BradyManny
Pro Bowl Player
- Joined
- Mar 13, 2006
- Messages
- 11,103
- Reaction score
- 1,520
When Bedard is on (see: no-huddle article), he's on. Another good piece (or two) from him:
Weekly grades
Top performers
Of course - for as gassed as they were, had Ridley not fumbled, they most assuredly end the game there with a score (FG or TD).
In regards to his top & bottom performers, I continue to worry a little about Wendell getting overpowered. There's no doubt that Connolly at center is a little more stout. But, with Waters being a no-show, this is the best line we can field.
Weekly grades
Top performers
But the Patriots also looked very tired in the final quarter-plus of the game as the first-half pace took a self-inflicted toll.
Of the final 22 plays the Patriots ran before the kneel-downs, 10 went for 1 yard or less, including three sacks, two fumbles (one lost), a penalty, and a near-interception. That’s 45.5 percent.
The Patriots had just 10 such negative plays in the first 72 plays they ran (13.9 percent).
It started with 1:08 left in the third quarter when guard Logan Mankins and center Ryan Wendell had dead legs trying to get out on a first-down screen to Brandon Bolden that went for no gain.
After two first downs, tight end Rob Gronkowski was easily tossed aside by Von Miller, who took down Bolden for a 3-yard loss.
On second down, Wendell was beaten for a coverage sack of Tom Brady.
And then on third down, Sebastian Vollmer looked like he barely got out of his stance on a Miller sack.
The Patriots ran eight plays on that drive. Five went for zero yards or less (including a penalty against Gronkowski).
The Patriots smartly replaced Mankins on the next series, and they also added Nick McDonald as a third tight end to give more oomph to a tired blocking scheme.
Vollmer was replaced by Marcus Cannon on the following series after limping off with a right leg injury.
Of course - for as gassed as they were, had Ridley not fumbled, they most assuredly end the game there with a score (FG or TD).
In regards to his top & bottom performers, I continue to worry a little about Wendell getting overpowered. There's no doubt that Connolly at center is a little more stout. But, with Waters being a no-show, this is the best line we can field.
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