I don’t think I’m speaking out of line when I say that following the news of Cam Newton’s positive COVID-19 test, the expectation to win last night’s game was pretty much nonexistent. But when we look back, I can’t help think we could have stolen a win last night. Here are Week 4’s ups and downs.
Ups ⬆️
Damien Harris
We were finally able to see Damien Harris lead the Patriots backfield last night, and it was promising stuff. Harris finished with 17 carries for 100 yards, his longest run being a 41 yard gain.
With Michel out for three weeks at least, Harris has a golden opportunity to stay atop of the running back depth chart, and one way to stay there is to keep having big yardage games, just a shame he couldn’t score the team any points, they needed it.
Chase Winovich
Four. Weeks. In. A. Row. Chase Winovich just continues to make plays for this defense and once again makes the ups list. He was the one who caused the sack on the dubious forward progress call that denied the Patriots a turnover.
Winovich is becoming such an important part of the defensive front, and I can’t say enough good things about him.
Stephon Gilmore
A real bounce-back game for Gilmore who has had a couple of rocky weeks performance-wise. He caused what turned out to be the only Patriots turnover of the game when he punched the ball from Sammy Watkins’ grasp to stop a would-be touchdown and really stall the Chiefs in the first half.
He also had an improved game defensively and hopefully can continue to build as the season moves forward.
Lawrence Guy & Deatrich Wise Jr.
This pairing on the front line has improved week after week and put in another strong performance last night. In a game that we expected the Patriots to allow the Chiefs to run the ball more to prevent fast throwing drives, Guy and Wise worked together to hold rookie Clyde Edwards-Helaire to just 68 rushing yards.
Originally, I thought the front line would be a major issue for the team, but I’m starting to be more reassured that our issues don’t all lie on the defensive side of the ball.
Jake Bailey
A monster game for Bailey last night, having three punts, all landing inside the 20-yard line, and is yet to record a touchback this season. As well as being one of the league’s top punters, Bailey also handles kickoffs and holds for Nick Folk.
“He took those two explosive (returners), Hardman and Hill, out of the game. … Jake is a weapon, and he really came through for us last night.”
Bill Belichick on WEEI today
A man of many hats, and the pro-bowl hype train continues!
Honorable Mentions- Nick Folk (no misses), Damiere Byrd, Shilique Calhoun, Entire Secondary
Downs ⬇️
Brian Hoyer
Boy, last night was rough for Hoyer. It was his first-ever regular-season start for the Pats, and he only lasted until the third quarter.
Everything which we thought we could rely on him for didn’t show, turnovers, poor clock management, and poor decision making. The straw that broke the camel’s back was the sack he took at the end of the first half, he even tried to call a timeout the team didn’t have as time ticked down to 0:00.
I can’t see Bill starting Hoyer over Stidham again if Cam remains unavailable, I think he’s earned the chance to start a full game for the team.
For Hoyer, it might be the last time we’ve seen him lead a Patriots offense.
Julian Edelman
Something ain’t right with Jules, take away his career-high game in Seattle, he just hasn’t looked his normal self, and it’s showing on the field. Once Jarrett Stidham was brought into the game, he looked to Edelman as a safety blanket play, but the ball slipped straight through his hands and was returned by Tyrann Mathieu for a Chiefs touchdown.
Mike Reiss tweeted out that it was Edelman’s 11th drop since the beginning of last season. Now, a few drops here or there is what you get with Edelman, but in big moments, you usually count on him coming up clutch, not last night, he had a poor game.
Devin McCourty
Makes the list purely for dropping that wayward pass from Mahomes that would have been his second opening drive interception of the season.
The team really needed that early on, and whilst it probably wouldn’t have changed how things ended up, it was an easy chance and Dmac will want that one back badly.