DeVante Parker Explains Crucial Drop in New England Patriots' Loss to Las Vegas Raiders

New England Patriots receiver DeVante Parker is coming under fire for failing to secure Mac Jones deep pass attempt in the closing moments of their Week 6 matchup with the Las Vegas Raiders.

Did the New England Patriots allow a comeback attempt to slip through their “fingertips?”  It depends on who you ask. 

The Pats fell to 1-5 on what is quickly becoming a season to forget for Patriots Nation via a hard-luck 21-17 loss to the Las Vegas Raiders on Sunday at Allegiant Stadium. While there is an extensive list of reasons for their defeat, one late-game miscue may have had the chance to change the game’s outcome. 

Facing a 19-17 deficit with 1:59 remaining in the fourth quarter, Pats quarterback Mac Jones attempted to reverse his teams recent misfortunes by firing a perfectly placed ball near midfield to receiver DeVante Parker on second-and-11 from their own 8-yard line. 

Despite a well-run route to run under Jones’ throw in stride, Parker was unable to complete the catch.  The ball bobbled through his hands and fell to the ground — though Parker later claimed that the ball careened off his fingertips.

Asked DeVante Parker if feels like this is a ball he can catch.

“I think so. I mean, fingertips, so I don’t know.”pic.twitter.com/70d6PKucAv

— Chris Mason (@ByChrisMason) October 15, 2023

Regrettably for the Patriots, an all-too familiar script would seal the game’s fate. On the next snap, New England was whistled for a delay of game penalty, backing them into a third-and 15 from their own end zone. Jones quickly succumbed to a sack-for-safety at the hands of Raiders linebacker Maxx Crosby, who easily beat the would-be protection combination of tight end Mike Gesicki and right tackle Vederian Lowe. The essentially-gifted two points capped a 21-17 victory for Las Vegas. 

Though Jones’ 23 of 33 for 200 yard-stat line was a clear improvement from that of his previous two outings, the Pats 2021 first-rounder cannot be fully absolved for his share of blame in New England’s loss. Jones threw an appalling interception intended for tight end Hunter Henry with time winding down in the second quarter. The throw was well off the mark and was easily fielded by Raiders' safety Tre’von Moehrig — just as the Patriots were mounting an attempt to add points in the half’s closing moments. In the team’s final two plays, Jones’ inability to shed the ball deep in his own territory, along with his role in their costly third-down penalty, were contributing factors in New England’s unfavorable result.

New England Patriots WR DeVante Parker attempts to secure a crucial fourth-quarter catch against the Las Vegas Raiders

Still, Jones is to be given due credit for doing that which many said was no longer a possibility for the third-year starter — delivering a stress-induced, on-point pass, which if caught, would have advanced the ball beyond midfield with less than two minutes remaining. Ultimately, he put his team in a position to win with the game on the line. 

The throw was great … the attempt to catch it was not. 

Although the end result was less than desirable, Jones continued to express confidence in both Parker and the Pats’ receiving corps, as a whole. 

“DP [Parker] is a great deep-ball threat, and we kind of agreed that we wanted that route,” Jones told reporters following the game. “It’s just a tough, tough play. If it goes one way, we might go down there and win. If it goes the other way, we don’t. It’s just tough.

“That’s football, but at the end of the day I have a lot of trust in the receivers,” he added. “I feel like their energy this week was very good, and they’ve been very confident they can get open and catch the ball. They’ve shown that at times, for sure.”

Conversely, Parker indicated postgame that Jones’ pass placement may have been a bit beyond his reach, despite video evidence showing the pass to be well within his hand radius. 

“Probably hit my fingertips, I think,” Parker said when asked if he could have caught Jones’ throw. “But I didn’t get a full grasp of it … I mean, fingertips, so I don’t know.”

The veteran receiver, who signed a two-year, $10.8 million extension earlier this year, finished the game having secured only one pass for seven yards. In total, Parker has logged 13 catches for 136 yards and no scores in 2023. 

Lastly, for those clamoring for a decisive word on the matter, coach Bill Belichick was asked what he saw on the play, but was unable to provide a verdict. 

“Yeah, I was on the other side of the field,” he said.

Meanwhile, the Patriots continue to fall further toward the “other side” of the standings, as AFC East’s last-place team prepares to host the defending Division Champions, the Buffalo Bills, for a Week 7 matchup at Gillette Stadium.

---