Benjamin Kruse
FRANKLIN, MA (@benkruse144) Coming in with a 1-1 record to Ford Field in Detroit, the New England Patriots traveled to take on Matthew Stafford and the Detroit Lions. The Lions had an 0-2 record and they were looking for their first win under head coach Matt Patricia. The week coming into the Sunday night showdown, the Patriots needed to make an upgrade to their wide receiver position. The Patriots took a flyer by acquiring Josh Gordon. Gordon of course is a very athletic wide receiver who led the league in receiving yards in 2013. In the Sunday Night Football showdown, the Patriots struggled to move the football offensively. With Josh Gordon officially declared out in this contest, the only healthy Patriots receivers were Chris Hogan, Cordarelle Patterson, and Phillip Dorsett. Rob Gronkowski was getting doubled teamed all game because the Lions secondary wasn’t worried about any other dangerous threats on the Patriots offense. The Lions took a 3-0 lead on the first Detroit offensive drive. This seemed similar to the start the Patriots had in week 2 against the Jacksonville Jaguars. Lions wide receiver Kenny Golladay scored a touchdown with Patriots cornerback Stephon Gilmore in coverage. With another field goal by Matt Prater, the Lions were already up 13-0. The Patriots finally got on the scoreboard with 40 seconds left in the second quarter. The Patriots finally showed some life in this game after Patriots linebacker intercepted Lions quarterback Matthew Stafford on the first drive in the third quarter. Patriots running back James White made the deficit a 3 point game after Tom Brady found White in the back of the end zone. The score was now 13-10 and it looked like the Patriots could have came back to win this game. The problem with the Patriots defense was similar to last week, was the execution on 3rd down. The Patriots had a very hard time being able to get off the field. The Lions were starting to pull away after Marvin Jones Jr had a 33 yard touchdown reception late In the third quarter. Matt Prater finished it off with two late field goals in the 4th quarter to put the game away. The Lions would go on to win, 26-10. Patriots fans out there, including myself, don’t panic, for whatever reason the Patriots start their season off slow. Once the Patriots get Josh Gordon and Julian Edelman back, this offense will get going and will help Tom Brady out a lot on the receiving core. The Patriots return for week 4 as they take on the Miami Dolphins at Gillette Stadium. Kick-off is at 1 p.m ET.
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Brendan Howe
FRANKLIN, MA So, the Patriots are 1-2. Not just any 1-2, but an ugly one at that. For the first time since 2012, New England finds themselves under .500 through the first three weeks of the season. To make matters worse, the Dolphins have channeled their inner 1972 and started out 3-0. Now, that puts Tom Brady in a situation he probably didn't think he would be facing until at least December: A must win game. In week four. To be fair, the offense has been stagnant mainly because of the lack of weapons Brady has at his disposal. Look, I'm not going to be that guy that sits here and calls Sony Michel a bust, but he certainly didn't help his case with a couple crucial drops on third down last week. Chris Hogan, who was supposed to be the number one option at receiver until Edelman returned, has been targeted just 14 times throughout the first three weeks of the season, hauling in 50% of those passes for 84 yards. Phillip Dorsett put on a decent showing in week one, but has been quiet since. Rob Gronkowski draws a double team on almost every play that Brady drops back, and 90% of the time, it should be a defensive PI. But that's a conversation for another day. As far as the defense goes, it's as bad as it's ever been. These guys couldn't stop a nose bleed. Runs up the middle and to the outside. Crossing routes, play-action, deep shots, screens, you name it. Detroit knew what their gameplan was and they shoved it down New England's throat. All. Night. Long. However, before you go and slap the panic button, just keep in mind we've seen this before. New England also started 2-2 in 2014 after getting popped in the mouth by Kansas City on Monday Night Football, 42-14. Everyone said the sky was falling. Guess what happened? The Patriots finished 12-4. And won the Super Bowl. Don't say "this time it feels different", either. Of course it does. It's that sense of unfamiliarity and uncertainty that is swirling around Gillette Stadium that doesn't sit just right with you at the moment. Again, it's not something we haven't seen before, and it's not something that can't be fixed. Think about this, next week, Julian Edelman comes back, and Josh Gordon will