Special teams: Winning the field position battle (MERGED)

[NoCal Patriot]

The Difference In Yesterday's Game

The game was basically even yesterday and everyone is talking officiating and crowd noise but the real difference makers in yesterday's game were The Patriots Punt Return Team.With the game still in question Wes Welker and The Boys changed field position twice and set The Patriots up to win the game.Special Teams are often overlooked but yesterday they were the difference.These teams are very close ,so it's little things that make the difference.Wes Welker has been GREAT this year and yesterday He made the difference.

 

[CTPatsFan]

Re: The Difference In Yesterday's Game

The game was basically even yesterday and everyone is talking officiating and crowd noise but the real difference makers in yesterday's game were The Patriots Punt Return Team.With the game still in question Wes Welker and The Boys changed field position twice and set The Patriots up to win the game.Special Teams are often overlooked but yesterday they were the difference.These teams are very close ,so it's little things that make the difference.Wes Welker has been GREAT this year and yesterday He made the difference.

Welker came up huge on those returns!

 

[Boston Boxer]

Re: The Difference In Yesterday's Game

The game was basically even yesterday and everyone is talking officiating and crowd noise but the real difference makers in yesterday's game were The Patriots Punt Return Team.With the game still in question Wes Welker and The Boys changed field position twice and set The Patriots up to win the game.Special Teams are often overlooked but yesterday they were the difference.These teams are very close ,so it's little things that make the difference.Wes Welker has been GREAT this year and yesterday He made the difference.

good call...the ST were huge

 

[patchick]

Re: The Difference In Yesterday's Game

Absolutely! And don't leave out the kickoff and and fieldgoal teams:

Colts KO returns: 3 for 46 yds (15 yd avg, + couple of touchbacks)
Pats KO returns: 5 for 122 yds (24 yd avg)

Colts FG attempts: 2 for 3 (1 block)
Pats FG attempts: 1 for 1

Special teams were OUTSTANDING, the biggest gap between the teams yesterday.

 

[TeamPats]

Re: The Difference In Yesterday's Game

The game was basically even yesterday and everyone is talking officiating and crowd noise but the real difference makers in yesterday's game were The Patriots Punt Return Team.With the game still in question Wes Welker and The Boys changed field position twice and set The Patriots up to win the game.Special Teams are often overlooked but yesterday they were the difference.These teams are very close ,so it's little things that make the difference.Wes Welker has been GREAT this year and yesterday He made the difference.

Couldn't agree more, and thank you for stating it was the the entire Return Team. We all know Welker played great, but the unit deserves the credit as a whole. Everyone did their job on a day where around the league Special
Teams was breaking plays left and right. This is why it will be so difficult for Dillon or Brown to make this team because it would likely come at a roster spot who is on this unit which has been doing such a fantastic job.

 

[Bobs My Uncle]

Re: The Difference In Yesterday's Game

Biggest difference in the game was halftime adjustments.

The Pats tightened up pass protection and they figured out how to tackle the last half of the game.

 

[desi-patsfan]

Re: The Difference In Yesterday's Game

The Defense also stepped up huge. Also the O-line played well after giving up the 2 sacks.

 

[PatsFaninAZ]

Re: The Difference In Yesterday's Game

Yeah, I would vote for special teams in general.

Defenses were basically even. Offenses were very close statistically. Takeaways were the same. We were better in red zone efficiency. They, however, had the edge in points off turnovers (14-0) closing that gap. (Although our last turnover would have resulted in points if it had not been the end of the game.)

We had a slight edge statistically on offense/defense, because we were a little bit better in third down conversions. But that was overcome by the lopsided differential in penalty yardage. Special teams made up the difference and then a little more and allowed us to win.

If you wanted to pick one other thing that made the difference it would be red zone efficiency, both ways.

 

[stinkypete]

The special teams in general were the unsung heroes of yesterday's game. Welker's performance returning punts, particularly in the 4th quarter, speaks for itself. But Miller and Gostowski were on all night, typically pinning Indy inside their own 20.

 

[ctpatsfan77]

I think this says a lot right here:

1st quarter:
Gostkowski kickoff: 70 yards, 16 yard return = IND 16
Vinatieri kickoff: 66 yards, 34 yard return (Hobbs) = NE 32

2nd quarter:
Gostkowski kickoff: ~75 yards, touchback = IND 20
Vinatieri kickoff: 68 yards, 24 yard return (Hobbs) = NE 26

3rd quarter:
Vinatieri kickoff: 66 yards, 23 yard return (Hobbs) = NE 27
Gostkowski kickoff: 62 yards, 9 yard return (Eckel tackle!*) = IND 17

4th quarter:
Vinatieri kickoff: 69 yards, 26 yard return (Welker) = NE 27
Gostkowski kickoff: ~75 yards, touchback = IND 20
Gostkowski kickoff: 67 yards, 21 yard return (Eckel tackle!) = IND 24

In other words, their best field position on a kickoff was worse than the Patriots' worst field position.


*Not earth-shatteringly important, I just like the way "Eckel tackle" sounds.

 

[bradmahn]

Re: Winning the field position battle

Not to mention Welker playing a pivotal role with his two excellent fourth quarter punt returns. On one return he faked the first defender out of his shoes deep in Indy territory before bouncing his way upfield. Great stuff from WWW.