There goes the New England Patriots 2020 season. A weak performance against the Houston Texans sank whatever chance the Patriots had for reaching the postseason and now their focus is on avoiding- or chasing- a top 10 pick in the 2021 NFL Draft.

This Patriots team couldn't beat a bad Broncos team or a bad Texans team, despite having the opportunity to score in the final minute of both games. They couldn't beat a good Seahawks team or a good Bills team, despite also having an opportunity to score in the final minute of each game. This is a Patriots team that can't pull out the plays when they need them most.

So who gets the blame? Bill Belichick and Josh McDaniels? The lack of a defensive front? The lack of offensive playmakers? Or is this simply the register for the Patriots' unprecedented two decades of dominance that benefit from, yes, some luck along the way?

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