make his debut. That, hopefully, should open up the playbook for Brady and maybe, just maybe, leave some holes open for Rob Gronkowski. Let's get one thing straight: when Gronk is on, he's the most unstoppable force in the NFL. Cue the Gronk spike. Now, hear me out on this next part. The defense can be fixed. It's just a matter of execution and effort. Not to mention the injuries that have been piling up on that side of the football, too. The Patriots best pass rusher, Trey Flowers, as well as reliable veteran safety Patrick Chung, were both absent with concussions. Other than injuries, it really all comes down to the level of effort being put in on the field. There's an old saying, "practice like you play". Maybe it's time New England starts practicing how they envision themselves playing on Sunday. On numerous occasions, the Patriots front could've had Kerryon Johnson tackled for short gains or even losses, but instead the linebackers would give up on the play and Johnson would bounce off a tackle and pick up an extra 6 or 7 yards and in some cases, extend Detroit's drives. Detroit hadn't had a back go for 100 yards rushing in a game since 2013, just to put that into perspective. I'll admit, we don't see this kind of funk from a Bill Belichick squad often, but when we do, they snap out of it pretty darn quickly. Next week could play to the Patriots advantage. It's a home game, and if there's one thing that's known about the 'Foxboro Faithful', it's that they're one of the loudest and most passionate fan bases in all of sports. Bet your bottom dollar that Gillette Stadium will be sold out and rockin' when Tom Brady comes trotting out of the tunnel next Sunday for his pre-game warm-ups. New England should be able to handle Miami, who is bound to come back down to earth at some point. Let's hope Brady can serve the fish a reality check. If he is able to do that, it wouldn't just be sending a message to the Dolphins; it would be a message to the rest of the NFL, Patriots fans, and most importantly, Bill Belichick. That message would be loud and clear. And it would read something like this: I am the guy. Always have been, always will be. I'm the same guy that defeated all the odds to win the starting job 18 years ago, and that's what I continue to do. If you give me the tools, I'll take you where you need to be. That place for the Patriots, is Atlanta, GA. If I had a message for all of you however, it would be this. Stay confident. Even through the hard times, like the one that's currently staring you in the face. That anxiety you feel? That anger? That confusion? That's all normal. And it will all subside in due time. Why? Because in case you may have forgotten, this is the New England Patriots. They figure it out. Even when there isn't an answer, they still get it right. Somehow. Tom Brady is the quarterback, and it goes without saying, but I'll say it anyway. Anytime you have number 12 under center, you have a chance. Period. So, take a deep breath. The Patriots will be just fine. That's a promise. Brendan Howe
FRANKLIN, MA The Patriots open their 2018 season tomorrow afternoon with a pretty similar look to what the past 18 seasons have featured. Bill Belichick on the sideline. Tom Brady at quarterback. Neither of those things have changed. The Pats play host to the Houston Texans in Foxboro this Sunday. Last time we met... The last time these two squads faced off was in week three of last season, with the Patriots coming out on top 36-33. Tom Brady was able to lead another game winning drive, finishing it off by rifling a 25 yard touchdown to Brandin Cooks in the corner of the endzone. What's at stake now... For New England, it's about momentum. With a 41-year old QB who, to some, still has to prove he can play at an elite level as he ages. Starting off on the right foot is essential for the Patriots to establish their dominance. For Houston, their young star QB Deshaun Watson is coming off a torn ACL that cut his 2017 campaign short. Many people are hyping this Texans team up to be a real contender in the AFC, and it's their time to prove themselves against one of the league's gold standard teams. Players to watch... Tom Brady QB: We mentioned it before, Brady is 41 now. It's going to be interesting to see how much he lets it fly in week one. Phillip Dorsett WR: Dorsett has really stuck his foot in the door with Julian Edelman being out for the first four weeks of the season, and it looks like he's entered the 'Brady circle of trust'. Eric Rowe CB: Rowe has slotted himself into the CB2 role for week one, and Belichick seems to trust him. With Gilmore on the opposite side, Texans coach Bill O'Brien may draw up some plays to get stud WR Deandre Hopkins some looks against him. Prediction... Patriots 27 Texans 19 |