Josh McDaniels didn't dodge. When asked about the Patriots' Super Bowl LX loss to Seattle, the offensive coordinator owned it immediately: "They out-everythinged us in the game." That's not spin. That's a man acknowledging his team got beaten across the board, and then—crucially—pointing the finger at himself when the conversation shifted to pass protection.
This matters because it tells you something about the current Patriots regime. Mike Vrabel brought in McDaniels to fix an offense that desperately needs direction, and McDaniels is already doing what championship-level coordinators do: he's taking responsibility for the things he can control. Pass protection falls squarely in that bucket. It's playcalling, it's scheme, it's preparation. McDaniels could've blamed the line. He didn't.
The roster has talent. Look at the names: Morgan Moses at tackle, Garrett Bradbury up the middle, Mike Onwenu in the mix. Hunter Henry catching passes. A receiving corps that includes Kayshon Boutte and Romeo Doubs. On paper, there's enough here to function. But "enough" isn't winning a Super Bowl, and McDaniels knows it.
The real question now is whether this accountability moment sticks. Does McDaniels use this offseason to tighten pass protection schemes? Does he find better angles to keep the quarterback clean? Does he adjust how he's asking his line to communicate and execute? Early admission of failure can either breed complacency or drive real change. In McDaniels' case, his track record suggests the latter—but the Patriots need results to prove it, not just humility.
We're not far enough removed from that Super Bowl to know if this loss becomes a turning point or a warning sign. What we do know: McDaniels isn't making excuses. That's a start.
Based on reporting from Bluesky (@andrewcallahan.bsky.social).