Wow. This team is really peaking - significantly better performance all around than eight-ten weeks ago.
On offense, we saw a lot of the quick-play attack that was featured more against Buffalo and early in the season. You could see the impact on the Texans defense. Great example of it after the half, when the Pats huddled, waited a second for Houston to set, then broke the huddle and raced to position in a second, set for a second at most, then ran a simple running play up the middle. The trick there is ensuring everyone is set on offense before snapping, but not giving the defense any time to figure out their assignments. A lot of time that can yield a false start. And then the defenders heads are spinning the rest of the game - how can we set and run anything exotic?
Brady was terrific, even with the third quarter 1 for 7 stretch. He could have got down on a receiver who dropped three passes, three catchable passes, but you certainly don't see him scream at Welker the way others have received wrath. The times Brady runs for a first down seem to really fire up the team.
The line played well, not great. Nice pick-up on stunts. Not enough help on Watt, who really can't be handled by a single OL. Brady did get hit more than any recent game. Terrific that Mankins, Connolly, and Vollmer were all available.
Good role for Hooman - he executes the Wham very well. Not quite like Graham, but he is effective in that, and consistently stones the defenders on run plays. After a couple games, no idea what they see in Shiancoe that got them all excited to use the new in-season IR designation on him so early. You'd sort of think the Pats would be a little more conservative and save that for a Koppen-type injury. They were lucky they didn't need it. And I just don't see the differentiation between Shiancoe and anyone else they could get off the street mid-season.
Stallworth certainly fits in the deep receiver role. They tried one with Slater and a couple with Stallworth. No question which receiver offers greater reliability. The stretch play action worked very well tonight - haven't seen that as effective all year. Brady can be very good at a roll-right, set and fire left. We've seen more of that on the fake reverse - the stretch play action set up some long open receivers.
Probably the best game on defense of the season. Definitely the best tackling by the secondary. Clearly the best game for Arrington this year - several pass break-ups without penalty. Some tight coverage. Much less yards-after-catch. A ton more one-on-one coverage than normal. McCourty continues to improve at deep safety. Sure hope the injuries to Talib and Arrington are minor.
Also what the team expects to see from Mayo after signing him to the long contract. His best work at pass rush, and some terrific run penetration.
But hard to say this was Wilfork's best game of the season. He's been so steady and so elite all season. We are getting used to his domination.
Interesting that Deaderick has passed Love. He had a good play or two.
When we saw Welker line up for the punt, I said: Oh, not sure I like that. He ran off the 31-yard return that set up the first touchdown, but I'm still not sure I like it. Don't really want to see him get more hits than he does at receiver, even for the field position advantage.
Didn't get a chance to bolster Gostkowski's spirits at all in this game. Is that the only negative?
This makes the SF game huge. Then just need to hold on.
