Best and Worst Patriots PFF Grades for Week 15 at Arizona

The New England Patriots enjoyed a bye week in Week 14. Many teams come out of their bye weeks looking refreshed and well-prepared to get back on the football field. Unfortunately for the Patriots, this was not the case for them in Week 15.

New England had a holding penalty nullify a run that would have put them in the red zone on their opening drive. They settled for a 53-yard field goal attempt, which Joey Slye hooked left. It was a sign of things to come in their game against Arizona.

The Patriots finally found the end zone twice in the fourth quarter but it was too little too late at that point. The Cardinals led 23-3 before the Patriots Drake Maye found DeMario Douglas for their first touchdown. When Maye added a rushing touchdown, it merely closed the gap to 30-17, which was the final score. Arizona running back James Conner scored three touchdowns, meaning he outscored New England 18-17 by himself.

Also Read – Ten Takeaways From the Patriots 30-17 Loss to the Cardinals

Pro Football Focus Grading System

Following each game, Patriots Football Now posts which New England players received the best and worst grades from Pro Football Focus for that week’s game.

The PFF scale goes from 0-to-100. A grade below 60.0 is indicative of being replaceable by a non-roster player. Pro Bowl grades are 85.0 and higher.

Here is a look at the New England Patriots who stood out, for better or worse, in Week 15 (note: players must play a minimum of 20 snaps to qualify, aside from special teams).

HONOR ROLL

Nine qualifying New England Patriots received grades of 70.0 or better against Arizona. This group consists of three offensive players, five defensive players, and one from special teams. It is worth noting that running back Antonio Gibson received the highest offensive grade on the team (84.3) but didn’t play enough offensive snaps (16) to qualify. The same thing happened to Gibson in the Patriots-Colts game in Week 13.

LB Christian Elliss (84.6)

New England missed nine tackles on Sunday, according to PFF, but Elliss was not responsible for any of them. He made five tackles (four solo). Elliss recorded three stops. Arizona targeted him in coverage once, but it went for no gain. With Jahlani Tavai and Sione Takitaki both struggling, Elliss could see his snap totals continue to increase in the season’s final games.

CB Christian Gonzalez (84.1)

Gonzalez allowed a 23-yard completion to Marvin Harrison Jr. on Arizona’s second offensive play. From that point on he was sensational. Cardinals QB Kyler Murray targeted Gonzelez five more times in the game. Murray completed just one of those attempts for a five-yard gain. Christian Gonzalez registered two tackles, a stop, and two pass breakups.

ST Brenden Schooler (78.7)

Last week, PFN gave Brenden Schooler the best chance among New England Patriots players to make the Pro Bowl this season. He did nothing to hurt his argument in Week 15, recording two more tackles with no missed tackles or penalties. Schooler continued to look like the NFL’s premier special teams player in 2024.

WR Kendrick Bourne (76.6)

Drake Maye threw three passes Kendrick Bourne’s way and the wide receiver caught all three. He picked up 44 yards. This included a 37-yard gain on a great throw and catch, which set up the Patriots’ first touchdown.

LB Anfernee Jennings (76.3)

Jennings’ most noteworthy play of the game was his questionable roughing the passer play, which nullified Jonathan Jones’ interception. However, that doesn’t tell the entire story. He received the highest run defense grade for New England (86.9) on a day when few others helped stop Arizona’s ground game. The Cardinals finished with 163 yards rushing. Jennings finished with six tackles (five solo) and four stops. He added two pressures and allowed no yards on his lone target in coverage.

Honorable Mention: DB Jonathan Jones (75.1), CB Marcus Jones (73.8), QB Drake Maye (73.2), RB Rhamondre Stevenson (73.0).

DISHONORABLE ROLL

The number of New England Patriots on this list shrunk from 22 against Indianapolis to 14 in Arizona. However, the total is still far too large to lead to success. When the Patriots start having more people on the honor roll than the dishonorable roll, they’ll start winning games more regularly.

LT Vederian Lowe (35.9)

Lowe’s performance felt worse while watching than his numbers indicate. He allowed four quarterback pressures, including a sack. Lowe committed no penalties in the game. Perhaps his desire to not have a false start left him slow off the blocks? He run blocking grade (32.9) was worse than his pass blocking grade (37.9).

C Ben Brown (45.4)

The Patriots center was solid in run blocking, earning a 75.3 grade. That placed second on the team behind only tight end Hunter Henry. But Brown got a 0.0 in pass blocking. He had two errant snaps to Drake Maye, one of which received credit for a fumble on Brown. He allowed three quarterback pressures in the game.

DT Eric Johnson II (50.4)

Johnson played 24 defensive snaps, and Arizona ran the ball on 19 of them. He recorded one solo tackle and two assists. As the man in the middle of the defensive front, Johnson was partially to blame for the huge game the Cardinals’ rushing attack enjoyed.

S Kyle Dugger (50.9)

Since returning from an ankle injury in Week 11, the 50.9 grade is Dugger’s best in those four games. It is difficult to judge how much health is a factor here, but he has not been the same player in 2024 that the Patriots have come to expect from the safety. He led New England with ten tackles (nine solo). However, he missed three tackles and struggled in coverage. Dugger was targeted seven times and allowed six receptions for 59 yards.

Others Who Struggled in Week 15: DT Davon Godchaux (52.2), LG Layden Robinson (52.3), DE Yannick Ngakoue (52.9), WR Ja’Lynn Polk (53.4), CB Alex Austin (54.2), PK Joey Slye (56.2), DL Jeremiah Pharms Jr. (57.0), WR Kayshon Boutte (57.6), RT Demontrey Jacobs (59.9).

Weekly Disclaimer

Grades issued by Pro Football Focus are their independent scoring of players’ performances. They do not represent the assessment of Patriots Football Now, as noted with some examples above. The reports are used to offer a different perspective on the performances of players in a given game.

The New England Patriots (3-11) play the Buffalo Bills (11-3) in Week 16.