http://isportsweb.com/2009/10/19/42
932/ for a full write up with the photos click on the link.
Yesterday the New England Patriots thrashed the undermanned Tennessee Titans 59-0 yesterday in a snowy, slippery Foxboro Stadium. Tom Brady threw 6 TDs with five in the second quarter and quickly put the game out of reach, as the Pats went into half-time with a 45-0 lead. That much is known, but the game was actually won prior to the start, during warm-ups.
The Titans, coming in 0-5, were understandably down and playing with a patchwork secondary due to injuries. Their WRs have had way too many drops, and yesterday was no exception. But with awful weather conditions yesterday afternoon, the Titans came out for their warm-ups and seemed to just go thru the motions. They quickly did their business and hurried off the field.
The Patriots on the other hand, went thru warm-ups as if it were sunny and 60 degrees. Tom Brady changed his throwing gloves a few times due to his inability to throw accurately at all with the wet ball gloves and finally went sans gloves. His preparation was evident once the game started. Another thing that stuck out was that the Patriots seemed to have much better footing than Tennessee. I don’t know if they were wearing different cleats, but they seemed much better at moving in the snow.
On to the game, the Titans got the opening kick-off and promptly went three and out. Their descent into their demise quickly began with a very nice 35 yard punt return by Julian Edelman. The Patriots moved down the field quickly and didn’t get back on the field in time due to a injury timeout which changed a third and one to a third and six. Stephen Gostkowski missed a FG and the Titans caught a break.
Another three and out and this time the Pats struck paydirt. Laurence Maroney broke off a 45 yard run for a TD that put the game at 7-0. Brady would connect on the longest pass of the season on the next drive to Wes Welker for 48 yards and this time Gostkowski would connect for a 10 -0 lead at the end of the first quarter.
Tennessee would move the ball well at the start of the second quarter until LenDale White fumbled and the Patriots quickly struck. Brady, BenJarvus Green-Ellis and Randy Moss executed a perfect flea-flicker where Moss blew past the defenders and Brady found him deep for a touchdown and at 17-0, the rout was on. Kerry Collins fumbled the next snap and Brady quickly found Moss again deep in the end-zone for another touchdown.
Down now 24-0, the Titans finally completed their first pass, a 15 yard screen play until an underthrown ball by Collins resulted in another turnover, an interception. Brady completed a nice pass play to Sam Aiken and then catching the Titans in a blitz, threw a screen play to Kevin Faulk that went 38 yards for a TD. He followed that with another 30 yard TD to Wes Welker and the game was by now out of control.
The Titans tried to punt near the end of the half but it was badly shanked by Hodges and the Pats took over at the Tennessee 49 with just 1:22 left in the half. Brady methodically moved them down the field and he found Welker again for a 5yd touchdown with just 17 seconds remaining. That was Brady’s 5<sup>th</sup> TD pass in the second quarter and a 45-0 halftime lead.
New England would get the opening kickoff and Edelman again made a nice return to the 35 yard line. Brady would return for just the opening drive and they carved the outmanned secondary for another touchdown pass, Brady’s sixth, again to Moss. This one was a 5 yard toss and Moss’ third TD of the game. That would end Brady’s afternoon mercifully for the Titans.
Kerry Collins would be replaced by Vince Young and he would promptly throw a pick in his first attempt by Pat Chung. In all fairness to Collins, he threw at least 6 passes that were right on the button and dropped by receivers.
Both teams running games ran for nearly 200 yards, 193 for each team. A lot of that had to do with the footing and slippery conditions on the field. While Chris Johnson had a couple of nice long runs as did Laurence Maroney, it doesn’t necessarily mean that the running games were dominant.
The difference yesterday was the passing game. The Patriots with Tom Brady rolled up 426 yards passing and the Titans completed only 2 passes for -7 yards. The Patriots were able to protect Brady, and their receivers were able to get a lot of separation and hold on to the ball. The Titans on the other hand, couldn’t on to passes or snaps and ultimately had 5 turnovers.
While Brady had 380 yards and 6 touchdowns in little more than a half, it had a lot to do with the injuries suffered by Tennessee and their reliance on rookie cornerbacks, who frankly, aren’t ready for life in the NFL yet. That is not to mean that they someday won’t be good productive players in the league, just that as of this moment on a team struggling and with no pass rush, they have no chance.
The Patriots needed a game like this to get the offense untracked. They were the last team to have a run of 20 yards and a pass of 40+ yards. Yesterday they fixed those problems and were able to generate a lot of offensive points. From a confidence standpoint, this was a needed shot in the arm. Brady in particular, who has been missing open, deep receivers, had a fantastic game. Under horrible weather conditions, he didn’t miss a beat, hitting Moss for three TDs and Welker for two.
Brady’s numbers were a stellar, 29-34 for 380 yards and 6 touchdowns. Moss had 8 receptions for 129 yards and Welker had 10 receptions for 150 yards. Kevin Faulk had 3 receptions for 54 yards and a TD. Edelman chipped in with 6 receptions for 43 yards.
Laurence Maroney had a breakout game this season with 123 yards on 17 carries and BenJarvus Green-Ellis had 67 yards on 7 carries. Undrafted rookie QB played in his first NFL game and completed 9-11 for 52 yards and had a rushing TD.
The Patriots defense gave up 193 yards on the ground but only 186 total yards as they held the Titans to -7 yards passing. But more importantly, they had five turnovers and capitalized on chances given them and gave the Patriots a short field all day.
Summary- Yesterday was the biggest margin of victory in Patriots history. The offense finally got into a rhythm and was able to play a solid 60 minutes and generate the big plays that have eluded them so far this season. Tom Brady had a fantastic, record setting game, taking a huge weight off of his back. He was able to find the deep ball to Moss and Welker and Maroney was able to run effectively for the first time this season.
While it has to be taken with a grain of salt since the Titans secondary has been torched with alarming regularity this season, it also has to be a huge boost of confidence for Brady and the offense.
Junior Seau returned to the Patriots and the NFL yesterday and provided an emotional lift from the time he stepped on the field. He also recovered a fumble. The pass defense allowed only -7 yards passing. Good signs. They were able to go back and play an exclusive 3-4 yesterday against a team that can pound the ball on the ground.
There is a lightness in the air at Foxboro today and next week take on another defensively challenged Buccaneers team. Now confidence is high that the Patriots can blow them out as well. After that five games in a row will determine how far this team can go. Two against Miami, the Jets, Colts and Saints follow. If the Pats can generate a consistent offense against these teams (not 619 yards of offense by any means!) but the kind of typical Patriots efficiency, then this team will be a factor.
We will be here later this week to give you a pre-game analysis of the Patriots – Bucs game in Wembley Stadium in London. Until then, It is what it is….
