The New England Patriots very easily could have lost Sunday’s game to the Buffalo Bills, and unlike in past seasons, it wouldn’t have been an embarrassment.
Ralph Wilson Stadium was rocking as new owner Terry Pegula was introduced to the crowd during a pregame ceremony, and the Bills were riding high after a comeback win over the Detroit Lions last week. The Patriots also lost three key contributors when linebacker Jerod Mayo and running back Stevan Ridley left the game (and possibly the season) with knee injuries, and left guard Dan Connolly suffered a head injury.
None of that mattered, however, as the Patriots — already leading 13-7 — came out of the locker room in the second half like a different team. The Bills kept pressing, but Patriots quarterback Tom Brady and his offense scored on every second-half possession until they lined up in victory formation to end the game.
Check out this week’s takeaways from an important Week 6 win:
ROB NINKOVICH TORMENTS COLLEGE TEAMMATE
The Patriots finally ramped up their pass rush, and having Chandler Jones back for a full share of snaps helped. The Patriots’ pass rush should be even better when Dont’a Hightower returns from a knee injury that made him a game-time decision in Buffalo.
Rookie defensive end Zach Moore showed promise as a pass rusher in 11 defensive snaps. He didn’t record any pressures, but he showed impressive strength at the edge.
Check out this week’s pass-rush charting stats:
Rob Ninkovich: three sacks, one QB hit, three hurries (seven pressures)
Chandler Jones: sack, two QB hits, hurry (four pressures)
Vince Wilfork: two hurries
Deontae Skinner: sack
Jamie Collins: QB hit
Chris Jones: hurry
Casey Walker: hurry
Check out the Patriots’ season-long pass-rush charting stats:
Ninkovich: four sacks, four QB hits, 13 hurries, 21 pressures
Chandler Jones: 3.5 sacks, seven QB hits, 10 hurries, 21 pressures
Hightower: two sacks, five QB hits, eight hurries, 15 pressures
Wilfork: two QB hit, five hurries, seven pressures
Jerod Mayo: sack, QB hit, four hurries, six pressures
Chris Jones: 1.5 sacks, two hurries, four pressures
Joe Vellano: one sack, two hurries, three pressures
Collins: two QB hits, two pressure
Kyle Arrington: one sack, one pressure
Skinner: one sack, one pressure
Logan Ryan: one QB hit, one pressure
Sealver Siliga: one QB hit, one pressure
Tavon Wilson: one hurry, one pressure
Dominique Easley: one hurry, one pressure
Patrick Chung: one hurry, one pressure
Alfonzo Dennard: one hurry, one pressure
Walker: one hurry, one pressure
DARRELLE REVIS SHUTS DOWN SAMMY WATKINS
Before Sunday’s game, Bills rookie receiver Sammy Watkins declared that he “found out” Darrelle Revis was covering him. Watkins apparently has a good source.
Revis shadowed Watkins and only allowed two receptions to the 2014 first-round pick. The Bills did the majority of their damage in the middle of the field, where tight end Scott Chandler dominated with six catches for 105 yards.
Check out this week’s pass-coverage charting stats:
Kyle Arrington: five completions allowed on nine targets, 81 yards, TD
Alfonzo Dennard: 5-7, 60 yards, TD
Darrelle Revis: 2-3, 27 yards
Patrick Chung: 2-2, 26 yards
Chandler Jones: 2-2, 23 yards
Deontae Skinner: 2-2, 22 yards
Tavon Wilson: 1-1, 22 yards
Jamie Collins: 1-4, 13 yards, interception
Devin McCourty: 1-1, 6 yards
Jerod Mayo: 0-1
Chris White: 0-1
Check out the Patriots’ pass-coverage charting stats for the season:
Revis: 15-27, 220 yards, TD, INT, two pass breakups
Logan Ryan: 11-17, 146 yards, TD, INT, three pass breakups
Dennard: 10-16, 137 yards, 2 TDs
Mayo: 12-16, 127 yards, TD
Arrington: 9-18, 127 yards, TD, pass breakup
Deontae Skinner: 5-5, 72 yards
Tavon Wilson: 3-4, 71 yards, pass breakup
Collins: 6-18, 59 yards, interception, pass breakup
Malcolm Butler: 3-5, 53 yards, pass breakup
Dont’a Hightower: 11-14, 47 yards, pass breakup
Ninkovich: 4-5, 35 yards
Chung: 3-6, 29 yards, pass breakup
Chandler Jones: 2-2, 23 yards, two pass breakups
McCourty: 3-8, 13 yards, 2 TDs, INT, 2 pass breakups
Dominique Easley: 1-1, 8 yards, interception
Nate Ebner: 1-3, 3 yards
Duron Harmon: 0-1
White: 0-1
Vince Wilfork: interception
TOM BRADY HAS HIS BEST GAME OF THE SEASON
As tight end Rob Gronkowski is getting healthier, quarterback Tom Brady is getting better and better. Brady was 12 of 20 passing in the first half and an incredible 15 of 17 in the second half.
Brady’s deep ball is improving, as well. He was 4 of 7 on passes over 15 yards and 3 of 4 for 132 yards with two touchdowns on attempts that traveled over 20 yards through the air.
Brady only threw 10 incompletions all game, and four were inaccurate passes. Three incompletions can be blamed on pressure allowed by the offensive line, wide receiver Julian Edelman slipped on one target and the Bills’ defenders made two great plays.
Brady was in vintage form last week against the Cincinnati Bengals, but he was even better against the Bills. Brady could be in line for a record-setting performance against the New York Jets in a short week.
Photo via Kevin Hoffman/USA TODAY Sports Images
