Pats Posits: From Malcolm Go to Ben Don’t Throw!

There are some games where you have to forget about the analysis and just enjoy the footballing. The Patriots miraculous 27-24 win over the Steelers delivered on every level in that regard. I never thought the “All Hope is Lost” moment could be worse than when the Seahawks were sitting on the two in Super Bowl 49 about to win, but this game was an even more dramatic turn and victory.

No, this wasn’t a Super Bowl, but it was the absolutely the defining game of the 2017 season and easily one of the best regular season games of the Tom Brady/Bill Belichick era.

The final moments of the game were a blur. A utter Brady-Gronk domination drive capped off by a Dion Lewis scamper and the Pats had weathered the storm and looked almost assured of locking up homefield. Then….a glaring defensive breakdown of (potentially) season-breaking implications. The Steelers score and retake the lead in TWO PLAYS! Then the call was overturned, a tiny glimmer of hope, but still with the Steelers knocking on the door. A great tackle, an ill-advised attempt at a fake spike which even I saw coming at home. Interception. Pats win.

What!? It all happened so quickly I’m still processing it 12 hours later.

The Patriots now sit firmly in the driver’s seat in the AFC, a spot we’ve been in a lot, but one that never gets old. Breaking down a bunch of thoughts on this huge win in the Posits!

— As good as this win feels there is more than enough to tear apart on both sides of the ball. But as I said, when you get to the big games it’s less about “how good are they really” and more about just getting the win even if there are, you know, just total meltdowns that early in the season we’d be tearing them apart about for the next week. This game is all about context and there’s plenty of it on both sides of the field. The loss of Antonio Brown, the Pats’ patchwork defensive front, the third down struggles on both sides of the ball and of course, the big plays for and against. There are so many “takes” to take out of this one, but again, all that matters is the win and sitting two wins away from not having to leave Gillette Stadium again until they depart to Minnesota for Super Bowl 52.

— The defense was shredded in the first half, with most of the damage coming because they couldn’t get off the field on third down. Then, in the second half, they allowed just one touchdown after Brady’s interception. The rest were three punts, an interception AND… A 69-YARDER in the closing minute that should’ve cost the Patriots the game. But then, they don’t even blink and get the game-sealing interception. Say what you will about the Patriots defense and I’m sure there are people losing their minds over them today, but they continue to get stops in the fourth quarter, giving the offense a chance to win the game and that’s all you can ask from a defense.

— I thought Stephon Gilmore was very much like the defense as a whole…very good or very bad. This was a game where they missed the tackling of Logan Ryan. It was however the first time the Pats had seen Shuster and Bryant so I think they’ll be a little more familiar with them should they meet again.

— The Steelers totally had the right gameplan and had success with it. How did the Patriots turn it around? That’s a good topic for the Film Breakdown this week. The Steelers targeted the edge of the defense and got it quite a few times, but up the gut they were pretty stout. The Steelers also had success with the underneath stuff, but the game-breaking big plays were mostly absent until that 70-yarder that looked like it was about to be the back breaking moment of the 2017 season.

— There’s no question the Pats offense needs to keep Gronk and Lewis healthy if they’re going to make a Super Bowl run. Those two are game-changing weapons and you need look no further than the final touchdown drive to see why. Lewis is simply the kind of back they haven’t had for the playoffs since maybe 2004 with Corey Dillon. Lewis taking it in from seven yards out for the game-winning touchdown would’ve been unheard of from recent Patriots teams.

— The Pats had two penalties for four yards, just a remarkable total given the penalty-flag-happy crew that was officiating the game. Testament to their preparation and discipline.

— The hallmark of Belichick Patriots teams has to be their resiliency. They just don’t blink. It’s uncanny. Most teams would’ve folded after giving up that big play, instead the defense remained focused. Butler made a great in-bounds tackle then Rowe and the rest weren’t fooled by the fake snap.

— If these two teams do meet again the Patriots will be a lot stronger if they have Van Noy, Hogan and Branch back. Those are three critical players in the areas where the Pats struggled most in this game.

— For the defense, third down was the entire story (aside from the blown 69-yarder which we can’t ignore). As I wrote in the gameplan, wrapping up and finishing Roethlisberger was the big problem. The front seven has had finish problems all year. Not disruption or getting to the QB problems, getting him to the ground once you get to him problems. This will be a big are of focus in the playoffs against the best QBs. Who will be a playoff finisher?

— Maybe I was just burned out from Super Bowl 51, but after this game my excitement about the 2017 Pats is finally back at its peak. Was I going through the motions through the early part of the season? Were the Patriots? After all this time of being the top dog in the AFC it’s hard to get your blood pressure up when all challengers have been dispatched repeatedly. There’s no more Peyton Manning game to look forward to. Beating the Steelers is the closest thing we’ve got left to a major impactful win. Otherwise they’re just taking care of business over clearly inferior teams for the most part. Now, suddenly, it feels like the Patriots band wagon is going to start loading up once again.

Two games to go, and all I can focus on is staying healthy. The Bills vs. Gronk terrifies me. Nothing would alter this team’s Super Bowl hopes like an idiot from Buffalo taking retribution on Gronk’s knees. But this is also some added motivation I think. The Bills had plenty to say after the Patriots beat them a couple weeks ago, and hopefully that will capture the Pats attention.

They finished so strong last season after sputtering at the end of the 2015. A strong end helped set the stage for the playoff run with two dominant performances prior to the first half of Super Bowl 51. If the Pats can get a few keys guys back without losing anyone else, there’s every reason to think this season is due for yet another last-play Super Bowl.

The 2017 Pats aren’t without their flaws, but they have the coaching and makeup to fight through those and in today’s NFL that can be more than enough.