Game Recap: New England Patriots defeat Atlanta Falcons, 26-10

by MaPatsFan on Sep 28, 2009 5:44 PM EDT in New England Patriots News

Just imagine, if you will, a Patriots team that carries forward, throughout the season, these things: good ground game, solid offensive line play (ie: keeping Tom Brady from eating fertilizer), a defense that can take away what an opposing offense is good at, and a special teams unit that pins rivals will into their territory. Imagine all of that and then contemplate a passing attack back to where it should be, a Tom Brady in sync with his receivers. Scary, isn't it? Well, it's not as far from reality as one might think.

When you take the best quarterback playing the game today and put him in charge of a team with this much potential, he WILL fix the things that trouble not only him but those around him. He won't rest until he's taken care of business. 2007 was a silly, silly season for the New England Patriots. It is inevitable that comparison will be made as that is the most recent success story. But, might it be better to compare this team to Super Bowl champion Patriots of past years? Does this year "feel" more like 2001, 2003, or 2004?

We're 2-1. We just beat the Falcons so I may be a bit high off of the win, but this team looked downright good, like the old days. Other than Tom and his receivers, things were clicking well. So let's dive into it. I'm experimenting with a new format for recaps, so let me know what you think.

The Good

Ground Game - Fred Taylor is an absolute, certifiable, friggin' stud. He knows where to go, how to follow his blockers, and put his shoulder down. When he joined the team, I watched a lot of highlights to get a sense of who he was. He will make sure tacklers know they got in his way because he will blow...you...up. 21 carries for 105 yards and a TD. That's a 5 yard average per carry, my friends.
Offensive Line - The 300 pounders were opening holes all day for Freddy to blast through. Atlanta seemed powerless to stop the running game with our OL playing like they did. It's also nice to know they kept Tom Brady on his feet for the whole game. Atlanta's pass rushing DE John Abraham wasn't even heard from.
Brandon McGowan - Tony Gonzalez, 1 catch for 16 yards. 'Nuff said. McGowan took away Falcons QB Matt Ryan's go to guy and, in the process, practically neutered their offense. Sure, he had help, but McGowan was a huge part of keeping Ryan's favorite weapon in check.
Randy Moss - For whatever reason, it seemed like Randy was the only guy Brady could trust. 10 receptions for 116 yards, 2 of which were for 4th down conversions. Clutch. And he did it with a bad back. Thank you, Randy!
Down Conversions - Third down was 8/18 or 44% but the most interesting one was fourth down at 3/3. The former was decent, but the latter shows Belichick has big ones, he has confidence in his guys to make the big plays.

The Bad

Brady and Receivers - They were not in sync. Missed routes, overthrown balls, too much zing. Whatever the problem was, they just don't appear to be connected. Tom would put the ball where he thought the receiver would be and they would be running the route the way they thought Tom would want it run. The good news is this is fixable. More work and more practice will iron out these issues.
Laurence Maroney - Primary back is his job to lose and he's losing it. Fred Taylor schooled the younger back on how to do it. El Mo had 4 touches for 17 yards. That shows a lack of confidence in his abilities.

The Ugly

Joey Galloway - If Galloway still has a job by the end of the week, I'll be shocked. How is it that a guy with his experience doesn't know where his feet are in the end zone? Or, how does he drop a very catchable ball that was an automatic TD? This is even uglier considering the guy he beat out for a roster spot, Greg Lewis, caught a toenail scraper from Minnesota's Brett Favre to win the game.
Red Zone Offense - Or, better yet, lack thereof. 1 for 5, my friends, 1 for 5. That means 4 field goals, boys and girls. Or, 12 points instead of 28. Pull that crap against a better team and you'll get smoked.
Pass Rush - I have complained for a long time that we don't have a pass rush worth shaking a stick at. If you rush quarterbacks, they have less time to make their reads and get the ball off. That usually means some bad throws and decisions. Where is our rush? Where is Derrick Burgess?

There are many things here that are fixable. Brady will get in sync with his receivers. The red zone offense will get better. And if Galloway doesn't cut the mustard, Belichick will find someone who will.

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this year feels...

…like a year all it’s own. Each championship year, and the missed opportunity years following them, have had their own vibe.

This year feels unique to me because of all the different faces on the roster vs. the ones from the early part of the decade, the challenges Tom faces in coming back from his injury, the general sentiment in the league no longer being supportive of the Patriots as scrappy team-first underdogs but now one of the big dogs on the block that they want to knock off, etc. Add in the 2002 divisional realignment, the rise and fall of some of the Patriots contemporary rivals during those years, and things have definitely changed.

But that’s what’s great about football. If I want to relive the 2001 season, I’ll watch my commemorative DVD again. Each year brings new promise and new opportunity!

by jctsai12 on Sep 28, 2009 6:40 PM EDT reply actions

If I had to choose...

2004. Newly aquired veteran back wanting a Superbowl ring? Check. Makeshift secondary with early injury worries and veteran retirements/defections? Check. Starting WR out for week 2? Check. First loss being against a rookie QB? Check.

