Stats on Pats Weekly By Ian Abreu, southcoast247.com correspondent
Week III Wrap-up
It's ok to admit it, people. After last week's 27-17 loss to the Carolina Panthers, you were a little worried about this team, weren't you? I'll admit it, I was one of them. Not only have injuries become a major factor haunting this team, but the 12 foolish penalties that were committed last week would give any "die-hard" Pats a cause for concern. But I should have known better. I should have known that this team doesn't lose two in a row; I mean, this team hasn't lost two in a row since 2002. That's a long time ago Pats fans. Yesterday's 23-20 victory against fellow AFC foes the Pittsburg Steelers surely had me jumping back onto the Patriots bandwagon. Why not? Isn't that my "right" as a Boston sports fan? Even though the game appeared to be a bit sloppy at times on both sides of the ball, the champs held their ground and pulled off the gutsy win, despite more mis-cues and injuries.
Pats Offense Not Great, But Gets the Job Done
Shame on Steelers head coach Bill Cowher, everyone and their mother knows that you don't give Tom Brady any time on the clock in a close game. But that's what Cowher did, allowing Brady to lead the Pats offense down-field with just over a minute left. We all know what Tom Brady can do with a minute or so left in a pressure packed situation...don't we? On the Pats last drive, Brady went 12-12 in passing, thanks in large part to some key grabs from wide out David Givens; eventually setting up the game winning 43-yard goal by Adam Vinatieri with just one second remaining. Brady would end up going 31-41, passing for 372 yards, no touchdowns and one interception. Come on everybody, if the game is tied and Tom Brady has the ball with not much time, isn't that the kiss of death? Especially when you know you have "Mr. Clutch" himself waiting by the sidelines (Vinatieri) to split the up rights at any given signal. Pats running back Cory Dillon seems to do all of his best work from within the red zone, and last night was no different, scoring twice on some gutsy runs. He only had 61 yards on 22 carries, but his two touchdowns did the trick in not only preserving a Pats victory, but giving me some much needed Dillon points for my fantasy football team. I still haven't sent him to the yahoo fantasy football unemployment line...yet.
Injury Leads to Gutsy Performance by Pats D
When I saw strong safety Rodney Harrison getting carted off Heinz Field in what appeared to be serious left knee injury the first quarter yesterday, my first reaction was, "Oh man, the Pats are screwed!" I mean, this guy is not only their emotional leader, but he's the defensive catalyst. But some how, some way, everyone else stepped up and towed the mark, especially the defensive line of Richard Seymour, Jarvis Green, Vince Wilfork, and Ty Warren, holding rookie phenom Willie Parker to just 55 yards on 17 carries. As far as the pass defense was concerned, the main problem the Pats were faced with was no Rodney Harrison. So who took his place, anyway? Enter little used back-up safety/linebacker Don Davis. Despite the injury, Davis and others in the defensive back-field didn't fare all that bad, allowing Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger to complete only 12 passes for 216 yards. And most that thunder came off an 85-yard td strike to Hines Ward back in the first quarter. So all-in-all, it was not a great day for "Big Ben," as he suffered his first ever home regular season loss. Backup cornerback Chad Scott seemed to have had a rough go of it yesterday, committing three penalties, none more crucial than a pass interfearance call on fourth and 11 with just a little over a minute left deep in Pats territory; eventually setting up another Ward tochdown, tying the game at 20.
Yesterday's game against the Steelers was a good, hard-nosed victory for the hometown boys. Despite loosing both Safety Rodney Harrison and Left Tackle Matt Light to injuries, Bill Belichick adjusted so quickly and so well, you hardly noticed that those two were actually missing. Belichick knew the Pats had to win last night at all costs, no way could they have fallen to 1-2, no way. The Pats look to have an easier go of it next week at home against the San Diego Chargers. Even though the Bolts are coming off an impressive 45-23 win over the New York Giants; one can't even begin to compare the defensive strategies of Tom Coughlin to that of a Bill Belichick. That's like comparing the looks of a blonde super model to a rabid baboon. Thanks for reading this week's column Pats fans! Send some loving my way, hit up my email.
See you all next for another edition of Stats on Pats Weekly. Feel free to email me your questions or comments at patsstats@southcoast247.com.
It's ok to admit it, people. After last week's 27-17 loss to the Carolina Panthers, you were a little worried about this team, weren't you? I'll admit it, I was one of them. Not only have injuries become a major factor haunting this team, but the 12 foolish penalties that were committed last week would give any "die-hard" Pats a cause for concern. But I should have known better. I should have known that this team doesn't lose two in a row; I mean, this team hasn't lost two in a row since 2002. That's a long time ago Pats fans. Yesterday's 23-20 victory against fellow AFC foes the Pittsburg Steelers surely had me jumping back onto the Patriots bandwagon. Why not? Isn't that my "right" as a Boston sports fan? Even though the game appeared to be a bit sloppy at times on both sides of the ball, the champs held their ground and pulled off the gutsy win, despite more mis-cues and injuries.
