New England Patriots: 5 observations from Week 16 win over Bills

 On Sunday, the New England Patriots improved their record to 12-3 by defeating the Buffalo Bills by a score of 37-16.

Ho, ho, ho! Christmas came early for New England Patriots fans, because the Pats locked up a first round bye in the upcoming playoffs. Bills fans, on the other hand, ended up with a lump of coal in their stockings.

The Christmas Eve Day contest was a lopsided affair, as the Patriots waltzed to a three touchdown victory. The game wasn’t a blowout from the first whistle, though.

By no means was this a perfect game from the Patriots, and they’re not going to tell you that it was. I mean, can you imagine a scenario in which Bill Belichick has no criticism for his team? That’s a knee-slapper.

Heading into this game, the Patriots knew they needed to win in order to put themselves in the best position possible.

With a little help from Jimmy Garoppolo and the 49ers, the Patriots secured a crucial first round bye, which will give them ample preparation and recovery time. Belichick’s master plan, including the Garoppolo trade, is going according to plan.

Welcome back to my weekly column, where I write about 5 things I found notable from the Patriots game. It could be anything from a great catch to a funny sign I saw in the stands. I hope everyone had a wonderful Christmas, whether you celebrate or not. I’m sure the Patriots win was a bonus. Let’s get to it.

Setting the record straight

For the second week in a row, the Patriots have benefitted from the rule that indicates what a catch is. What’s more important, however, is what is not a catch.

Last week, the entire city of Pittsburgh was up in arms about a play that ultimately resulted in an incomplete pass. According to the rules, Steelers fans had no right to complain, because the pass was clearly incomplete.

This week, it was Buffalo’s turn to accuse the Patriots of having paid the referees, due to the reversal of this touchdown call.

This was called a touchdown on the field, but overturned after an official review. It was ruled that Kelvin Benjamin did not have control when both of his feet were on the ground, and when he gained control he only had one foot down.

The other foot came down out of bounds, turning the touchdown into an incomplete pass. It was a shocking reversal, in my opinion.

Now, I’ll go to my grave saying that Jesse James’ catch for the Steelers was incomplete. That’s an easy call, to be honest. But this one? I don’t know about this one.

In no way, shape, or form was this the result of favoritism towards the Patriots. I can’t stress that enough. The call was made and it is what it is. However, I don’t think there was enough evidence to overturn the call on the field.

I understand the thought process of the referees, but I just can’t see the space between Benjamin’s foot and the ground. I’m not sure you could slip a piece of paper between the two. But hey, what do I know. I’m not an NFL referee.

Neon Dion Lewis

The Patriots are famous for their use of multiple running backs every Sunday. It’s almost impossible to predict who will lead the rushing attack every week.

This week, however, it was no secret who would get the lion’s share of the carries. With James White and Rex Burkhead sidelined by injuries, it was Dion Lewis who did the majority of the work out of the backfield on Sunday.

As the bell cow, Lewis rushed 24 times for 129 yards and a touchdown, while adding 5 receptions for 24 yards and another touchdown.

I’ve been saying this for a long time. Dion Lewis is the most talented back on the Patriots roster. He’s dynamic, versatile, and explosive. In my preseason predictions, I predicted that Lewis would lead all Patriots running backs in total yards. He’s ahead by a long shot.

Now, it’s becoming clear that Neon Dion is not only the best back on the roster, but our best bet to succeed as well. When Lewis is in the game, good things happen.

I will admit, though, that it was nice to see Mike Gillislee get some carries after a few healthy scratches. I’ve heard legends that Tartarus, the mythological abyss the Titans were imprisoned in, is much easier to escape from than Belichick’s doghouse. It’s nice to know he’s alright.

24-3

Ever since the Patriots historic comeback in Super Bowl LI, 28-3 has been a battle cry for Patriots fans across the country. A symbol of an impossible accomplishment. A memorial of a heroic series of plays the earned Tom Brady his thumb-ring.

