The Game Goat Thread: Wk. 12 @ Minnesota

Eddie Jurak

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1. Special teams was a disaster. Kick return for TD, crucial running in to the kicker.

2. Defense was a trashfire. No consistent pressure. Cousins shredded the secondary. Guys (Bryant, Peppers, Dugger) slipped on the field and below key coverages. Jon Jones had a pick and great return but also 2 fucking facemask personal fouls, once out of bounds after the play was dead.

3. Matt P and the refs. Mac looked as good as he has in his career for parts of this game, but the Pats offensive system is a dumpster fire. They have so many wasted plays and drives. As to the refs, basically every key, close, bordeline call went against the Pats.
 

j44thor

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Aug 1, 2006
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Andy Reidesque clock management at the end of the 1st half
ST was horrendous
Defense might not be as good as the Ehilinger Colts and Wilson Jets lead us to believe.
 

rajagopalanator

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Aug 14, 2007
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Special teams
Catch rule
Refs
Mac - brain dead slide and 2 sacks were the difference. Yes I know it was his best game but the bar has been pretty low
 

SeoulSoxFan

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What a frustrating loss.

The horrible reverse on Henry's TD was the difference as well as the no call on the return TD.

The zebras are the #1 goats for me. Followed by Strong for running into the kicker.

F*ck.
 

Ale Xander

Hamilton
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Oct 31, 2013
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Myles Bryant
Pilot that flew in the refs from the Qatar Ecuador game

HM: Mac’s pocket awareness
 

brandonchristensen

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Feb 4, 2012
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Special Teams
Was Judon involved anywhere? Don’t feel like I heard his name once.
Honorary pick for Mac. Looked great early but wilted at the end. Took way too many sacks to basically ice it.
 

rajagopalanator

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Aug 14, 2007
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Mac does not belong anywhere near this thread. Come the hell on.

Kick return team
Duger
Refs
He had a great game other than those 3 plays. But the sacks+slide were killer and untimely and game changing. For a qb whose best trait is his brain, that stuff just can’t happen.

That said, this version of Mac (and the offense as a whole) is beyond encouraging.
 

Bergs

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Jul 22, 2005
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Was Judon involved anywhere? Don’t feel like I heard his name once.
Honorary pick for Mac. Looked great early but wilted at the end. Took way too many sacks to basically ice it.
They were holding every play. One flag.
 

FL4WL3SS

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Andy Brickley's potty mouth
Mac Jones (just kidding)

There were a lot of good things to take from the offense tonight (with still some improvements).

That might have been the worst officiated game I've ever seen. I don't normally complain about refs, but the was horrendous.
 

Justthetippett

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Aug 9, 2015
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Special teams. They really did make the difference. Defense also needed to make a few plays and couldn’t (see Jalen Mills).
 

Jed Zeppelin

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ST and refs a disaster but the offense had three trips to the RZ including two inside the 10 and came away with 0 touchdowns. Can’t happen. I guess I’ll give a pass to the one at the end of the half but they fucked that up too with bad clock management.
 

BaseballJones

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How in the world can people somehow put this on Mac? I mean....come on. The dude was 28-39 (71.8%), 382 yds, 9.8 y/a, 2 td, 0 int, and led the team to 26 offensive points on the road, on a short week, against an 8-2 team. He did a phenomenal job at the end of the first half to drive down the field for a score, and honestly, they should have taken one more shot with 6 seconds left AND it should have been at the 1 yard line because there was DPI on the play (wasn't called).

He got robbed of a TD on the Henry play - should have been ruled a catch since Henry's hand was under the ball and it never hit the ground. You can lay on the ground and juggle the ball for a half hour, as long as it doesn't hit the ground, it's a catch. He got tripped on one play, no call. He got yanked by the face mask on another play, no call. He should have had Agholor deep but there was illegal contact or DPI, no call.

He played really well tonight in a game where he HAD to play really well because the defense struggled and the special teams really botched the game, (1) on the kick return for a TD, and (2) running into the kicker that gave Min a first down and led to another TD.

In no world today should Mac Jones be anywhere near the goat of tonight's game. We've now reached the point where unless he throws for 400 yards and leads the team to a winning score in the last few seconds, he's being criticized.

The Pats had the ball at their own 11 with no timeouts and just 53 seconds left on the clock needing to go 89 yards for a tying TD. Yes he took a sack but if you look at the play, nobody was even open or looking for the ball. (which is on the play design, not Mac)
 

OurF'ingCity

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Refs were terrible, and yet the Pats probably win the game if their special teams don't make two huge blunders (granted the refs did miss a hold on one of those blunders but there were still like five missed tackles).
 

Ed Hillel

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Some people have really said Mac Jones? Getting started early on the Christmas Egg Nogg?

