The Patriots earned their most impressive
win of the season with their 30-23 win Sunday night in Atlanta but lost Vince
Wilfork for the season to a torn Achilles tendon. Wilfork is a Pro Bowl
defensive tackle and perhaps more importantly a true heart and soul guy. His
loss has already conjured up Richard Seymour’s name. Wilfork’s loss should also
shut the pie holes of all those who were bitching about the $10m in salary cap
the “cheapskate” Patriots had held in reserve. Not that I’m recommending New
England overpay
for Seymour or any other of the available free agents; there’s a good reason
they’re available.
Maybe I’m talking myself into this, but…
It’s beginning to look like old times. Slow
start, key injuries overcome by unlikely heroes, rope-a-dope defensive game
plans designed to defuse even the most explosive offenses and a balanced
offense directed by Tom Terrific. The Patriots of 2013 are starting to look
more and more like the Patriots of 2003-04. Maybe they’ll look more 2011-12
with Gronk, Amendola and Vereen back on the field but I’ll take it, especially
when that slow start results in a 4-0-0 record.
Sunday night Cris Collinsworth noted, “The
Patriots just find a way.” A few observations in that regard…
Wide receiver Julian Edelman, the former
college QB and part-time DB who almost didn’t come back to the Patriots this
year, is leading the league in receptions with 34 (tied with Houston’s Andre
Johnson). Granted, he only ranks 19th in yardage (319 yards) but
Jules is doing a serviceable impression of Wes Welker. He projects to 136
receptions and 1,276 yards. Why is nobody talking about this guy? Given the
expected return of Gronk, Amendola and Vereen and the on-going development of
the rookie wide receivers – Kenbrell Thompkins, Aaron Dobson and Josh Boyce –
these are probably unsustainable numbers for Edelman but in these first four
games Jules has proven he’s more than just one
of the best punt return men in the NFL.
Seriously, why is nobody talking about this
guy?
Aqib Talib and LeGarrette Blount must think
they’re the luckiest boys in Pigskinland. Instead of riding in the rumble seat
of the clown car that is the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, they are key contributors
for the undefeated New England Patriots.
Talib may be reasonably credited with the
Patriots maintaining their undefeated status as his 4th down breakup
of the Matt Ryan attempt for Roddy White in the end zone sealed the win Sunday
night. I’ll state the obvious and note that Talib is having his best season as
a pro. He has four interceptions in four games. He has been commended by
defensive coordinator Matt Patricia for his leadership. We can debate whether
or not he’s a true shutdown cornerback but you can bet he will be playing
straight up on A.J. Green next Sunday in Cincinnati.
Blount looked and sounded like a happy
drunk after the Falcons’ game. His 47-yard run should’ve ended the game (I
really don’t want to think about the muffed 4th down snap or the
failure to cover the first onside kick and I absolutely refuse to discuss the
horrible spot on Blount’s second effort 3rd down run that should’ve
made the aforementioned 4th down muff a non-event). He’s got to be
the fastest 250-pound man on the planet. Like Talib, Blount had something of a
checkered past. Like Talib, Blount has grabbed hold of his career-saving
opportunity with both hands.
There are fourteen rookies on the Patriots’
53 man roster. Seven of those fourteen rookies are of the undrafted variety,
including WR Kenbrell Thompkins and DT Joe Vellano, both of whom showed up big
Sunday night.
Thompkins struggled to live up to his
preseason pub the first two weeks of the season but he caught two TD passes in
Week 3 and had his first 100-yard game as a pro Sunday night, with a
spectacular circus catch for a TD. And he could’ve had an even bigger night if
it hadn’t been for two drops.
Vellano’s
sack of Matt Ryan was a tribute to the Patriots’
obsession with the 3-cone drill, which is designed to measure small space
agility. Words like unbelievable are tossed around with a total disregard for
their actual meaning but the Picard Maneuver by
Vellano on Falcons’ center Peter Konz was unbelievable. I saw it and I still
don’t believe it. Okay, I’m not punching his ticket for Canton on the basis of
one play but I am adding his name to my Spellcheck dictionary.
With Wilfork out and until Gronkowski,
Amendola and Vereen return, the Patriots will indeed need to find a way. They
say faith is the belief in things unseen. If that’s true then this isn’t about
faith because I’ve seen the Patriots do this before. I’ve seen them win games
with wide receivers playing defensive back. I’ve seen them go 11-5-0 with a
backup quarterback.
Can Bill Belichick and the Patriots find a
way?
Absolutely.
Will they?
That’s why they play the games.
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