This is one of those years the New England Patriots are finding ways to win. They lost another key component.
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This might not be a playoff game and the Patriots are virtually certain to make the postseason whether they win or lose Monday night, but there are several parallels between the two situations. “You’re one play away from trending on Twitter as the number one loser in America”. “The play down in the end zone, the play should’ve been made”. Brady’s first pass deep to Aaron Dobson should have been intercepted, but Landon Collins dropped it when he hit the ground.
Gostkowski, the NFL’s leading scorer the last three seasons, sent his winning kick soaring through the uprights.
Edelman had a screw placed into his broken foot after the injury occurred during the unbeaten Patriots’ comeback win over the NY Giants on Sunday. But you don’t beat New England with field goals, and a 5-yard pass to Odell Beckham Jr. on New York’s final drive was originally called a touchdown, then reversed by a video review.
Gostkowski certainly gets a game ball, as does his counterpart, Giants kicker Josh Brown, who with four made field goals extended his career high and Giants record streak to 27 consecutive made attempts. But Edelman’s position is expected to be filled up by Danny Amendola for the time being. While the results of the loss still keep the Giants at the top of the NFC East with a 5-5 record, it also keeps the Patriots undefeated, as they advance to 9-0.
“I think his trust level with the quarterback has grown and gone forward every year that he’s been in our offense”, McDaniels said.
“That’s on me”, Beckham said. It’s not that far away from being a win.
I realize most people will say that I am drawing attention to this game because the Pats won. Though Rob Gronkowski finished with 113 reception yards, the bulk of those came on one 76-yard catch-and-run.
The Patriots marched downfield with the opening kickoff on a 14-play, 80-yard drive. The drive ended with Tom Brady finding tight end Scott Chandler in the back of the end zone for a touchdown. It appears though as if the Patriots were given the 40 seconds after Amendola was ruled down, per usual, but then as the ball was placed by the referee ready to be snapped, the holder signaled the play clock operator with a open palm upward pumping motion, a signal used by many QBs to let the operator know they haven’t been given the 25 seconds after the ball was placed.
Julian Edelman sustained a foot injury in the first half and didn’t return. Of course, they still had Brady and Gostkowski. As a matter of fact, many pundits already look at him as the best receiver in the team. If it’s reminiscent of the last time these two teams met up, back in week two, when Tom Brady put of 466 yards and three touchdowns with no interceptions. First place takes home $100,000! Rookie quarterback Marcus Mariota and the Titans were held scoreless in the second half.
On Monday, ESPN’s Adam Schefter reported Peyton had a partially torn plantar fascia ligament in his left foot, an injury similar to the one Eli played through in 2009.
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Edelman’s 11 catches were good for 97 yards against the Bills, and Lewis added six catches for 98 yards.
