The New England Patriots just got absolutely waxed, a 35-6 thumping from the Jacksonville Jaguars that left everyone scratching their heads. And after that kind of beatdown, captain Kevin Byard didn’t mince words, pulling out a classic Bill Belichick line to try and rally the troops. Byard knows this team needs a total reset after giving up five touchdowns in five red zone trips, a performance he didn’t hesitate to label an “old-fashioned ass-whopping.”
“Just Do Your Job” is The Vibe
Byard, an 11-year veteran who’s seen his share of tough games, went straight for the Belichick playbook in his postgame presser. “As Bill Belichick used to always say, just do your job, and I think we’ll be fine,” he told reporters. It’s a simple message, but when you’re down 35-6, sometimes simple is exactly what you need. Byard is putting the pressure on himself, too, not just the rest of the squad. He talked about being “one of 11” and needing to play at his “highest level,” ready to “make a play to spark this team.” That’s the kind of leadership you gotta respect when things are spiraling. He’s demanding everyone brings “the right attitude, bringing the right energy every single day.”
Defense Got Torched, And Everyone Knows It
While everyone’s buzzing about the offense and quarterback Drake Maye, Byard was quick to put the spotlight where it really belonged: the defense. This unit, usually pretty stout, gave up a mind-blowing 35 points. That’s tied for the worst under head coach Mike Vrabel, matching a loss to Buffalo from last December. But the real gut punch? Jacksonville went into the red zone five times and scored five touchdowns. Five for five! You just can’t win like that. Byard didn’t hold back, saying, “As a defense, we have to go out there and line up, and we didn’t get a stop at all. They had the ball in the red zone five times and they scored five times. That is inexcusable on our part.” He’s not pointing fingers at the offense, making it clear the defense owns this one. That’s real talk.
Buffalo Awaits, No Time To Wall-Whoop
So, what’s next after an “old-fashioned ass-whopping”? A trip to Buffalo to face the Bills. Talk about a tough rebound game! Byard knows it’s time to buckle down. He said the team has to “come together” and ignore all the “noise.” That’s the only way to improve, according to him. It’s gonna take more than a Belichick quote, but if they can actually “just do their job” and get those red zone stops, maybe, just maybe, they can pull off a quick turnaround. Otherwise, this season could get real ugly, real fast for them.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Pats Pulpit.
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