It's just that gunner for me probably on the punt. That's a backbreaking play. I also think it was far too risky of a call in that situation, so demarkation for coaching I suppose.

Other than that, competitive game on the road against a very good team where the calls did not go their way. It happens. I'll take that game for Mac and a competitive loss over that Jets crap from last week. The idea is to eventually get this team to Super Bowl level, and you're gonna need a top 10-15 QB at least for that.
 

8slim

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How in the world can people somehow put this on Mac? I mean....come on. The dude was 28-39 (71.8%), 382 yds, 9.8 y/a, 2 td, 0 int, and led the team to 26 offensive points on the road, on a short week, against an 8-2 team. He did a phenomenal job at the end of the first half to drive down the field for a score, and honestly, they should have taken one more shot with 6 seconds left AND it should have been at the 1 yard line because there was DPI on the play (wasn't called).

He got robbed of a TD on the Henry play - should have been ruled a catch since Henry's hand was under the ball and it never hit the ground. You can lay on the ground and juggle the ball for a half hour, as long as it doesn't hit the ground, it's a catch. He got tripped on one play, no call. He got yanked by the face mask on another play, no call. He should have had Agholor deep but there was illegal contact or DPI, no call.

He played really well tonight in a game where he HAD to play really well because the defense struggled and the special teams really botched the game, (1) on the kick return for a TD, and (2) running into the kicker that gave Min a first down and led to another TD.

In no world today should Mac Jones be anywhere near the goat of tonight's game. We've now reached the point where unless he throws for 400 yards and leads the team to a winning score in the last few seconds, he's being criticized.

The Pats had the ball at their own 11 with no timeouts and just 53 seconds left on the clock. Yes he took a sack but if you look at the play, nobody was even open or looking for the ball. (which is on the play design, not Mac)
Even if Mac had 400 yards and led the team to a winning TD, there’d still be people bitching that he got sacked at some random point, and hey if he had played better they wouldn’t have needed a last second score….

It’s silly. If Zappe played that exact same game people would be erect.
 

lexrageorge

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Jul 31, 2007
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Pierre Strong - cuttable penalty
Myles Bryant
Replay official
Agholor for missing a well thrown ball at the 1 in the Pats penultimate possession
Dugger
Anyone here that names Mac a goat
 

DennyDoyle'sBoil

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Sep 9, 2008
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We went from the best situational team in football to one of the worst gradually over the last few years. I guess maybe situational awareness is what you work on when the other stuff is well under control and we don’t have the other stuff well under control.

When good decisions need to be made under pressure, we wilt. I don’t know who is to blame.
 

ShaneTrot

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The red zone offense remains terrible. Shouldn’t this team be able to run the ball into the end zone for Christ sakes? This was a poorly officiated game but man this team does some dumb shit. Running into the kicker, the personal fouls, and the poor kick off coverage.
 

brandonchristensen

Loves Aaron Judge
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Feb 4, 2012
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Even if Mac had 400 yards and led the team to a winning TD, there’d still be people bitching that he got sacked at some random point, and hey if he had played better they wouldn’t have needed a last second score….

It’s silly. If Zappe played that exact same game people would be erect.
No one is talking about Zappe except you fyi.
 

richgedman'sghost

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Hunter for not maintaining possession when he hit the ground on the possible TD catch.
The refs for not only missing the holding penalty on the Vikes kick off return touchdown but they also missed a face mask penalty that a Vikes lineman committed against Mac on the Pats third to last possession. (The possession where the Pats punter then spanked it 25 yards)
Nelson Aghilor for losing the 4th down pass in the lights
Pats special teams except for Folk.
Anyone who blames Mac Jones for this loss is wrong. He should be nowhere near this thread.
 

Justthetippett

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Aug 9, 2015
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How in the world can people somehow put this on Mac? I mean....come on. The dude was 28-39 (71.8%), 382 yds, 9.8 y/a, 2 td, 0 int, and led the team to 26 offensive points on the road, on a short week, against an 8-2 team. He did a phenomenal job at the end of the first half to drive down the field for a score, and honestly, they should have taken one more shot with 6 seconds left AND it should have been at the 1 yard line because there was DPI on the play (wasn't called).

He got robbed of a TD on the Henry play - should have been ruled a catch since Henry's hand was under the ball and it never hit the ground. You can lay on the ground and juggle the ball for a half hour, as long as it doesn't hit the ground, it's a catch. He got tripped on one play, no call. He got yanked by the face mask on another play, no call. He should have had Agholor deep but there was illegal contact or DPI, no call.

He played really well tonight in a game where he HAD to play really well because the defense struggled and the special teams really botched the game, (1) on the kick return for a TD, and (2) running into the kicker that gave Min a first down and led to another TD.

In no world today should Mac Jones be anywhere near the goat of tonight's game. We've now reached the point where unless he throws for 400 yards and leads the team to a winning score in the last few seconds, he's being criticized.