Just need Gostkowski to throw a TD at some point and win some post-season game (don’t say Macbeth!) and it’s there.

by Comedic.Sans on Sep 28, 2009 6:56 PM EDT reply actions

The format is fine

and I know you’re following the movie theme.

Bad and Ugly are two negative categories.

Good is one positive category. Seems we’re short on positives.

How about the Great, Good, Bad, Ugly – I’ll put role-player Randy in the Great category.

I’ll bet he does hand springs when Welker comes back and he can stick to the sidelines.

The more you know, the more you know that you don't know.

by SlotMachinePlayer on Sep 28, 2009 6:56 PM EDT reply actions

Terrence Nunn

Time to bring the Kid up and give him a shot, No Way he could be worse than Galloway at age 37. They are into a youth movement and he can get some experience. and not waste it on a 37 year old, dumb, no hands WR,,,, Lewis looks pretty dam good now. lol
I think Nunn is exciting and could add to our future depth.
The Pats looked great shutting dow Atlanta in the second half TG the hall of fame TE had one catch. Mayo will be a nice addition, lol

by DirtyDog on Sep 28, 2009 9:10 PM EDT reply actions

Give Galloway until week 6

Because the Pats have that other rookie WR around, a certain Mr Tate. He’s on PUP at the moment, and from what I’ve heard, he was a first-or-high-second round talent, pre-injury. If he’s good, well, that’ll make things interesting. And if he’s not, they lose nothing by cutting Galloway and activating Nunn. And Galloway could always come right in the meantime AND giving him a specific deadline to get his head together might provide the impetus for him to do it. Remember, he wants a Superbowl ring pretty badly to cap off a good career to date; this is his last chance.

by Comedic.Sans on Sep 28, 2009 9:58 PM EDT up reply actions

Hey you wicked pissahs. Are you ready for some payback? You’ve had our number for quite a while so I am ready for Sunday. Every blue moon a good QB comes along and for over a decade we have missed the boat. We now have Flacco. We are getting a little taste of what it would be like to have a Brady. Amazing how a decent QB can cover up so many shortcomings.

Our D was ripped off for years with Billick farting around with our O. This year is a reward for Ray. We have a QB damn it. It will be a tremendous game. I wish I could be there. I have a friend who lives in Foxboro but he’d never get tickets because that would cut into his cigarette and beer money. Besides, he is saving up to get the propane tank on the side of his trailer filled. I’ll be here all week you back stabbin’ bastahrds.

by raven on Sep 28, 2009 9:17 PM EDT reply actions

Wow, why the vitriol?

“Back stabbin’ bastahrds”? Whaa? I wasn’t aware of any issues between the Pats and Ravens; if anything, they seem to have made a few mutually-helpful trades over the last few years. Save it for that other guy Flacco looks like, Ben Roethlisberger. He’s your real threat for playoff contention.

by Comedic.Sans on Sep 28, 2009 10:01 PM EDT up reply actions

Whats the early word on Moss and Welker? We have to crunch one or both of them? Why did you let Prescott Burgess go and bring in a guy named after a cat box – Turd Sand.

by raven on Sep 28, 2009 9:20 PM EDT reply actions

Moss has a sore back (but still got 10 catches and 100+ yards, so go figure). Welker’s been a game-time scratch the last two games, and was warming up and getting ready to play on Sunday, but was made inactive at the last minute.

by Comedic.Sans on Sep 28, 2009 10:03 PM EDT up reply actions

Be cool

Much like everything looked worse than it was after the Jets game, things probably look better than they are right now.

Not that there wasn’t lots of progress. The offense improved, but we better get ready to throw the ball on sunday. I don’t see Taylor or any other back have a great day against the Ravens Defense. If we win, it will have to be through the air.

However, to me, the great story so far is the better than expected performance from our defense. If someone had offered me giving up 17 (+ the pick six) 16 and 10 points in the first three games, I would gladly have taken it. It looks ugly sometimes, but the new guys seem to be gelling and getting the job done.

by hythlodaeus on Sep 29, 2009 1:57 AM EDT reply actions

I don't know

I liked some of the blocking schemes the Pats were using in the run game – putting a TE into the MLB and running Sammy Morris on interesting blocking routes through the middle. They could break a few if they get a big guy onto Lewis in the middle and nullify Ngata – the inside run blocking by the centre and guards have looked pretty good thus far, and that’s where the pressure will be from the Ravens. It’s the OTs in pass protection that have looked like the liability.

by Comedic.Sans on Sep 29, 2009 5:49 AM EDT up reply actions

Baltimore D

They have only allowed 51 yards rushing per game for a 2,5 ypc average. I know they played Kansas City and Cleveland, but even the Chargers couldn’t run on them. They had 48 yards on 16 rushes. Sproles had a great game, but he did most of his damage through the air (124 yards and a TD in seven catches) so maybe this is a game for Kevin Faulk?

by hythlodaeus on Sep 29, 2009 7:38 AM EDT up reply actions

Faulk, Morris, Maroney

running flats. I’d love to see Maroney get touches in space where his dancing wouldn’t actually be a detriment. Maybe it’s just me, but he gets accused of the same things as Reggie Bush – and once Saints fans gave up on Bush as an every-down hard-nose RB and accepted him as a pass-catching freak, things went well.

