Won If By Land

I guess the Patriots had the Colts’ signals.

 

Saturday night, the Patriots hammered the Colts’ defense 46 times, rolling up 234 yards, 13 first downs and 6 TDs on their way to a 43-22 win. They will play in the AFC Championship game one more time.

The oft maligned offensive line dominated the line of scrimmage. Remember when Logan Mankins was playing on reputation? Remember all the critiques of Ryan Wendell, Dan Connolly and Marcus Cannon? Remember when Nate Solder didn’t have a mean streak? Yeah, those guys. I know, Indianapolis isn’t famous for their run defense but this was impressive. Tight ends Michael Hoomanawanui and Matthew “Hulkamaniac” Mulligan and fullback James Develin also deserve mention. The Patriots enjoyed a ten minute advantage in time of possession, 35:00 to 25:00.

No surprise then that this game had a few local pigskin pundits and bobbleheads talking about the 2004 team and Clock Killin’ Corey Dillon as LeGarrette Blount had another outstanding game. Stevan Ridley had a pretty good game with 14 carries, 52 yards and 2 TD but Blount was – for the second game in a row – a statistical outlier with 24 carries, 166 yards and 4 TD and a highlight reel run of 73 yards for 4^th score.

Beyond the impressive performance in the running game, this game was filled with story lines…

It looks like Bill Belichick got that draft pick right…

Before the game with the Colts I put forth the theory that we needed one of the young guns to step up and play the best game of their life (so far). I picked Dont’a Hightower and hedged my bets by mentioning Logan Ryan. Hightower had a team-leading 8 tackles and an INT but it was rookie Jamie Collins who had the kind of game that makes the postgame show highlights.

Collins had 6 tackles (3 solo), 1 sack, 2 tackles for a loss, 1 pass defended, 3 QB hits and 1 INT which he returned 20 yards. The interception showed impressive ball skills (Yes, Greg Gumbel, Collins was a safety in college – his freshman year). It appeared from his sack of Andrew Luck that Collins may actually be able to fly (albeit for short distances).

Welcome to the big stage Jamie Collins.

Staying there is the hard part, of course, but I like your chances.

Time Served…

Alfonzo Dennard. His name reminds me of the moment in “Role Models” when Wheeler asks, “The Get Out of Jail Free Card: Is that real?” Let’s hope if Dennard does have to do jail time that it doesn’t change him. His first interception to start the game was an incredible effort. The second effectively ended the game. Dennard may not be a true shutdown cornerback but he is a serious playmaker. Thanks in big part to Dennard the Pats picked off Luck a total of four times.

Let’s hope Dennard’s back on the street for training camp next year.

Brand New Kicks…

Stephen Gostkowski had already had the best regular season ever for a New England place-kicker when he stepped on the field Saturday night. He didn’t attempt any field goals but he did punt 5 times for a respectable 41.8 yard average with just one touchback and two inside the 20. Punter Ryan Allen was knocked out of the game when a snap sailed over his head and in the ensuing melee his shoulder made contact with several highly motivated Colts’ special teamers. Allen’s absence pressed Gostkowski into duty as the punter. Tom Brady took on the responsibility for holding for extra points, the first time he had done so since college, fourteen years ago.

Losing Allen could’ve been disastrous. Football is a game of field position and a series of poor punts could’ve set up the Colts with short fields and scoring opportunities. But that didn’t happen. Incredibly, it all worked.

Many Pats’ fans still think of Adam Vinatieri as the best place kicker in New England history but the numbers say otherwise.

The long and the short of it…

With Aaron Dobson out due to injury, pregame chatter from pigskin pundits and bobbleheads focused on the height-challenged receivers available to Tom Brady and the lack of a vertical/outside the numbers threat. While Brady finished with less than 200 yards passing (198 to be exact), the passing game was both efficient and effective.

The Colts did not have an answer for Julian Edelman who caught 6 passes for 84 yards. And despite all those 6’ and under wide receivers, Brady still managed to connect with Danny Amendola on a 53-yard completion off play action. Brady’s 13 completions produced 9 first downs.

Who’s got next?

Will it be a road trip to Denver or a home game against San Diego?

I’ve already heard a few local pigskin pundits and bobbleheads say they want the Broncos and Brady vs. Manning one more time. They’ve gone so far as to say they believe the Chargers have a better run defense and the Broncos are a better match up for these won if by land Patriots.

I say no thanks.

Not that I think the Chargers can beat the Broncos a second time in Mile High but I’ll be rooting for the Powder Blue Bolts on Sunday.

I want a home game for the AFC Championship.