The Pats had the ball at their own 11 with no timeouts and just 53 seconds left on the clock needing to go 89 yards for a tying TD. Yes he took a sack but if you look at the play, nobody was even open or looking for the ball. (which is on the play design, not Mac)
I just hope it’s a real growth game for Mac and he can build on it. He looked very competitive and competent for long stretches, and without the mistakes of the Baltimore game. The 3rd down sack at the end of the game was really frustrating and just can’t happen, but we definitely forget all about that if Agholor can make the 4th down catch or the refs throw the flag like they should have.
 

brandonchristensen

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Feb 4, 2012
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The people calling Mac a goat are some of the ones I’ve seen clamoring for Zappe. Hence my point.
I’m the only one to bring up his name as honorary goat because of the last few drives looking like 2022 Mac.

I’ve not talked about Zappe in weeks. I want Mac to be the guy - but he hasn’t shown much when the pressure is turned up this year.
 

rajagopalanator

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Aug 14, 2007
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I should clarify. I think Mac played GREAT football, and arguably the best he has played in his career. The scheme was mostly great too - virtually every pass was out in 2 seconds. If this version of Mac is the go forward Mac, he’s at least well above replacement level and likely a top 10-15 QB.

I think it’s fair to say that his sacks (+dumb slide) were game changing, awful plays, for a guy who has shown weak pocket awareness all season (not helped at all by the performance of the line).

Mac was great. And had three pretty awful plays that really hurt against a top team.
 

j44thor

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Also a goat for not having a game changing WR threat. A guy like Jefferson totally alters the game.
How do they not scheme the fastest player on the field a single touch. Hate to say it but Pickens looks like an elite WR in PIT and Thornton looks like he might be a useful gadget player if he can stay healthy. A big if.
 

BaseballJones

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Oct 1, 2015
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Pierre Strong - cuttable penalty
Myles Bryant
Replay official
Agholor for missing a well thrown ball at the 1 in the Pats penultimate possession
Dugger
Anyone here that names Mac a goat
Agholor didn't "miss" that long pass. It was just out of his reach, and that was because he got held up for a moment by the Minnesota DB, which should have been a penalty. It's not like it went through his hands or anything.

58098

This is where the DB is holding up Agholor. It wasn't the worst DPI ever, but look here. Agholor is now 3 yards past that STILL trying to shake the guy off.

58099

And then he's in an all-out dive trying to make the play. Just beyond his reach.

58100

Here it is from another angle.

58101

It was a play that was THISCLOSE to being completed, but it wasn't like Agholor "missed" it. He was knocked off his route and a flag which absolutely should have been called, was not.
 

DeadlySplitter

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Oct 20, 2015
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Small goat ball to Agholor - the guy just is and always has been a below average WR. Who's available this offseason, eh Bill?
 

BaseballJones

ivanvamp
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What's wrong with Agholor tonight? 8 targets, 6 receptions, 65 yards, 1 td, and on one of those two incompletions he could have had a 39 yard catch if not for a DPI that wasn't called.
 

Ed Hillel

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Just looking ahead, I think there's likely to be a playoff team at 9-8, and given 3 non-conference losses and their strength of schedule, the Pats probably have the inside track in the tiebreakers? I think this is a 9-10 win team.
 

ehaz

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does the secondary get a goat or do they get the *shrugs it’s Justin Jefferson* pass?

that dude is unbelievable.
 

Devizier

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Strong
Bryant
Jo Jones

pretty decent performance for most but just backbreaking bad plays and PENALTIES that made this an L
 

SeoulSoxFan

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Just looking ahead, I think there's likely to be a playoff team at 9-8, and given 3 non-conference losses and their strength of schedule, the Pats probably have the inside track in the tiebreakers? I think this is a 9-10 win team.
Hope so but it will require winning one of the Bills games.

Getting a win tonight would have been immense for their playoff chances.
 

Norm Siebern

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Pierre Strong. If he is cut this week I won't be surprised.
The referees. Egregiously bad. I feel like I felt after Gronk was held in the endzone against Carolina years ago.

One more good draft this spring, loading up on O-Line, safety, and WR, and this team is going to be a fucking monster. Buffalo or KC better get it done this year, because this team is one year away. You watch.
 

Bowser

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Sep 27, 2019
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Patricia, Dugger, Palardy, Jon Jones, the refs, etc. etc. Fine.

But it sure would be nice to have a QB who could be relied upon to see receivers when they're open. Or throw the ball away to avoid a sack at a key moment. Or lead a TD drive at the end of a game. Sure, Mac made a handful of good throws tonight and put up 382. But when he's needed most, he's simply not competitive. And when he the leader of your offense isn't competitive when the pressure is on, he deserves to be on this list.