After a two game slide, the Patriots leveled the ship against their biggest division rival yesterday, with Tom Brady leading the way in a dominating second half that resulted in a 37-16 win. With the victory the Patriots swept their division series against the Jets while taking control of the division. With an easy schedule from here on out, the Patriots’ playoff fate now lies firmly in their own hands.
Aside from the playoff implications, there were four other items of note to me throughout this game.
1) The play of Tom Brady – After receiving really the only interception related controversy of his career the last couple of weeks, Brady silenced his critics with a dominant 329 yard, 3 touchdown passing performance. There’s no doubt that few if any quarterbacks with a 100+ rating have ever been subject to such criticism. Brady was nearly flawless in the second half last night – to steal the wonderful words of Chris Collinsworth we were witnessing “quarterback play at the absolute highest level” as Brady relentlessly marched a no huddle offense down the field. And while Benjarvus Green-Ellis tore up the Jets in their last meeting, Danny Woodhead led the Pats’ rushing attack with a measly 38 yards this time around – meaning Brady’s help from the run game was nonexistent.
2) The play of Rob Gronkowski – Rob Gronkowski – lover of playmates and touchdowns – may very well be the best tight end in the league right now. Standing at 6’6 and 265 pounds, the Gronk man also runs a 4.65 40-yard dash. That means he’s fast enough to get open, is a huge target, and basically can’t be taken down after the catch. Welker aside, Gronk has become Brady’s favorite receiver. His performance last night (113 yards, 2 TDs) was spectacular, although he needs some pointers from Aaron Hernandez on awesome touchdown dances. Since he broke into the league no tight end has been as productive offensively, and his blocking is also second to none.
3) The play of Darrelle Revis – This should come as little surprise to anyone, but Darrelle Revis was just about flawless last night. In all the NFL games that I watch, Revis is one of very few players that consistently impresses me. In my eyes, he has no peer in the NFL. Let’s put it this way – he spent all night matched up with Wes Welker, the league’s leading receiver. Welker’s stat line at the end of the game? Only 6 receptions for 46 yards.
4) The play of New England’s Secondary – Leigh Bodden? Gone. Patrick Chung? Out. Devin McCourty? Out. James Ihedigbo? Out. The Patriots’ already worst pass defense in the league played last night with one starter and three back-ups, frequently using their 5th string backups. A recipe for disaster, right? Not so fast. Give credit where credit is due, this group manned up and played one hell of a game. Now can they build off of it?
All in all a big win, and it should be fun to watch Tom Brady rack up fantasy numbers from here on out. The fun begins with a Monday night matchup next week against the Chiefs.
Very impressive by brady and co.
Jimmy graham, finley, and gates when healthy are better then gronk but he is a monster.
How about Witten? I hear you on Gates.
Witten is worthless compared to those 4.
That was a rush reaction from me but my fantasy team can’t take him anymore.
I actually just picked him up last week, and he did well last week although he sucked this week. I have the Gronk-man as well though, and he dropped 24 points for me last night.
I would probably put witten just above gronk too. But gronk is on the rise. There are a lot of strong tight ends right now.
True.
“lover of playmates and touchdowns” might be the beat line you’ve had writing up to this point. I missed most of the game, but the stat line of Brady tells me all I need to know. You do that against the jets secondary and its impressive. Another telling stat that showed exactly why gronk and hernandez are loved my Brady in the red zone. His “big” receiver is ochocinco at 6’1″ or 6’2″. Everyone else is 5’11 and smaller
Yup, a good point. Brady made a comment that was semi-controversial about his receivers being small and saying that he has to throw the ball at them, rather than throwing it out somewhere and letting them go get it. He’s able to do that with Gronk, whereas he basically just throws bullets directly at Welker, Branch, and Woodhead.
A couple of things. Brady sucked the first half – and he wasn’t flawless the second half. He made some plays but he’s not right. The only time he looked like Tom Brady was in the hurry up.
Gronkowski is easily the best TE in the NFL right now. The only thing keeping him from everyone universally claiming so is – another top 10 TE in the league – wait for it – Aaron Hernandez.
Gronks Line – 709yds/8 TDs
Hernandez – 374/5 TDs (with a couple missed/limited games due to injury)
Revis is good – we get it – but I can’t stand pundits making excuse for him everytime someone catches a ball on him. 6 catches and 46 yards isn’t good? It would be good for any other slot reciever in the league. Revis on Welker is a waste for the Jets. And we do know one thing now – Revis sure as hell can’t cover Gronk – it was an interesting wrinkle for Ryan though.
The secondary is still horrid. Just thank god for Andre Carter. It also did seem that BB let the reigns off his ridiculous drop zone though. The corners looked like they were jamming people at the line and at least disrupting routes – but a lot of that comes from a good DL and a shitty OL and QB.
I haven’t bought into the Brady is not right saga. Sure, I see why it’s said, but until I know otherwise I’m not making any excuses for him. To me, Hernandez is a wide receiver, not a tight end. Gronk is a tight end in every sense of the word. I think limiting the league’s leading receiver to 46 yards is an exceptional performance.
Taking a the best corner in the league and making him play the slot reciever – is a win for the Patriots no matter what way you want to slice it. Before this week Revis had only given up 13 receptions to each teams number 1 receivers – he gave up 6 this week. Win for Welker and the Patriots. Revis Island? Ill take Ninkovich Island (kidding)
Welker is a slot receiver, yes, but I think your discrediting him. You make it sound like he’s “just a slot receiver.” Maybe that’s the truth, but our slot receiver happens to be leading the league in receiving.
no, what I am saying is he’s not really a deep threat. Hes a guy that is supposed to move the chains. I don’t know how many times he did last night but he converted on 4 3rd downs in 6 of those receptions he still didn’t have a good night? I’d have to disagree
It’s say it’s a decent night, but a very below average night for the league’s leading receiver. And it’s a bit of an assumption to say 4 of 6 receptions were converted third downs, but if that was the case, point made.
So what deep threat are you putting revis on?
My point exactly.
So to sum up Williams and Roberts debate. for arguments sake the best receiver in the league is matched up against the best corner in the league. Welker has a down night by his standards and Revis gives up more receptions than he typically does… sounds like an argument for both being among the best at what they do.
Hey hey a Mr. Cullerot sighting. I agree 100%.