For the first time in 43 days the New England Patriots have won a football game. Bill Belichick’s squad marched into the Meadowlands on Monday night and secured a 30-27 victory over the now-0-9 New York Jets.
Sure, it was ugly at times. The defensive backfield made Joe Flacco and Breshad Perriman look like Montana and Rice. Josh McDaniels did Josh McDaniels things. The team was penalized a season-high six times, and the only reason the Patriots were in position to win was due to some masterful tanking by Adam Gase’s boys.
Despite the inherent negativity of the previous paragraph this is a blog about positivity. We like to give credit where it’s due around here so that’s exactly what is going to happen.
Without further ado, here are the unsung heroes from the Patriots 30-27 victory against the New York Jets.
The Plays
Chase Winovich doing the dirty work
Loved this play from Winovich last night.
— Keagan (@KeaganStiefel) November 10, 2020
Fundamentals aren’t always pretty but they are always effective. Taking out one of the pullers slows the play down enough for the players off ball to fill gaps. This time it just so happens that he also took out the running back. pic.twitter.com/hLCKBqL5ue
This is certainly one way to get on the field more; it’s not the pretty way of doing things but being willing to get down and try to make something happen for others is admirable.
Perfect execution by the entire offense
Did a little breakdown of my favorite play from last night. Well executed by everyone involved.
— Keagan (@KeaganStiefel) November 10, 2020
(Don’t mind me getting lost at the end, I was holding back a cough.) pic.twitter.com/eV1s1zwxWB
It doesn’t happen often but once in a blue moon you will get a play where every single person executes their job perfectly. This is one of those plays. The three guys that stuck out are Michael Onwenu and Ryann Izzo climbing to the second level to seal off linebackers, and Gunner Olszewski throwing his body at a safety. Fun stuff.
Carl Davis introduces himself
Nice rep here from Carl Davis (#98). Does a good job two gapping, and even though he’s held, forces the running backs hand. I think once he gets a better feel for the system he’ll be a good piece alongside Larry Guy. pic.twitter.com/rDm7syUrd3
— Keagan (@KeaganStiefel) November 10, 2020
This was a nice little glimpse into what you’re going to get out of Carl Davis. Being able to pair him up with a healthy Lawrence Guy should shore up the middle of the defense to at least the best place it’s been this year.
J.C. Jackson: All-Hands Team
Bad night out of JC but this play was magnificent.
— Keagan (@KeaganStiefel) November 10, 2020
Plays perfect trail technique, staying with Perriman (4.25 40-yard dash) all the way through the end zone. Great hand placement at the end to keep receiver from securing the catch.
A++ pic.twitter.com/aUsSAmuksd
Don’t get me wrong, J.C. Jackson may have played his worst game as a pro on Monday. He gave up two touchdowns in man coverage and looked silly on one of them, but this play along with his interception were great glimpses at his potential.
Cam Newton and Jakobi Meyers make things happen
Nice play by both Cam and Meyers here.
— Keagan (@KeaganStiefel) November 10, 2020
First you can see Meyer’s great route, creates leverage and breaks off the corner at the top of the route. He’s held and still gets wide ass open.
Then from the end zone view, Cam with pocket awareness and gets his feet set. Great job. pic.twitter.com/AE5cp9rhRd
Two of the biggest knocks on Cam Newton’s post-Covid play have been his pocket awareness and footwork. He displays both here as he steps up to avoid the rush and set his feet before delivering a strike to Jakobi Meyers.
Meyers ran his best route all night on this play. Being able to get inside leverage on the corner and set him up for an in-breaking route is impressive enough, to break it off how he did, leaving that corner stumbling after being held is a sign that the kid actually knows what he’s doing out there. This play more than anything else from Monday showed how good of an NFL receiver Jakobi Meyers is.
The Player
K Nick Folk
Nick Folk deserves so much more praise than what he’s getting for what he’s done in his time as a Patriot, as well as the road he took to get to last night.
After 10 seasons in the NFL, Folk found himself kicking for the Arizona Hotshots of the AAF in Spring of 2019. Following that league’s sputtering demise he was the ELEVENTH kicker that the Patriots tried out following Stephen Gostkowski’s injury behind Mike Nugent, Younghoe Koo, Josh Gable, Matthew Wright, Elliott Fry, Kai Forbath, Blair Walsh, Greg Joseph, Nick Rose, Austin MacGinnis, Giorgio Tavecchio and Austin Rehkow. He was the second one signed behind Nugent and finished the year in New England going 14-for-17 on the season.
Despite playing admirably in 2019 the team chose not to retain his services, instead drafting kicker Justin Rohrwasser in the fifth round of the 2020 NFL Draft. When Rohrwasser struggled in camp, the team brought back Folk who has been very good this season.
Folk is 14-for-16 so far this season with his lone misses coming from 45+ yards away. He’s been perfect since Week 3.
His fun comeback story culminated on Monday night as he hit a 51-yard game winner against his former team in addition to 45- and 29-yard kicks earlier in the game.
s/o Nick Folk.
— Keagan (@KeaganStiefel) November 10, 2020
14-16 on the year. 14/15 on XP’s.
Pretty seamless transition from the previous kicker even though he was signed 3 weeks before the season. pic.twitter.com/esIimbVZaL
In a game where it came down to the last play, Nick Folk delivered. Take it in Mr. Folk.