Just finished rewatching the Jets game after getting bored watching Bowl games. No volume because I did not want to torture myself listening to Dan Fouts. These are my observations and thoughts:
* Rob Gronkowski looked Gronkish on his 1st scoring drive reception. The throw was low and slightly behind him, but he bent and twisted to catch the ball and turned upfield for some YAC. Then, although it was called back because of Allen’s penalty, he showed some old Gronk explosion splitting a couple of Jets and rumbling downfield. If I’m a DC preparing to play the Pats in the playoffs, I might be thinking Gronk might have a couple of explosive plays in him after all based on those two plays.
* I like Phil Dorsett and the versatility of his game and how he catches the ball. Would like to know the answer to the mystery as to why he totally disappeared when Gordon arrived and what Brady meant when he said how he liked “the way Phil handled things this season”.
* Danny Shelton was the one who got driven out of his lane allowing the long Darnold run which set up their FG. I’m not sure I’ve ever seen a a big man like himself be so easily turned. Poor balance offsets his size and strength.
* The patriots do an okay job playing the run as long as their front alignment is not too light, but there are a lot of opponent runs that look like they’re not going anywhere only to end up being sizable gains. I think it’s because they play so much man in the secondary that run support from the secondary is not what it would be if they played more zone.
*No excuse for Brady missing that pass in the end zone to Hogan so badly, but it looked like a Jet got some late pressure up the middle forcing Brady to change the release point of at the last moment to get the ball over the defenders out reached arms.
* Think I know why McDaniels insists on having White run with the ball in the red zone so much rather than running it with Michel. Neither are pile movers and most likely Michel just can’t be trusted to pick up the blitzes. McDaniels probably doesn’t want to be so predictable by bringing Michel in only on running plays. I’d rather he risk being more predictable myself.
*Congratulations to the Patriots for clinching another 1st round bye. It’s a great accomplishment especially given what they had to overcome. Too many on this board wanted to ignore or deny the controversies of last off season, but they did exist and were a serious threat to this season. On top of that, you had to overcome injuries and a suspension which forced them to rebuild their receiving personnel on the fly plus serious and limiting injuries to their HOF QB and TE not to mention the whole Josh Gordon thing.
*This has been one of Bill Belichick’s best coaching jobs. The QB did his legacy proud by not missing a meaningful snap and leading this team to victories with a leg that at times couldn’t be relied on to not buckle. Belichick, Brady and Robert Kraft are men not gods; they possess flaws and make mistakes. But, they are winners and champions. We are not worthy, but I for one have surely enjoyed the ride. And, the ride is not over. Perhaps, Atlanta awaits and another Lombardi will be added to the trophy case. Let’s enjoy the playoffs my friends. Go Pats!
