These games obviously come down to 1-2 plays on both sides every week and they just can't seem to avoid them or make them.
1. Blocked punt (again). I don't know how you have some of the best STs players in football and that happens twice in a month.
2. No challenge by BB on that first down or very close to a first down on 3rd. Maybe this team misses Ernie Adams more than we thought. I am literally jumping through the tv begging for the challenge. Seems weird that they don't have anyone on the headset to chime in. To my eyes this was possibly a first down outright after the receiver was pushed back from forward progress, but not challenging it and getting a better spot and doing a QB sneak if short, was a huge development in the game.
3. Agholor drop.
4. Def PI in overtime with the facemask push off. I have no idea how this could be missed. It was blatant, easy to see and affected the play. I have memories of 2017 Carolina when Gilmore's finger grazed the WRs mask on 3rd down all the way across the field off the jam, and he was called for it to extend their drive with a late game loss. This game sort of reminded me of that in general.
These games come down to 1-2 plays every week and anyone claiming officiating has no role in a win or a loss, is completely blind. Dallas was totally undisciplined and had the low IQ all game, as predicted. So many opportunities to seize control and take it.
I would say if any one of these 3 plays don't occurs, NE wins the game. This is the 2nd time in 3 weeks they've gone to to toe with a SB contender, but the narrative will be something else, when it shouldn't be.
I am seeing a lot of good, but when the opportunity presents itself, the team doesn't seize the opportunity.
Overall, another crappy moral victory and loss that didn't need to happen. On the bright side, sometimes this is how teams become good in the future...They see how they're losing, absorb the ways they're losing, and then use it to know how to win in the future.
The only good news is they are close, even if time is running out. Mac Jones is legit and there are certain players playing well. I figured they'd try to take out the RBs and roll the dice from there. It should have worked. Dallas's best players really didn't impact the game much. Cooper, Elliott, Pollard, Schultz, etc, were neutralized from having an impact.
The 2 turnovers were great by the D. I thought they might get Dak a couple of times and I was right. I also thought they played too much zone. Lastly, I am starting to think some of the coaches on this team are doing what too much over-analyzing as well. McDaniels needs a warning. Tired of his awful calls. That 3rd and 1 to Bolden I was screaming for it to be playaction. It was so predictable, Meyers couldn't even engage in the block. Horrible game by McDaniels again.
It was the one-off big play that hurt them again on D. That Wilson big catch was huge for them.