Will Campbell Offers Self-Review After Shaky Performance Vs. Texans

Patriots rookie left tackle Will Campbell is tougher on himself than anybody else.

And following his shaky performance against the vaunted Houston Texans’ defense at Gillette Stadium on Sunday, Campbell shouldered blame for his performance and acknowledged he expects more out of himself.

“I need to play better,” Campbell said after the 28-16 victory in the AFC Divisional Round. “I hold myself to a higher standard than what I put out tonight.”

Texans pass-rushers Will Anderson Jr. and Danielle Hunter, a First Team All-Pro and Second Team All-Pro selection, respectively, had their way with Campbell. They combined to finish with five sacks and three forced fumbles on Patriots quarterback Drake Maye.

Campbell, who recovered two fumbles, was at the attacking point for a handful of those plays. He allowed two sacks and five total pressures.

“Whenever you’re going against good players, the margin for error is very small, and there’s just some stuff I got to clean up, and it just takes more practice,” Campbell said. “Some of my plays from this year, that I wish I could have back, have come whenever I had help, which is weird as (expletive), quite frankly.

“I just got to keep working at some other stuff. Whenever I’ve got the back or the tight end with me, I just get better.”

Anderson beat Campbell for a strip-sack at the end of the second quarter and in the third quarter. Campbell recovered the first, but the Texans recovered the third-quarter giveaway, which set Houston up with another short field.

Campbell’s first fumble recovery occurred at the New England 3-yard line after Hunter beat beat right tackle Morgan Moses and Hunter Henry for a strip-sack.

“The balls on the ground,” Campbell said of his recoveries. “You don’t want to give it to them on a short field. So get on there and fight for it.”

Unfortunately for Campbell, it won’t get any easier as the Patriots travel to the Denver Broncos for the AFC Championship Game on Sunday at 3 p.m. ET.