On Sunday, we put together another impressive run to earn ourselves a W. In the second half, the Patriots outscored the Bills 24-3 en route to a 21 point victory. It wasn’t a massacre in the first half, but it quickly became one.

The first half of the game was tighter than Tom Brady’s TB12 compression sleepwear. The Bills played the Patriots close and the game was tied heading into the half.

What the Patriots do better than anyone in the NFL, however, is make halftime adjustments. When they came out to begin the third quarter, things were different.

After a Bills drive that resulted in a field goal, the scoring was over for Buffalo. The Patriots defense came out of their shells and contained Lesean McCoy and the rest of the Bills offense.

On the other end, Tom Brady protected the football better and utilized his weapons to shred the Bills defense. When the New England Patriots came out of the tunnel to begin the second half, the game was essentially over already. 24-3.

Gronk being Gronk

There are plenty of idiomatic phrases to denote that something will never happen. “When pigs fly” and “when hell freezes over” are the most common, but I think it’s time to add a new one to the list. We’ll say… “when Gronk is overmatched”.

Friends, I have never seen Rob Gronkowski physically overmatched, and I don’t think I ever will. On Sunday, Gronk showed again why he’s the best TE in the NFL.

From the 16 yard line, Tom Brady threw a back shoulder pass to Gronk. The throw was wide, but Gronk reached out one of his giant hands, reeled in the football, and stayed in bounds for the touchdown. He never ceases to amaze me.

My favorite thing about Gronk is that he probably doesn’t realize how great of a play he made. He just goes out there, plays his heart out, and dominates. He’s the kid on the playground who went through puberty before the other kids. He’s Billy Madison playing dodgeball against first graders. There’s simply no stopping him.

In addition to his receiving skills, Gronk is an amazing blocker. He clears paths for the running backs and is a huge part of our run game. As if you didn’t already know, he’s one of the biggest keys to the Patriots success. Just Gronk being Gronk.

Flowers Blossoming

Normally, we have to wait until the Spring to see Flowers bloom. When you’re a Patriots fan, you get to see Flowers all through the Winter. How wonderful!

The defense might as well have been all Flowers on Sunday, as Marquis Flowers and Trey Flowers accounted for almost one third of the team’s total tackles.

Marquis Flowers stole the show, recording 10 total tackles, 5 solo, 3 for loss, and 2.5 sacks. He was fantastic rushing the QB and his wrath was felt by Tyrod Taylor and Lesean McCoy.

The more exciting story, however, is Trey Flowers. Flowers had been out for two weeks with a rib injury, but returned to the Patriots front seven on Sunday.

In his return, he totaled 8 tackles, 7 of which he made on his own (2 TFL). The defense had been struggling lately, so the return of Flowers is huge. He’ll continue to be one of our top pass rushers and wreak havoc on opposing offensive linemen.

If the New England Patriots defensive line can generate an effective pass rush, we’ll be a very strong team down the stretch. Our defensive backs can’t get beat deep if the QB has to throw the ball quickly. Oldest trick in the book.

Moving Forward

Next week, the Patriots play for the top seed in the AFC. The other team vying for the top seed, to nobody’s surprise, is the Pittsburgh Steelers.

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Both teams have clinched a first round bye, but home field advantage is equally as important. Week 17 isn’t always a must win for the Patriots, but it is this year. Expect to see all the starters on the field for as long as the game’s within reach.

As for the matchup, the Patriots play the New York Jets at home in Week 17. Historically, the Jets haven’t posed a serious threat to the Pats, so the top seed in the AFC is ours for the taking. It’s so close I can taste it. Delicious!

There’s plenty to work on this week, and the New England Patriots are already preparing. It may have been Christmas yesterday, but if you think Bill Belichick takes Jesus’ birthday off, you’re crazy.

We’re on to New York, and we’re on the fast track to the Super Bowl. If all goes right, the road to the big game will run through New England.

Next: New England Patriots: Top 5 quarterbacks of all-time

Thank you all for reading my 5 observations from this week’s game. I hope you enjoyed and can make it back for next week’s holiday edition. Can’t wait to dissect a Week 17 win. Go Pats.