This article is part of our NFL Observations series.
As someone who had the Patriots plus six and plus-200 on the moneyline, that was frustrating. The Rams had a good game plan, leaning into the running game and not risking mistakes.
They also made two key plays -- the pick six, due to pressure on Cam Newton (plus a terrible throw) and the first-quarter stuff on fourth down near the goal line -- and were gifted a third, albeit when the game was mostly in hand, when the Patriots, down 14 in the third quarter, jumped offsides on fourth down, giving the Rams a first and goal, which they promptly converted into a TD.
It was an uncharacteristic mistake for a Bill Belichick team, when there was no chance the Rams were going to snap the ball, after trying the ploy one play earlier and calling timeout. With 17 minutes left in the game, and a sluggish Pats offense against them, the Rams were 100 percent kicking that field goal to go up three scores, but for the penalty. Not that it would have mattered as the Pats never scored again anyway, but it was a four-point gift.
- The Rams had six sacks, but that wasn't the story of the game, as all were the second half, and two were against Jarrett Stidham in garbage time.
- Cam Newton made a couple nice throws, but held the ball too long at times and was even indecisive running the ball. And the pick-six was just a bad decision.
- N'Keal Harry made one big play on a 30-yard sideline catch. He's been a massive disappointment given the success of DK Metcalf, A.J. Brown, Terry McLaurin, Deebo Samuel and other receivers taken after him, but 4-3-49 was something for him.
- Jared Goff, aside from one unlucky pick, wasn't asked to do much, and he was fine as a caretaker.
- Cam Akers (29-171-0, 3-2-23) sure looked like an every-down workhorse. The Patriots limited Robert Woods and Cooper Kupp, and the Rams leaned into it with Akers. I wouldn't be surprised if several of the top rookie running backs (Akers, JK Dobbins, Jonathan Taylor, Clyde Edwards-Helaire and D'Andre Swift if he's healthy) are difference makers in the fantasy playoffs.
- As noted on the broadcast, the Patriots lost their seventh game of the regular season, and the last time that happened was in 2002, the last time they missed the playoffs and had fewer than 11 wins (they missed once in 2008, despite 11 wins.)
