FOXBOROUGH, Mass. — The New England Patriots have one of the best cornerbacks in the NFL. The Los Angeles Rams have two of the best receivers in the NFL. Surely that cornerback would cover one of those receivers in a matchup between the two teams, right?
Think again!
There are many second guesses following the Patriots’ 28-22 Week 11 home loss to the Rams on Sunday. However, nothing was more perplexing than the Patriots’ plan for slowing Cooper Kupp and Puka Nacua — a plan that barely involved Christian Gonzalez.
Gonzalez and head coach Jerod Mayo were asked about the baffling strategy after Sunday’s loss, which left the Patriots 3-8.
Cooper Kupp and Puka Nacua Shred Patriots in Week 11 Win
Nacua and Kupp were targeted three total times during the Rams’ first two drives, both of which resulted in punts.
However, after realizing the Patriots were sticking Gonzalez on the boundary, Rams head coach Sean McVay kept Nacua and Kupp away from the second-year corner and heavily targeted both throughout the rest of the game.
The result: Los Angeles scored touchdowns on four of its next five drives, with Kupp and Nacua accounting for three of the four. Gonzalez wasn’t covering Kupp on his five-yard TD, Nacua on his 12-yard TD, or Kupp on his back-breaking 69-yard on the second play of the third quarter.
a nice way to start the second half
📺: @NFLonFOX | #RamsHouse pic.twitter.com/syIB0F7CT9
— Los Angeles Rams (@RamsNFL) November 17, 2024
Time and time again the Rams targeted their their star receiving duo, and time and time again the Patriots left Gonzalez on Demarcus Robinson.
When the dust settled, Nacua had seven catches on nine targets for 123 yards and a TD, and Kupp had six catches on 10 targets for 106 yards and two scores.
Gonzalez, who played well, defended Kupp and Nacua on just nine total routes while allowing a combined 19 yards, per TruMedia.
What Jerod Mayo, Christian Gonzalez Said About the Perplexing Strategy
Mayo was asked two questions about the Gonzalez strategy during his postgame news conference.
Reporter: “Do you regret the decision to not have [Gonzalez] shadow one of those guys or to adjust quicker?”
Mayo: “Look, Kupp had the one reception which was a huge chunk of those yards. Look, going into the game, we have a plan, and we’re always willing to change that look. Like I said earlier, I felt like we were going to be okay. I thought we could outlast them.”
Reporter: “What was the logic behind keeping him in the boundary versus mixing that up a little bit more?”
Mayo: “Yeah, we just thought that was the best thing to do. It’s a mix of man and zone, so we thought that was the best thing to do.”
Jerod Mayo: "I never really felt like they had control of the game. I felt like we had control of the game."
Said Patriots did plenty of things, including winning time-of-possession battle, that should've led to a victory. pic.twitter.com/HSmTgkUSGI
— Dakota Randall (@DakRandall) November 17, 2024
Gonzalez took the high road when asked whether he was surprised by New England’s defensive game plan.
“Coaches came in, told me what the game plan was,” Gonzalez said. “I never look at it as surprised or upset or anything. I’m doing what they want me to do. Whatever they tell me to do, I’m going to go out there and do my best to do.”
#Patriots CB Christian Gonzalez on the decision to not have him shadow Cooper Kupp or Puka Nacua:
“I’m doing what they want me to do. Whatever they tell me to do, I’m gonna go out there and do my best…” pic.twitter.com/i0a9fE14gg
— Carlos Talks Pats (@LosTalksPats) November 17, 2024
During his postgame news conference, McVay admitted to avoiding throwing toward Gonzalez’s side of the field.
“There were some instances where we got a lot of respect for them,” McVay said. “I had a lot of respect for the secondary, the different things they could do.
“Gonzalez is the real deal, does an excellent job, and I think it worked out that way. There were some instances where we said if you can avoid him, let’s go ahead and do that.”
SEE MORE: Drake Maye Up — 3 Studs, 3 Duds From Patriots’ Frustrating Loss to Rams
The Patriots did a lot of good things on Sunday.
Drake Maye arguably had the best all-around game of his career. The Patriots generated more first downs, were better on third downs, and committed fewer penalties than the Rams. The total yards were nearly equal.
And yet, as has been the case far too often this season, the Patriots put together a bad game plan and were outcoached in key situations. Sunday’s nonsensical usage of Gonzalez is just the latest example.