Three Studs, Three Duds From Patriots’ Competitive Loss Vs. Rams

FOXBORO, Mass. — The New England Patriots returned home with a 28-22 loss to the Los Angeles Rams Sunday at Gillette Stadium.

The Patriots fell to 3-8 while the Rams improved to 5-5.

New England’s pass-catchers had a productive day to help out Drake Maye in a distributive effort from their rookie quarterback. On the other side, the Patriots got picked apart defensively by a Super Bowl-winning coach-quarterback combination of Sean McVay and Matthew Stafford.

Here are three studs and three duds from the Patriots-Rams matchup.

STUDS
DeMario Douglas
The second-year receiver still deserves more touches on a regular basis and needs to be the focal point of the Patriots passing game. When the ball is in his hands, good things happen.

Douglas led off New England’s first touchdown drive with a 14-yard reception and a nifty move at the line of scrimmage to earn yards after the catch. He also got open for Drake Maye on 3rd-and-7 to move the chains on a 28-yard pickup.

Douglas finished the day with five catches for 59 yards.

Hunter Henry
Drake Maye has picked up on one rookie tendency from Mac Jones: When in doubt, find Hunter Henry.

The rookie’s security blanket consistently got open again Sunday as he hauled in six passes for 63 yards. Henry had another significant gain on third down, on a fine off-platform throw from Maye, negated by an illegal formation penalty on Vederian Lowe.

Kendrick Bourne
The Patriots still do not have the bonafide No. 1 receiver that Maye eventually needs, but like Douglas, Bourne is still a playmaker when the ball is thrown his way.

Bourne responded nicely after not playing while active against the Chicago Bears in Week 10. He saw early targets from Maye and put New England on the board first with a 10-yard touchdown on an in-breaking route.

DUDS
Patriots first-quarter tackling
New England allowed multiple chunk plays for the Rams early on that earned extra yards when the Patriots could not get the ball carrier on the ground.

Stafford found Puka Nacua on a crossing route that turned into a 38-yard gain when the Rams wideout made the catch behind Anfernee Jennings and broke a tackle from Kyle Dugger.

On the next drive for Los Angeles, running back Kyren Williams fought his way through a hole through contact for 18 yards.

Jonathan Jones
The veteran defensive back had a tough day, albeit against elite receivers, in coverage against the Rams. The Patriots cornerback allowed Nacua’s 12-yard touchdown in the first half.

On the second play of the third quarter, Jones went airborne in an effort to make a play on the ball on a pass to the middle of the field from Stafford. He could not get there in time as Kupp made the catch and cruised down the field for a 69-yard touchdown.

DeMarcus Covington
New England’s defensive coordinator could have done more to limit the explosive plays the Rams turned in Sunday.

The best way to do that? Keep Christian Gonzalez on Nacua.

Unfortunately for New England, that was rarely the case in this matchup as Nacua opened up Los Angeles’ passing game early Sunday.

Matthew Stafford turned to him with the game tied and a prime scoring chance for the Rams after a Drake Maye fumble. Nacua answered the call with a diving catch in the end zone.

Nacua led the Rams with seven receptions and 123 yards Sunday.

Gonzalez still had a decent day with two plays in coverage in the red zone against Kupp that forced incompletions and field-goal attempts for the Rams. Nonetheless, the Patriots could have seen different efficiency if Gonzalez had gone with Los Angeles’ top pass-catcher on the day.