New England Patriots: Quick takes on thunderous comeback in Houston

A few New England Patriots positives in an ugly win

The Patriots’ best defensive player in the game, again, was linebacker Matt Judon.

Judon was hailed as a top addition.

He hasn’t disappointed one iota. He’s been as advertised, and much more. He’s the Patriots’ best defensive player and it’s not even close.

Once again he was the real bright light on defense. He had two sacks and the final fumble recovery. He has already equaled his sack total of last season at six and a half sacks in five games.

That eclipses the five-and-a-half top sack total for the New England Patriots all last season logged by Chase Winovich. Too bad he has so little help thus far.

Now, for anyone not convinced of Mac Jones’s excellence, time to get with the program. Overall, he was exceptional.

Jones threw a pick on the first drive of the second half yet showed the grit and determination to shake off the adversity and take his team all the way back for the win.

He threw for 231 yards on 23 of 30 passing with a touchdown and an interception. Again, that’s a phenomenal completion percentage of 76.6 percent. This is unusual, folks. Very.

Jones started on fire, leveled off after the Meyers drop, then rebounded in the final two quarters to get the win. In the process was a great pass to Hunter Henry for a big touchdown.

Henry led the way with 75 yards on six catches and the touchdown. Meyers had 56 yards on four catches and that big drop.

The Patriots at two and four are still alive in hopes for a playoff berth. Hopefully, they’ll load up with a top receiver and tackle before the trade deadline.

Yet, ironically with four offensive line starters out, the offensive line looked better than they have all season. How’s that possible?

But let’s give credit where it’s due, they did a better job than the four starters who are out. It was what it was.

The backs ran OK at 4.2 yards per carry and 126 yards total. Lots better than last week’s total of minus one on eight carries.

One reason was probably the re-introduction of Ted Karras into the team. He should have been at left guard right after Trent Brown went down in the first game. Finally, he started at right guard.

There was also a sighting of Yodny Cajuste at right tackle. Only a complete debacle on the offensive line got him involved. Yet, he proved he can do the job. Keep him there.

And Justin Herron, who has been terrible at right tackle, seized the day at left tackle. No idea how to analyze that. Yet, he did the job well. Maybe because Houston is that bad. Who knows?

Whatever the reasons, Herron and his linemates did the job today and did it very, very well. Only one sack on Mac Jones. That’s a good day’s work.

And, an old standby, the reliable James Ferentz stepped in at left guard and did the job. How often has he done that and done a workmanlike job?

And another good sign was at least the insertion of Rhamondre Stevenson into the backfield for some plays. He began to get some positive yards in the fourth quarter.

At two and three, the 2021 Patriots are still in the soup two games behind the Buffalo Bills. In fact, they should be four and one and tied with the Bills.

Yet, examples of awful coaching, some terrible offensive line play, some big-time fumbles, picks, and other gaffes have stymied them.

But the light at the end of the tunnel is that maybe someday this operation will give Mac Jones their young terrific quarterback the top weapons he needs to really succeed.

But that’s doubtful. They seldom did that for their prior tremendous quarterback. They won anyway. There aren’t many like him, if any though, who can do that.

Yet, nevertheless, a win ugly is still a win. The Patriots are two and three, not one and four, and still breathing in the scrap for a wild card berth.

Who knows what might eventuate. Like Kevin Garnett, Celtics great once said, “Anythiiiinnnnngggggs possibllllllllllllle!”