Invoice Belichick mentioned Malik Cunningham, Patriots’ penalties after loss vs. Raiders

Patriots

“That is not a superb system.”

Following the Patriots’ 21-17 loss to the Raiders, Invoice Belichick as soon as once more gave a easy overview of his staff’s issues.

“Clearly we simply couldn’t fairly make sufficient performs right here tonight,” Belichick started. “We had our alternatives and simply have to do a greater job right here in nearly each space. Considered one of plenty of issues may’ve made the distinction, and we simply should be coach[ed] higher, play higher, execute higher.”

It’s an analogous prognosis to what he’s mentioned in earlier weeks, with the Patriots now falling to 1-5.

Not like the earlier two defeats, nevertheless, New England was capable of preserve the sport shut. The Patriots even had the ball again with an opportunity to doubtlessly win the sport late within the fourth quarter, however did not put a drive collectively.

A part of the difficulty towards Las Vegas was a constant string of penalties (the Patriots dedicated 10 for 79 yards). Particularly for a Belichick staff that prided itself on enjoying mistake-free soccer for years, it was a clearly disappointing end result for the longtime coach.

“We had penalties to start out the sport, and had three penalties within the final two minutes. That’s not a superb system,” Belichick acknowledged.

Sunday marked the common season debut of undrafted rookie Malik Cunningham, who beforehand performed in preseason however had been on the follow squad till this previous week.

Cunningham noticed restricted time on designed performs (one, during which he cut up out large after beginning below middle, resulted in a Ezekiel Elliott landing run).

Belichick was requested why the staff signed Cunningham for the matchup towards the Raiders.

“We’ve got lots of people which are harm,” he replied.

Is Cunningham the Patriots’ backup going ahead, or was this only a one-game project?

“We’re simply speaking about this sport,” Belichick mentioned.

With a 3rd straight loss, and with the staff showing to have fallen utterly out of any potential playoff race, the Patriots’ coach was requested how personally he takes the present state of affairs, given his previous success.

“Proper now it’s nearly this sport,” Belichick mentioned. “Simply take it week by week. That’s the NFL.”

Having been benched within the earlier two Patriots defeats, Mac Jones managed to maintain issues extra aggressive on Sunday. He completed 24 of 33 for 200 yards, throwing one landing and one interception.

But when requested if he credited Jones for persevering by way of the previous couple of weeks, Belichick saved his response normal.

“As a staff, all of us responded fairly nicely. Competed nicely, like I mentioned, we simply didn’t make sufficient performs to win.