A Week 2 loss to the Arizona Cardinals was bad enough for the New England Patriots. But the manner in which it was lost was a well-placed kick to the nether regions.
Maybe a "well-placed kick" is a bad analogy for the Patriots.
Kicker Stephen Gostkowski missed a 42-yard field goal that would have won the game. Meanwhile, at almost the same time, former Patriots kicker Adam Vinatieri knocked through a 53-yarder for an Indianapolis Colts win.
Gostowski will always be linked to his predecessor considering Vinatieri's success in the Super Bowl.
"Gostkowski is supposed to make that kick all day," former Patriots cornerback Ty Law said on ComcastSportsNet New England. "This is not doing anything but making everyone in the stands feel like, 'Where is Adam Vinatieri at a point like this?' You could have dispelled all the notions of what happened to Adam if you can make kicks like this.
"It should have been a routine kick. You couldn't handle the pressure."
The Patriots won three Super Bowls in the 2000s but haven't won a title since Vinatieri signed with the Colts before the 2006 season.
Follow Kareem Copeland on Twitter @kareemcopeland.