Darrelle Revis wasn’t on his A-game Sunday when the New England Patriots took on rookie quarterback Derek Carr.
The Patriots cornerback allowed five receptions on six targets for 63 yards in New England’s 16-9 win over the Oakland Raiders. Perhaps Revis was dealing with an injury, or maybe it was the scheme the Patriots were running, but the All-Pro wasn’t as dominant as we’ve come to expect.
Revis has allowed eight receptions on 16 targets this season for 103 yards with a touchdown, an interception and two pass breakups.
Check out NESN.com’s three takeaways from Sunday’s Week 3 victory:
PATRIOTS’ SAFETIES SHINE
The Patriots’ safeties allowed just one receptions for three yards on six targets. That reception, allowed by Nate Ebner, was the first they’ve allowed all season.
Check out the Patriots’ coverage stats against the Raiders (and on the season):
Revis: 5-6, 63 yards, holding (8-16, 103 yards, TD, INT, two pass breakups)
Logan Ryan: 4-5, 60 yards, pass breakup, pass interference (7-12, 97 yards, interception, three pass breakups)
Jamie Collins: 1-2, 9 yards (3-9, 33 yards, pass breakup)
Dominique Easley: 1-1, 8 yards (1-1, 8 yards, interception)
Rob Ninkovich: 1-2, 4 yards (2-3, 8 yards)
Jerod Mayo: 1-2, 4 yards (9-11, 74 yards)
Nate Ebner: 1-3, 3 yards (1-3, 3 yards)
Dont’a Hightower: 4-5, 0 yards (9-12, 35 yards, pass breakup)
Patrick Chung: 0-2, pass breakup (0-3, pass breakup)
Kyle Arrington: 0-1, pass breakup (2-6, 21 yards, pass breakup)
Devin McCourty: 0-1, pass breakup (0-4, interception, pass breakup)
Chandler Jones: two pass breakups (two pass breakups)
Vince Wilfork: interception (interception)
Deontae Skinner: (3-3, 50 yards)
Malcolm Butler: (2-4, 26 yards, pass breakup)
Alfonzo Dennard: (2-3, 26 yards)
Duron Harmon: (0-1)
DONT’A HIGHTOWER GENERATES MORE PRESSURE
Hightower continues to shine in all facets of pass defense. He recorded two hurries and a quarterback hit against the Raiders. Pass rushing is a new wrinkle to Hightower’s NFL game since the third-year pro previously had only been used as a situational blitzer.
The Patriots weren’t able to generate much pressure against the Raiders, but check out where the pass rush was coming from on Sunday (and the entire season):
Rob Ninkovich: QB hit, two hurries (sack, three QB hits, five hurries, nine pressures)
Dont’a Hightower: QB hit, two hurries (two sacks, five QB hits, seven hurries, 14 pressures)
Chandler Jones: two hurries (two sacks, five QB hits, six hurries, 13 pressures)
Jerod Mayo: two hurries (sack, QB hit, three hurries, five pressures)
Logan Ryan: QB hit (one QB hit)
Tavon Wilson: hurry (one hurry)
Dominique Easley: hurry (one hurry)
Vince Wilfork: (one QB hit, two hurries, three pressures)
Joe Vellano: (two hurries, two pressures)
Kyle Arrington: (one sack)
Sealver Siliga: (one QB hit)
ROB GRONKOWSKI SUFFERS COSTLY DROP
Patriots tight end Rob Gronkowski caught one touchdown and had another slip through his fingers.
A minute into the fourth quarter, Brady dropped back at the 2-yard line and fired the ball to Gronk. The pass clanged off Raiders defensive back Charles Woodson’s hands and into Gronkowski’s. The tight end wasn’t able to haul in the pass.
Brady went 24 for 37 with 234 yards and a touchdown. It was a slight return to form for Brady, though it wasn’t always pretty in the Patriots’ win.
Of Brady’s 13 incompletions, five were errant throws by the QB, including his attempt on the play after Gronkowski’s drop, when he threw wide to receiver Danny Amendola, who dove for the pass, but had it bounce off his hands. Three incompletions can be blamed on Brady’s receiver, four on the offensive line, and his final pass was a throwaway.
Overall, it was a so-so performance from Brady, and he wasn’t helped much by his blockers.
