The Patriots looked poised to win their home opener against the Seattle Seahawks at Gillette Stadium on Sunday. With under four minutes to play in regulation, New England held a three-point advantage and had the opportunity to extend its lead when the offense lined up for Joey Slye's 48-yard field goal attempt.
Seattle had other plans, and Julian Love came up huge for the Seahawks by getting his left hand on the football and blocking the field goal attempt that could have secured the Patriots' win.
After getting the ball to start the overtime frame, Patriots head coach Jerod Mayo elected not to have his team go for it on fourth and one. The Seahawks won the game 23-20 after driving up the field into New England territory, and Jason Myers nailed a 31-yard field goal.
It wasn't necessarily a deflating loss for the Patriots. Mayo shared his positive message for the team following its first defeat of the 2024 season.
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"It's all about the details. If we get the little things right, the big things will take care of themselves," Mayo told reporters following the game. "We just didn't take care of the little things, and we weren't as detailed or on top of our P's and Q's like we should have been."
Mayo continued: "I take 100% responsibility. These guys, I will say this: this is a tough football team. No matter what's said outside this building, I told these guys that, as well. We're a tough football team. Not only physically but mentally. I appreciate their effort. It just wasn't enough today."
New England has a short turnaround as it prepares for a Week 3 matchup with the New York Jets on Thursday night at MetLife Stadium.
"This is NFL football," Mayo said. "It's one play here, one play there. ... We have to get better as a team and look forward to getting back on the practice field and getting better."
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Featured image via David Butler II/Imagn Images