What do Patriots need to fix for Week 2?

Maye has demonstrated that he is a good quarterback, so drawing any definitive conclusions about his poor day is foolish. He just has to make sure his Week 1 jitters do not carry into Week 2. The offense's performance will depend on him.

The secondary was atrocious

QB Geno Smith was limited in points production — tossing a touchdown and an interception — but he completed 70.6 percent of his passes (24-of-34) and threw for 362 yards. 

Some of New England's deficiencies in defending the pass can be attributed to missing players. First-string cornerback Christian Gonzalez was sidelined due to an offseason hamstring injury, but either way, how New England's other CBs played was alarming.

Against Miami, New England will face a receiving duo in Jaylen Waddle and Tyreek Hill. Hill and Waddle are better than WR Jakobi Meyers and TE Brock Bowers, the top pass-catchers New England faced Sunday. 

In 2023, their best year, the Dolphins duo combined for 191 receptions, 2,813 yards and 17 touchdowns. When they are clicking, Hill and Waddle can destroy any NFL defense. 

New England's secondary will have to review the film from Sunday and adjust quickly. If it doesn't, Hill and Waddle will pick it apart, especially if Gonzalez is out for another week.

Rookie kicker Andres Borregales

The Patriots used a sixth-round pick on the former Miami Hurricane. His play during camp and Week 1 has not been worth that draft capital. Borregales missed a 40-yard attempt late in the second quarter. The three points he left on the board came back to bite New England in the second half. 

Down 10 points in the final minutes of the game, head coach Mike Vrabel was forced to kick a field goal to make it a one-score game and then try the onside kick. Had the Patriots been down seven points instead of 10, they would have had several chances at the end zone from Las Vegas' territory. That is a much higher probability play than recovering an onside.

Borregales needs to be sharper against all of New England's future opponents, starting with Miami. The Patriots are not a strong enough football team to be missing easy field goals.