‘It stings:’ What David Andrews, Deatrich Sensible mentioned after Patriots’ loss to Commanders

After one other disappointing loss on Sunday, this time a 20-17 defeat to the Commanders, Patriots heart David Andrews was the primary one to the post-game podium as regular to reply for an additional tough afternoon with New England falling quick on a last-minute drive chasing the sport.

”I stood up right here and say it, and I imagine it, that’s why I say it: it’s on us,” the captain mentioned. “We had alternatives, not simply within the two-minute, we had alternatives to make a play, make an influence, and we didn’t actually try this. Once more, you bought to look within the mirror, return to work. It’s not going to interrupt my spirit, break our spirit, we’re going to take tonight, come again to work tomorrow, and see what we are able to do to appropriate it and prepare to play Indy.”

There have been flashes of promise for the Patriots offense, significantly when Mac Jones and Co. went up-tempo and no-huddle, together with on the ultimate drive when New England moved the ball effectively earlier than the Jones interception that sealed the sport.

“Simply attempting and get right into a rhythm, get the primary first down, preserve it shifting, preserve guys on the sector to do various things,” Andrews mentioned. “In the event you’re going quick and never having constructive performs, it doesn’t actually matter. So all of it begins with constructive performs, attempting to get in a rhythm, get shifting. We had some success, moved the ball there, simply started working to complete drives.”

The Patriots broke off their greatest offensive play of the season, thanks in massive half to the offensive line, which opened up an enormous gap for Rhamondre Stevenson to romp 64 yards for a landing.

“They went to a good vast entrance, when groups try this, not likely on a cross rush down, you anticipate one thing coming inside,” Andrews mentioned. “They type of introduced a blitz, did a great job selecting that up, and for those who give these backs area they’ll do a extremely good job, Rhamondre did an incredible job studying it. It was a great play, simply received to construct on it. There have been different good performs, and also you’ve simply received to try to construct on that every week.”

Regardless of a few of these constructive flashes, it was nonetheless a vastly disappointing afternoon towards a Washington staff that simply bought off a few of their greatest items on the commerce deadline and seems headed for an additional rebuild. Andrews wasn’t actually occupied with whether or not a defeat to a staff seemingly tanking stung any extra.

“It stings as a result of it’s a loss, so …” Andrews mentioned earlier than leaving the rostrum.

Deatrich Sensible was subsequent to talk Sunday after a loss outlined by some brutal penalties.

“We all know the place we’re messing up, and we all know we’re beating ourselves,” Sensible mentioned. “A lot of the video games that we play, it’s plenty of issues that we’re doing unsuitable, and we’re not capitalizing on the alternatives we now have. Our aim is to not beat ourselves.

“It’s extra of a studying course of, what’s largely irritating is dropping, that’s the primary factor. On the similar time we now have a [sliver] of motivation as a result of we all know if we simply eradicate sure performs we’ll be capable of flip video games round.”

One other massive downside for the Patriots Sunday was the protection’s incapacity to cease Sam Howell and the Commanders on third down; one of many low factors within the loss was when Sensible’s sack introduced up third and 23, only for Howell to scramble for twenty-four yards and a primary down.

“I can solely converse for myself and my sport, and I can proceed to maintain the quarterback within the pocket,” Sensible mentioned. “There have been just a few occasions this sport the place he received out and I put that on myself.”

“He simply noticed a spot and he took it. That’s actually it. It was an excessive amount of area on the line of scrimmage, and he took off working.”