FOXBOROUGH – At first glance, the electric 48-yard touchdown reception for rookie defensive back/returner Marcus Jones was classic Patriots, in the same vein as Mike Vrabel catching touchdown passes as a tight end or Troy Brown and Julian Edelman doubling up as defensive backs.
In reality, it represented an act of desperation for an offense gone awry, not a moment of inspiration. Instead of ingenuity, the Patriots’ lone touchdown in a not-that-close 24-10 loss to the Buffalo Bills at Gillette Stadium on Thursday night stands as an indicator of their offensive futility.
Coach Bill Belichick’s decision to turn the offense over to indebted and indentured coaching servants Matt Patricia and Joe Judge has become an unmitigated disaster threatening his team’s season and its buy-in.