The Patriots ran 81 snaps Sunday, including plays nullified due to penalties. Revis and Welker both played 78. The Jets put Revis on Welker on 45 plays – 26 pass plays, 19 run plays. Of the 26 pass plays, Revis appeared to have man coverage on Welker either 21 or 22 times. On the first play of the third quarter, when Tom Brady hit Welker for 73 yards down the middle, it was unclear who was in primary coverage – Revis or safety Eric Smith. On the other 21 pass plays, Revis allowed one four-yard completion to Welker and nothing else. Welker’s other three catches came with Revis not in coverage on him.
On the plays Revis was not on Welker, he was on Deion Branch 21 times.
On the plus side for Welker, he did have five catches for 124 yards, and his long completion led to a Brady touchdown throw early in the third quarter that gave New England a 10-point lead.
On the plus side for Revis, Brady had thrown to Welker an average of 14.3 times per game before Sunday; on this day, he targeted Welker eight times and completed five. Welker had caught 25 balls for 375 yards in the previous two weeks. So he was clearly diminished in his effectiveness Sunday, but the Patriots scored 30 points, and Revis wasn’t an overwhelming presence on the other receivers.
You pick the winner. Seems like more Welker than Revis to me, but very close.
Peter King