The Patriots overcame three critical turnovers in what was otherwise their best game of the 2016 season, defeating the Ravens 30-23. It was interesting, as it always is with these teams, but the Pats sealed the game with a clutch 79-yard touchdown pass to a streaking Chris Hogan. That put the Pats back up by 10 and effectively won the game.
A quick-strike 79-yard touchdown? A 1,000 yard rusher leading the league in touchdowns? A defense leading the league in points-against and safeties? Who is this Patriots team, because I think I love them.
It’s hard to win in the playoffs against good teams when you turn the ball over three times in the second half. But the good news is that great teams don’t collapse when they cough it up twice on back-to-back returns.
It was hard not to recall the 2015 season and how everything seemed to be going pretty great until Harper’s Muff in Denver. That team still fought to overtime before succumbing to the Broncos and watching their homefield advantage and season slowly fade away, but the 2016 team decided:
Cyrus’ Muff was not the hill they were dying on. Nor was Slater’s Cough Up.
Resiliency. The mark of any championship team. No matter how much people want to complain about Cyrus Jones this week, things are looking good for the pending Super Bowl run. Clean up the turnovers and the Patriots will be primed for a run at number five.
More on the 2016 Patriots’ identity, how to proceed with Cyrus, and more in the Posits…
Let’s just get the bad stuff out of the way first.
— Belichick was right to keep throwing Cyrus Jones into the fire returning punts. The Pats had a commanding lead. Jones is an electric returner, when he’s holding the ball. But getting away from a punt you’re not catching is fundamental. The critical mistake immediately opened the door to letting the Ravens back in and that’s exactly what happened. Jones should continue to get snaps at cornerback but he shouldn’t see another punt until Miami, if at all. You can’t give up on a talented kid because he’s gotten spooked. He can never touch the ball in a critical moment in the playoffs, but he’ll get a chance to reset in the offseason.
— I. Have. Always. Hated. Matthew. Slater. Returning. Kicks!!! Since I started blogging Pats in 2007 I have decried Slater’s ability as a receiver (they try a couple shots to him every year that have worked once) and returner (he always just runs really fast, head down, into traffic. Love him on special teams. Scary when he’s involved elsewhere. Slater touching the ball only ever comes down to injuries and depth, so let’s hope Amendola is healthy when it counts, then Slater and Jones can stick to not fumbling.
Three turnovers is always unacceptable. They have to clean it up. We know it. They know it. It will get cleaned up.
Okay, that felt good. Now let’s talk about the good stuff.
— I’m not sure I can remember a better defensive performance since 2010. The start was stupid — sack (should been a forced fumble/recovery), Safety, Blocked FG, Punt, Interception. All the big plays that had been missing in 2016 were suddenly everywhere. They were all over the place.
— The energy was just different from the Patriots defense in this game. They played hungry, with something to prove. They had just two sacks but the pressure was consistent and disruptive. They worked well in conjunction with each other. The only passes they really gave up were checkdowns, aside from a handful of long passes that certainly hurt.
— The defense was fluid and unpredictable. I saw a lot of zone and especially attention to the middle of the field where Joe Flacco has lived this season. Hard not to be exciting and yet Jabaal Sheard seemed back on probation.
— Dennis Pitta (four catches, 18 yards) was taken out of the game. The Ravens ground game (42 yards) was eliminated. They got off the field on third down (6-16). The two touchdowns came off turnovers that gave the Ravens the ball at the three- and 22-yard-lines. You’d love to see a stop in those kind of quick change situations, but it’s hard to hold them totally against the defense, especially on the three-yard-line one.
— The Patriots defense now has forced three safeties, most in the NFL. For a defense that’s a talking point for terrible, they’re really coming on down the stretch.
— The Bend-Don’t-Break was what saved the game, holding the Ravens to settle for two field goals.
— I’m as shocked as everyone about Shea McClellin suddenly doing his best Jamie Collins impression and blocking the first kick Justin Tucker has apparently missed since the start of time. Oh, and he tied Patrick Chung for team lead with nine tackles? After starting off hating McClellin I started preaching Ninkovich-ian patience with him last week. Seemed like he was gaining confidence in the system. Clearly he’s better as a linebacker. He’s one to focus on in the film review.
Here it is…. Listen to how they jinxed that man #MNF pic.twitter.com/wUAu4ou2Aw
— LizzLocker (@Lizzs_Lockeroom) December 13, 2016
— What a season by LeGarrette Blount that I certainly did not see coming. He’s set a career-high in yardage, touchdowns and he’s tied for the Patriots single-season rushing touchdown record owned by Curtis Martin. The Patriots have been fully dedicated to rolling with Blount this season and it’s paid off for team and player. He’s in great shape and looking like Corey Dillon 2004. Keeping him healthy these last couple games is vital.
— James White (three catches, 81 yards) coming through in big spots and I’ve finally come to accept White is what he is, and he’s an effective weapon despite any limitations. He’s shown real progress rounding out his game, but more critically, he’s making clutch catches in key moments. Dion Lewis had what felt like his first quiet game as a Patriot, without a single “woah” moment.
— Brady and the Patriots offense has always been relentless. They’ll have their quiet sequences, like two three-and-outs and a punt to start the game, but it’s just a matter of time. Brady had his ninth 400-yard game despite that slow start. By the end of the game, it’s when they’re best. Once again, it was on display in all its glory.
— Who on Belichick’s Hooded Earth thought Chris Hogan, the former lacrosse 7-11 from Hard Knocks guy, would end up being our best deep threat since Randy Moss? Hogan is just another perfect permutation of the Belichick receiver machine in the mold of Branch, Welker and Edelman. He’s smart, can play any receiver position and yes, HE’S ALWAYS OPEN!
— Remember when our offensive line terrified us? Fantastic battle by the big uglies up front. Brady had time, they were open holes in the running game (Shaq Mason in space, woah), and finished the game off on fourth-and-one to seal the win. How can we ensure Dante Scarnecchia lives forever?
— Weird out-of-sync-ish day from Edelman. I can’t really complain because he still had seven catches for 73 yards and fought for every last inch. I’m sure he’ll get over it.
— Perfect day for Martellus Bennett (four catches, 70 yards, TD) to bounce back. His production showed this offense can be highly effective even without Rob Gronkowski. He’s been battling injuries, let’s hope this is a sign of his progress.
We’re on to Denver
Oh boy, I’m looking forward to this one. Saturday Rogue One. Sunday a trip to our House of Horrors to hopefully dispatch some bad juju. I don’t care how bad the Broncos have or haven’t looked, they’re going to play their asses off against us. Add in the start of two weeks of Christmas vacation and well, next weekend will be my happy place.
The Broncos are an excellent late-season test, similar to the Packers-Chargers road games in 2014, that would also feel a little more special given then recent history. And imagine clinching homefield there while eliminating the Broncos from the playoff contention?
Two of the last three seasons have ended there. Here we come again.
[…] Boss man Mike D provides his reaction here, with a rightfully so, additional focus on the defense. He opines: […]