Epic Errors: Gutsy Patriots Finding New Ways to Lose

Including the end of 2022, four of the New England Patriots' last five losses have come down to wacky, heartbreaking finishes.

It's not just that the New England Patriots are a losing team since Tom Brady departed. It's the way - heartbreakingly close - that they suffer defeats. Since the GOAT left after the 2019 season, the Pats are 25-27 and without a playoff win.

But it's the troubling trend of excruciating losses - including two already this season - that makes this new era of New England football even more difficult for fans who were spoiled by six Super Bowls during the Brady-led dynasty.

Not that the Patriots haven't endured tough losses in the past (2018's "Miami Miracle" quickly comes to mind). But with Mac Jones at the controls and a roster thin on explosive offensive playmakers, these Patriots are following a bad blueprint littered with slow starts, gutsy comebacks and, in the end, mind-boggling defeats.

Already in their deepest hole (by losing their first two games at home) since 1975, if the Pats don't continue their 14-game winning streak over the New York Jets on Sunday they'll fall to 0-3 for the first time since 2000. They are 2-7 in their last nine games.

This year has continued an eerily similar script that was put into place late in 2022.

Last season they lost in overtime at the Green Bay Packers, and on Thanksgiving night to the Minnesota Vikings in part because of a controversial overrule of what appeared to be a Hunter Henry game-tying touchdown catch.

In Week 15 in Las Vegas, the Pats rallied from a 17-3 deficit and were up seven points in the final minute. But they surrendered a 30-yard touchdown pass with 32 seconds remaining to tie the game, and then inexplicably produced one of the dumbest plays in NFL history - the "Lunatic Lateral" - that ended in a walk-off touchdown return for the Raiders. A week later, on Christmas Eve, they again rallied from an early hole - 22-0 at halftime - and were driving for a game-winning touchdown against the playoff-bound Bengals. But normally sure-handed Rhamondre Stevenson fumbled on a hand-off at Cincy's 5-yard line with 55 seconds remaining to seal the 22-18 loss. In 279 touches last season, Stevenson fumbled only four times.

With their playoff hopes in the balance two weeks later in Buffalo, the Pats allowed two long kickoff returns for touchdowns in a loss that ended their season at 8-9.

This year has been deja boo all over.

The Pats trailed the Eagles 16-0 in Week 1, but got within 25-20 and were driving for a potential upset. But rookie receiver Kayshon Boutte's fourth-down reception at Philadelphia's 8-yard line was overturned by replay into a game-ending incompletion.

Similarly last week, New England overcame a 17-3 deficit and had the ball deep in Dolphins' territory driving toward a potential game-tying score. But on fourth down, a wacky, desperate play wound up with Henry lateralling to offensive lineman Cole Strange. His valiant "run" was initially ruled a first down at Miami's 29-yard line with 1:00 remaining, but replay overturned it into being inches short.

"I feel like we’re a great team," said Patriots' defensive captain Deatrich Wise Jr. "I feel like we’ve shown great things these last two games.”

Sobering reality: For this Patriots team, great comebacks may not be good enough.

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