In critical situations, the Patriots offense is now down to a few options.

Drake Maye can zip a completion to Stefon Diggs, his favorite target under pressure. He can scramble. He can toss a go-get-it ball for Kayshon Boutte, who sealed Sunday’s win with a back-shoulder grab. Or Josh McDaniels can scheme up a run play and cross his fingers it picks up the necessary yards.

But running straight ahead? Forget about it.

The Patriots are now the NFL’s worst rushing offense by EPA (Expected Points Added) and fourth-worst according to yards per carry. The Saints sent them tumbling down both rankings by stuffing 35% of the Patriots’ designed runs last weekend. In other words, every third time Maye went to hand the ball off, he might as well have spiked it in the dirt.

So, why start here?

Thro

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