New England Patriots Week 15 Report Card
How did each positional group perform against the Miami Dolphins in Week 15?
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Dec 23, 2020
In a game that the New England Patriots had to win, for reasons that every Patriots fan is likely well aware of by now, they played more or less the same wretched football we saw in many of their losses this season. The implications, of course, were a shot at the 2020 NFL postseason.
However, New England s playoff hopes were put to rest by an understaffed Miami Dolphins team in a 22-12 final score.
With plenty of blame to go around for this sputtering, now 6-8 Patriots team (now 2-6 on the road), let s dive into where those issues are stemming from, specifically the ones we saw versus the Dolphins.
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With Matthew Slater, Jake Bailey and Stephon Gilmore being named to the Pro Bowl on Monday evening, Bill Belichick was asked about the work of the two specialists and their contributions on Tuesday morning in what was the only media availability of the day.
With the top-ranked special teams units in the league per Football Outsiders, the third phase of the game has been a critical element for the Patriots this season. At the top of the list is Matthew Slater, who has been named to nine of the last 10 Pro Bowls and continues to perform at a level that puts him among the best of all time to ever do it.
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Q: Jake Bailey was just voted to his first Pro Bowl. What are your thoughts on the type of season he s had?
BB: Yeah, he s had an outstanding season. He does a great job of really everything – kickoffs, holding, been part of Nick s [Folk] consistency, as well – and of course his punting. He s got the big leg and the ability to change field position, but also situational punting, like he had in the Miami game. The kickoff, the punt – I mean, he does a lot of little things that are really, really important to the success of our special teams units and he s had an outstanding year. The punting is obvious, but there s a lot of other little things too that he does a great job of.
Updated: 9:13 PM EST Dec 21, 2020 By Russ Reed Three players will represent the New England Patriots in the 2021 NFL Pro Bowl, which will be a virtual event this year due to the COVID-19 pandemic.Patriots punter Jake Bailey earned his first Pro Bowl nod in his second NFL season. Cornerback Stephon Gilmore has made his third straight Pro Bowl with New England, while special teams captain Matthew Slater earned his ninth career Pro Bowl invitation which extends his NFL record.Bailey, 23, leads the NFL with a net average of 46.1 yards per punt and ranks second in the American Football Conference with an average of 47.8 yards per punt. He also leads the AFC with 24 punts that have been downed inside the opponent s 20-yard line. His net and gross punt averages are both on pace to set new single-season franchise records.He is now the second punter in franchise history to earn Pro Bowl honors, joining Rich Camarillo, who was voted to the Pro Bowl in 1983.Gilmore, 30, is h
Patriots playoff streak ends as Dolphins eliminate New England from postseason, 22-12
Updated Dec 20, 2020;
Posted Dec 20, 2020
MIAMI GARDENS, FLORIDA - DECEMBER 20: Jakobi Meyers #16 of the New England Patriots is tackled by Elandon Roberts #44 of the Miami Dolphins during the first quarter in the game at Hard Rock Stadium on December 20, 2020 in Miami Gardens, Florida. (Photo by Mark Brown/Getty Images)Getty Images
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After weeks of hanging on, the Patriots had the rope ripped out of their hands.
The Dolphins ended New England’s playoff chances in 2020 and their chance to stretch their streak of playoff seasons to 12 consecutive seasons Sunday at Hard Rock Stadium.