Belichick’s Patriots on Sunday were without their best defensive player, linebacker Jamie Collins (a late scratch due to illness), and were limited in their second-half play-calling by casualties along their offensive line. “They have a job to do just like we do and they’ve been beating us the last few weeks”. A third member of the Rutgers’ quartet, Duron Harmon, has three interceptions on the season as the team’s third safety. It also added significant names to the injury list – right-turned-left tackle Sebastian Vollmer (head) and electrifying running back Dion Lewis (left knee) to the list.
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Many National Football League fans would say “So what?”
Kerrigan had 13.5 sacks last season and earned a big contract extension over the summer. Robert Turbin could be an option as well after his release from the Cleveland Browns. But the reshuffled line managed to block its way to the team’s best running performance of the season.
It’s very clear that Lewis was not only the clear leader of this backfield in terms of volume but also value on raw and per-play bases.
Case in point, third-and-16 in the first quarter against the Dolphins, Brady hits Dion Lewis with a short screen and he takes it 17 yards for a first down to keep that scoring drive alive.
The next-man-up philosophy has been what set the Patriots apart from other teams over the last couple decades.
With Brady’s quick release, there probably won’t be many chances for sacks.
“I don’t think anybody’s intimidated by them”, said Redskins coach Jay Gruden, respectful of the Patriots’ rings. He’s playing center for the first time in his life. The Gronkowski match-up clearly favors the Patriots, so if Brady has time, then it could be a repeat of the Saints’ game.
ONE: The number of touchdown passes Cousins has thrown during seven of Washington’s eight games this season, as the 27-year-old threw three during a Week Seven 31-30 comeback against Tampa Bay. Tom Brady was able to complete 26 of 29 passes for a total of 299 yards as well as a pair of touchdowns.
“It is one thing to be 3-5 at the midway point of the season, but the real sobering statistic that won’t go away is a 0-4 record in the AFC East”, Cohen said.
While Bolden has held down a roster spot with a jack-of-all-trades utility, second-year back James White is closer to mastering Lewis’ functionality in situations that call for an uptempo spread attack.
The Patriots’ offense begins and ends with it future Hall of Fame quarterback Tom Brady. He is a small, elusive player who still has the speed to create panic for a defender.
After Lewis went down against the Redskins on Sunday, the Patriots leaned on a heavy dose of LeGarrette Blount with a successful dab of Brandon Bolden to seal the win against Washington.
Lewis broke the Pro Football Focus elusive rating, finishing with a grade of 165.2 on a scale that was supposed to range from 0-100, according to Sam Monson of PFF.
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How much better is Gronk than every other TE? Realistically, Brady is lapping the field in the MVP race and Lewis isn’t going to be the one to break that up. Going back to a year ago when Vereen was in that role, he picked up 52 catches on 77 targets during the regular season. 500 but only a game out of first place in the division. But the Redskins have a strong group of wide receivers, including a healthy DeSean Jackson. Obviously, losing Lewis, who is great at making people miss with all of his shifty moves, for the rest of the season hurts, but there’s still plenty of great YAC guys left over, especially with LaFell back in the mix and Amendola making his share of plays.
