What the Patriots said about DK Metcalf’s TD and other thoughts

That play impacted how the Patriots called the game, Seattle quarterback Geno Smith said.

According to Smith, New England stayed out of zone coverage until the final drive in overtime. Seattle took control with back-to-back touchdown drives and forced the Patriots to play from behind for the first time this season.

“It was a good call. They put the ball at zero early in the game,” Smith said. “That was the big touchdown for DK, and it scared them a little bit. They didn’t call that the rest of the game.”

“We knew they would come back,” Smith added. “That’s what they want to do in those critical situations. [Offensive coordinator Ryan Grubb] was on the ball. I made the right decision. We’re just happy that it happened and that it got us into field goal range and [Jason Meyers] I put it in.

One play doesn’t determine the outcome of a game, and the Patriots tied the game before losing in overtime. While Dugger played well overall, recording a team-best nine tackles, including three tackles for loss and a sack, that mistake set the tone for how things played out.

Here are some additional thoughts and notes to wrap up Sunday’s 23-20 overtime loss.

Mistakes have wreaked havoc

The Patriots once again looked one-dimensional on offense. The running game worked: Rhamondre Stevenson and Antonio Gibson combined for 177 yards and Stevenson scored a touchdown.

But the Patriots have barely produced any explosive play from their receivers and have struggled to produce explosive plays. The receivers had three receptions for 19 yards. New England had a 35-yard reception from Hunter Henry and a 45-yard run from Gibson.

But that wasn’t enough to keep pace with Smith, who threw for 327 yards to Jacoby Brissett’s 149.

The margin for error is much smaller when a team fails to move the ball effectively through the air, and that magnifies other mistakes. New England fought hard, but the mental errors and lack of execution piled up.

The blocked kick on the Patriots’ final drive of regulation was a real head-scratcher. The blown coverage on Metcalf’s touchdown wiped out an early lead almost instantly. New England got lucky when Mike Ownenu recovered a Stevenson fumble at the 3-yard line that kept them in the game.

“It’s all about the details,” head coach Jerod Mayo said. “If we do things right, the big things will take care of themselves. We just didn’t take care of the little details and we weren’t as specific and as aware of our performance as we should have been. That’s my responsibility.”

“I take 100 percent responsibility for that. Those guys, I’ll say this: They’re a tough football team. It doesn’t matter what’s said outside of this building, and I’ve said that to those guys, too. We’re a tough football team, not only physically but mentally. I appreciate their effort. It just wasn’t good enough today.”

Hunter Henry was excellent, but the Patriots need more passes

Henry provided the bulk of the Patriots’ production in the passing game, scoring a career-high 109 yards. It was the second 100-yard game of his eight-year career, and arguably his best game as a Patriot.

Seattle held off the Patriots’ other receivers, but Henry was able to get into open space when Brissett was able to extend plays with his legs. New England’s offensive line struggled compared to last week, with Seattle generating constant pressure and forcing Brissett to think on his feet.

Last week, Henry impacted the game with his dynamism, fighting for an underthrown pass that should have been an interception and preventing the backfielder from getting there.

This week, Henry was able to show off his hands and athleticism in a variety of ways. The Patriots hit him with a tight screen that resulted in a first down after David Andrews and Michael Jordan blocked the edge of the field for him. He had a 35-yard reception, which was New England’s longest play of the season, until Gibson capped it off with a 45-yard run.

It was a consistent performance from the veteran tight end, but having one player account for 109 of the team’s 149 passing yards isn’t enough.

Polk gets his first TD

That being said, here’s a moment to acknowledge rookie receiver Ja’Lynn Polk’s first career touchdown, which came on a quick trajectory in the first quarter.

Polk, who had two receptions for 12 yards, said the moment meant a lot to him but didn’t seem to want to talk about it much.

“It was pretty cool. It was a great experience with my teammates,” Polk said. “Obviously, we didn’t get the win, so I think [there are] more important things than my touchdown.

When asked what receivers can do to get better looks, Polk had one word to answer: details.

Seeing the big picture

The Patriots have experimented with a few different jumbo looks, including offensive tackle Caedan Wallace as a jumbo tight end and offensive guard Nick Leverett as a fullback.

Leverett lined up in front of Stevenson and made a move toward the edge on Stevenson’s touchdown, a 1-yard run on a direct snap to the ball carrier.

“It’s definitely fun. I think the best part is being able to contribute to the team in a different way,” Leverett said. “I’m always trying to find new ways to help my team and stuff, and the fact that they have confidence in me to be a guard is not something I take lightly. I take it to heart. I study the guard role like I study the left guard role or the center role. I take pride in that.”