Patriots made this critical, uncharacteristic mistake on Saints’ final touchdown

The New England Patriots very seldom beat themselves in the past two decades.

Opposing teams come in to a game against the Patriots knowing they can’t make mistakes or they’ll pay for them. Bill Belichick’s teams are typically sound with their discipline and focus. In a 28-13 loss to the New Orleans Saints, this wasn’t the case.

Jonnu Smith’s dropped catch that resulted in an interception returned for a touchdown was the first big moment where the Patriots shot themselves in the foot. The game went from an 11-point lead to an 18-point lead within seconds.

Mac Jones, who struggled mightily against the Saints’ pass rush, had to play from behind in the second half and he struggled to produce. The Saints had the ball with three minutes remaining and put together a drive with intention to seal the game by securing a two-score lead.

The Patriots made it much easier on Tayson Hill’s game-sealing touchdown by having only ten defenders on the field, as Bob Socci pointed out on 98.5 The Sports Hub’s “Toucher and Rich.”

And this was the result.

This was one of many mental and disciplinary errors that surrounds this new and growing Patriots team. If there’s any shot to beat Tom Brady and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers next week, the Patriots can’t make any of these mistakes.

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