The New England Patriots improved their record to 7-2 with a 31-17 victory over the Green Bay Packers and they did it in different ways.
No Rob Gronkowski. No Sony Michel. No problem. On Sunday night at Gillette Stadium, the New England Patriots showcased just what has made them the most winningest team over the past two decades.
They simply find ways to win with limited resources.
With both teams feeling the effects of the injury bug, the Patriots found ways to make plays against Aaron Rodgers and the Green Bay Packers at important times of the game.
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Led by Tom Brady, New England’s offense sputtered at times, but players stepping up and doing whatever the team asks led to some wicked awesome plays in the game. This goes for both sides of the ball.
In extending their record to 7-2 on the season, Patriots head coach Bill Belichick was overall proud of how his players performed against that bad man Aaron Rodgers and a good Packers team.
"“I’m pretty proud of the team today,” Belichick said following the game. “I thought we competed hard. Green Bay’s a good football team. We talked all week about how difficult they are to prepare for, to play against, and they were. They certainly gave us a number of problems in a number of areas, but we battled through it.”"
In all, the New England Patriots did what they needed to do on both sides of the ball to get the job done. Here are three wicked awesome moments that led to perhaps the team’s most complete victory of the season.
Julian Edelman’s double pass
Just like in the AFC Divisional round game against the Baltimore Ravens back in 2014, the New England Patriots turned to a little trickery to swing the momentum back in their direction.
With the game tied at 17 midway through the fourth quarter, the Patriots needed a play to get their offense back going. Once again, they turned to the throwing ability of Julian Edelman to get the ball rolling.
After the defense forced a fumble, the Patriots’ offense was in jeopardy of wasting the turnover. But, then Edelman connected on a pass to James White that went for 37 yards. The creative screen pass put the Patriots all the way down to the Packers 1-yard line. White went on to punch it in a couple plays later to give the Patriots a 24-17 lead.
Edelman joked after the game that he was upset James White didn’t score on that play to pad his quarterback stats, but glad the play worked.
"“It’s always nice to throw a pass, just a little mad James didn’t get in. I would have had a better stat line,” Edelman said following the game. “It was awesome to do and Sweet Feet, making plays left and right. It was good to throw it to him because you knew you were going to get some yards, keep the stat line up.”"
Besides the pass completion, Julian Edelman caught six passes for 71 yards. Before that play, Tom Brady and the offense were struggling to move the ball after starting the game in impressive fashion.
Lawrence Guy becomes the guy
Lawrence Guy proved in one play just why players are taught never to give up on a play.
With the game tied at 17, Aaron Rodgers and the Green Bay Packers had the momentum and was driving for the go-ahead score before Guy made a play that turned the tides and probably won the game for the team.
On the first drive of the fourth quarter, Rodgers handed the ball off to running back Aaron Jones just outside New England’s 35-yard line. Jones made a nice run, but Guy’s pursuit from across the formation resulted in a hit that jarred the ball loose.
The Patriots recovered the ball at their own 24-yard line. During a time where it appeared the Packers had the Patriots on the ropes, the hustle by Lawrence Guy was exactly what the team needed to swing the momentum back their side.
"“It was exciting,” Guy said of his forced fumble after the game. “It was one of those plays that you think about all the time, so I was happy when I did it.”"
So were fans, as at the time it did seem that Rodgers was ready to take over the game.
Josh Gordon earning all the trust
Tom Brady had a stretch where he struggled a bit, but the 41-year-old quarterback delivered the dagger late in the fourth on a 55-yard connection to Josh Gordon.
On a night in which he played through a fractured finger, Gordon had his best overall game with the Patriots, hauling in five receptions for 130 yards and a touchdown. With increased trust, the last connection between Brady and Gordon not only put the game away but showed the developing chemistry between the two.
It also showed just how Josh Gordon could score from anywhere on the field. The Green Bay Packers secondary certainly found that out as Gordon flashed into the end zone without a defender near him.
"“I think we caught them off-balance, switching defenses and transition,” Gordon said. “They dropped back into a zone, somebody just forgot to cover me, was able to idle and Tom saw it, we all saw it and then just had to make a break on the ball and then try to finish the play after that.”"
The 55-yard connection gave the New England Patriots a two-touchdown lead and eventual win. It also showcased how much the team is now relying on Gordon’s talent. Let’s hope these type of explosive plays continue.