I just don’t think they can give up on the run, and if that means putting TEs and Morris through the middle to punch holes, even if it’s only to set up play-action, they better do it. Otherwise they’ll be doing another 50 pass-attempt game, against a defense that has Ray Lewis, Terrell Suggs, Ed Reed and Haloti Ngata as potential blitzers. No thanks.

by Comedic.Sans on Sep 29, 2009 3:37 PM EDT up reply actions

just kidding with the light smack. not a troll but just getting the energy going. totally pumped for this game. You, Pitt and Indy have always been monkies on our backs. We are trying very hard to crack the Division 1-A of the NFL and with a new O we just might do it. We have always been close but teams with great QB’s have always squeeked by us. It’s been very very frustrating. It has been great being a Ravens fan since the begining but we have waited a long long time for just a little O. we never asked for much so you can imagine our pure delight with Joe Flacco.

by raven on Sep 29, 2009 12:16 PM EDT up reply actions

This was a good game

The Patriots offense was inconsistent, but it was strong on fourth downs, a sign of confidence. The receivers are inconsistent and Brady is inconsistent. The running game has worked when they’ve tried it.

I think that a solid, and unexpected mix of run and pass can potentially throw off even a good defense, particularly if they get off to a good start. I’d like to see a few plays that leverage that aggressive Ravens defense against them, maybe some misdirection plays, draws, screens, and a couple of alternatives off the blitz – how about a run or pass right near the area just vacated – or just behind the zone of the blitzing area, or if there is an overload, how about 5-10 yards right behind it?

The secondary of the Ravens is very good and capable of playing man to man defense, and probably will. They can still be beaten at times. I’d like to see a combination of grind it out football with a few wrinkles. Maybe we will see the first or second surprise play of the year on offense at just the right time. If it works, we could be off to a good game by the Patriots.

Same goes for the Ravens. Momentum strongly on either side could tilt this game, but I am expecting a closely fought battle, possibly within a field goal in the final score.

Brian Masinick

by masinick on Sep 29, 2009 2:49 AM EDT reply actions

Regarding these teams

The Ravens DEFINITELY look for real this year. Their secondary might be the best in football and their overall defense looks excellent. The offense is not overwhelming, but it has a rock solid running game, which can exert ball control and most certainly an adequate passing game.

I am a Patriots fan. I definitely see this game as the biggest challenge so far (more so than the Jets, who always give us a good game, win or lose). If both of these teams do well this year, I could potentially see them meeting again in the post season.

Brian Masinick

by masinick on Sep 29, 2009 2:52 AM EDT reply actions

I rate the Ravens particularly highly, on a par and perhaps even better than Pittsburgh, with all due respect

Flacco is upper-echelon (and very Roethlisberger-like). A strong run game with multiple backs, all offering something slightly different, decent (but not spectacular) receivers, and an amazing defence. It’s very much an equal of the Pittsburgh team, although the Ravens seem to have a stronger run game, while the Steelers might have the edge in the passing game.

Either one could go through the playoffs from that division and win a Superbowl.

by Comedic.Sans on Sep 29, 2009 5:52 AM EDT up reply actions

thanks for the insights. i have a lot of friends in the Boston area and look forward to a week of discussion. my biggest interest story is Fred taylor vs Ray Lewis. They both came into the league around the same time and played huge roles in a bunch of early Jacksonville/Ravens games when we shared the division. I am a Fred Taylor fan and love that your coach is smart enough to take experience and desire throwing out age. Fred could have helped a bunch of teams.

moss vs the ravens is onteresting. he’ll have the height on our shorter DB’s but we have the speed to at least be in his pocket most of the game. we still hit hard over the middle and on slants so i’m not sure if he’ll really want to be there with a sore back. we have Landry back and he is a hard hitting sure tackler. he might be the best tackler on the team.

welker could pose some problems with his quick ins and outs. pitt runs those against us to no end. sproles had a super day receiving against us. but, we’ve solved some early DB issues and Foxworth is starting to get comfortable. It’s a good time to face you. We were lucky enoguh to get some warm up games against some pretty bad teams. Although, SD can throw the hell out of the ball. What a set of receivers they have!!

by raven on Sep 29, 2009 12:11 PM EDT reply actions

AFC North is looking interesting this year.

Usually it’s just Ravens and Steelers beating the heck out of each other, but the Bengals are looking pretty good as well. Of course the Browns are … well, someone has to be #4 in a division.

The more you know, the more you know that you don't know.

by SlotMachinePlayer on Sep 29, 2009 12:48 PM EDT up reply actions