"That was the difference in the game," Brady said. "We got it in three times, and they got it in twice."
As were the clutch plays that have become New England's custom. Plus, there was Clayton's drop at the end and a couple of questionable penalties along the way.
But there also was a fourth-and-1 converted from the Baltimore 3 to set up the Patriots' first touchdown. And a red-zone interception by Leigh Bodden—one of those newcomers—before the half to preserve a 17-7 lead. And a fourth-quarter fourth-down stop near midfield.
"We're coming together," said linebacker Gary Guyton, playing full-time now in Jerod Mayo's old spot. "It's an experience thing."
The offense figure to improve as Brady gets more and more comfortable and some of the new skill players settle in. The defense should improve as Mayo gets back and newcomers and young risers come together.
Veteran newcomer Shawn Springs says the Patriots have won on the fly partly because of high participation in the offseason program, and partly with "everybody buying in to the system and doing their job. That's how you do it."
Inexplicably, the Patriots keep doing it. And as they go on, it's get harder to stop that from happening.
