1. Miles Bryant: He was burned early and often, enough so that he could be called the Bills' secret weapon. I guess we understand why BB was OK cutting him and sending him to the practice squad earlier. The Parcells/Belichick Giants had a CB, Elvis Patterson, whose nickname was "Toast" because he got burnt so often. Bryant just made a strong play for that nickname.
2. Matt Judon: Four weeks ago he was looking like the clear team MVP and defensive leader and... in all of December has he made even one play of significance? He was great early on, but in this critical part of the season he's been MIA. The rest of the defense has also struggled badly, but in times like that teams usually look to their stars/leaders to make plays. And Judon has been hanging out on a milk carton.
3. Mac Jones: The Pats two games have shown that Mac, and the Pats offense as a whole, have a glass jaw. They aren't quitters, but an early punch in the mouth will wreck their composure for a half or more. Mac was 5 for 13 in the first half, the INT was a ball forced into coverage that he shouldn't have thrown, and several of his first half passes were inaccurate, even though accuracy is one of Mac's strengths as a QB. If he doesn't force the ball in leading to the INT and losing the turnover battle, maybe they have a real shot at this one.
I'll also mention JC Jackson here. Torched on the Diggs touchdown, but that was a hard pattern to defend and Jackson defended it like he expected to have inside help, which maybe he was supposed to have. But also, he is the best player on the defense (no one else is really close after Judon's disappearance), and sometimes the way you win a tough game is to have your best player step up and make a play. Jackson had that chance - had the ball in his hands on the first play of the last Bills touchdown drive and could not hang on. Not an easy ctach to make by any means ut if the Pats were going to pull this was one it would have been Jackson getting the interception there. But, like the rest of his teasm, he failed to meet the moment.
One thing the last 2 game have made clear is that this was never going to be 2001. There was some smoke and mirrors to the 7 game win streak and this team does not play the kind of football needed to win games in February. Not talented enough, not tough enough, not strong enough in the trenches.
They have a weak enough schedule that making the playoffs should still be on the board, but the high watermark of this team was beating the Bills in the wind. If they do make it, they are a striong candidate to make a quick exit.
