There was plenty of blame to go around after the Bills turned a Patriots error into a game-changing play.
Some pinned it on Alex Van Pelt, arguing the Patriots offensive coordinator should have known better than to call a swing pass inside the New England 10-yard line. Others said quarterback Drake Maye should’ve known better than to throw the pass behind Rhamondre Stevenson, thus making for a backward lateral. And those growing tired of Stevenson turnovers might put it on the running back.
Patriots head coach Jerod Mayo, however, put the lion’s share of blame on offensive tackle Demontrey Jacobs.
Jacobs failed to get Bills defensive end Greg Rousseau on the ground on an attempted cut block. Instead, it was Jacobs who fell to the turf while Rousseau had a free run at Stevenson and blew up the running back coming out of the backfield.
“One thing I would say just about the Rhamondre play, obviously you want him to be a little flatter there, but it’s the cut block,” Mayo told reporters on a video conference one day after the 24-21 loss, per a team-provided video. “If we get the cut block by the tackle, watching the film, if you get that cut block we have a big play there.”
Bills cornerback Taron Johnson recovered the bouncing ball at the goal line for a Buffalo touchdown. It helped the Bills extend their lead to 24-14 with 10 minutes left and marked a third consecutive turnover for the New England offense.
Mayo was asked if Jacobs could be stapled to the bench in Week 17 against the Los Angeles Charges, especially with rookie tackle Caedan Wallace inching closer to a return. Mayo, however, deflected the question and said it wasn’t yet known if Wallace would be back on the field.
Regardless, Jacobs seems to be in Mayo’s doghouse this week.
