was intercepted by cornerback Chris Gamble as a result. Brady’s throw might have been a little wide, but Moss should have gotten there to ensure the ball at least hit the ground. Moss finished the game with more tackles (two) than receptions (one), and his only catch led to a fumble. He was also flagged for a false start in the second half, and each mistakes caused the boos to grow louder.
2. Wild card playoffs vs. Ravens: Brady’s throw to nowhere
There might be a dozen plays to pick from the Patriots’ 33-14 loss to the Ravens, but Brady’s first interception essentially ended New England’s season. Already, Baltimore running back Ray Rice had an 83-yard touchdown run, and Brady was strip-sacked by Terrell Suggs, who abused left tackle Matt Light on the play. Trailing 14-0 and frustrated by the lack of protection he was receiving from the offensive line, Brady scrambled out of the pocket and heaved a pass toward the middle of the defense — Sam Aiken was listed on the stat sheet as the intended receiver — and cornerback Chris Carr pulled down the interception. Six plays later, Rice scored his second touchdown, and the Ravens were running away with a 21-0 lead.
1. Week 17 at Texans: Down goes Welker
Just about the only thing that wasn’t supposed to go wrong in the season finale did go wrong. On the Patriots’ fourth offensive play, wide receiver Wes Welker caught a pass over the middle and turned up the field for a 12-yard gain. But he cut to avoid a hit from — of all people — safety Bernard Pollard, and Welker’s left knee buckled on a soft spot in the grass. The injury ended Welker’s season, and the Patriots can only hope he’s ready for the 2010 regular-season opener. It also tore at the soul of the team’s locker room, which went through a brief mourning period in the week leading up to the playoffs. While the Patriots moved forward in time to have a great practice Wednesday, there’s no telling if Welker would have made a difference in the outcome against the Ravens.
