This is what rock bottom feels like.
The New England Patriots were at home facing a Miami Dolphins team teetering on the brink of disaster, and they still failed to get the job done. In front of thousands of screaming fans at Gillette Stadium, the Patriots dropped their fourth straight loss to a banged-up divisional opponent with a backup starting at quarterback.
Sunday’s 15-10 loss felt different for the Patriots. Every loss is deflating throughout the season, but it’s easier to make excuses when losing to the San Francisco 49ers, Seattle Seahawks and the Aaron Rodgers-led New York Jets.
But what’s the excuse for losing to Tyler Huntley and the Dolphins? How do the Patriots move forward from that defeat?
Here are the five biggest takeaways from the Week 5 matchup: