[I wrote most of this yesterday, but noticed this morning that it's still hanging out in the reply box. Sorry if it's repetitive or played out or whatever]
There are clearly things to work on, any injury to Mac is troubling, and backs are especially hard to figure. But overall I'm amazed at the level of angst after this game.
There are always a bunch of "just one play"s in any game, but let's exclude most of them. How different is that game right from jump with the appropriate PI call and Carl Davis not jumping offsides? Instead of down 0-3, you're getting the ball back up 7-0 with a methodical TD march followed up by the defense holding the OMG SoManyWeapons Dolphins to a choked single 1st down and punt? Even allowing for everything else in the game - which were mostly "just one play"s like the fumble-six and the deep ball that got through - you're suddenly in a 14-all game with momentum dressed like Elvis after the Patriots come out after halftime and hold Miami to a 3 and out and flex on a monster 92-yard TD drive in response. The 4th and 1 doesn't happen in that case, and the 3rd and 3 call wouldn't have assumed going for it on 4th. If they lost this game 17-14 like that, how would you be feeling?
The defense looked pretty impressive as a partially-formed entity, but there were a few missed opportunities and a couple of brain farts...and this is to be expected given the youth and the calendar, yes? Jon and Jack Jones both looked really good. Dugger looked good. Judon looked good. Hard to say about the newer LBs without look at the film. Unfortunately we didn't get to see Jennings.
Look, the Patriots didn't look scary. Certainly not scary-good, but not scary-bad either. They looked like it is early in the season, they're working out the kinks of a new system, like they lost some veteran leadership, and like the players are getting acclimated to the new structure.
And clearly that's the case, given the Bourne stuff. For my money, this offense looks completely different with Bourne and Thornton because of Bourne's separation ability and Thornton's speed. Contested catch ability - specialties of Parker, Henry, and to some extent Meyers - is significantly more impactful when safeties have to play farther back and can't close as quickly.
Most people had us losing this game, and starting either 1-3 or 2-2. I didn't see anything here (apart from the potential of Mac's injury, of course) that changes my opinion. Also, my opinion that the only real risk is losing the team has also not changed, and the Bourne situation may be a red flag there.
There is a lot of talent on this team. Not your high-end flashy talent, but a lot of B+ players and developing talent. In most years this would be a playoff team, but the AFC looks to be insanely loaded this year and the team may very well be better this year and still appear to take a step back. They may also catch the timing of player development and team cohesion and be in position to be subtle and dangerous late, in the teeth of their season. They could very well be a spoiler for Miami, Arizona, Cinci, and/or Vegas, and they should have every opportunity to get into the playoffs themselves.
