The New England Patriots bounced back in style from their loss in Seattle last Sunday by beating the Las Vegas Raiders with a final score of 36-20. Along the way, the team made plenty of big plays in all three phases of the game. Which one of them stood out among the rest, however? You be the judge!
Here are five plays worthy of being crowned the Patriots’ biggest on Sunday, and please make sure to vote for your favorite below. The play with the most votes, as always, will be broken down in greater detail later during the week.
1.) Chase Winovich and Lawrence Guy team up for a fumble
Fumble! pic.twitter.com/TTHiTzpoak
— Pats Pulpit (@patspulpit) September 27, 2020
Before the teams’ two offenses came to life late in the first half, the game was a defensively-dominated slugfest — one that saw the Patriots and Raiders combine to turn the football over three times over the first 20 minutes of game time. The second of New England’s takeaways was especially big: Chase Winovich knocking the ball out of Derek Carr’s hand with Lawrence Guy recovering set up a New England field goal when the game was still a close one.
2.) Sony Michel’s 38-yard run
Sony rolling. pic.twitter.com/fnTUBf2TbU
— Pats Pulpit (@patspulpit) September 27, 2020
Sony Michel had a career-long 48-yard run later during the game, but his 38-yarder may have been his biggest of the day. The Patriots had just seen the Raiders miss a field goal attempt that would have tied the game at 13, and were in a position to get more momentum back. Michel’s run did just that, in part because it also set up a touchdown to put New England up by 10 points midway through the third period.
3.) Rex Burkhead’s second score of the day
Rex is in. Again. pic.twitter.com/4JArVUaH3z
— Pats Pulpit (@patspulpit) September 27, 2020
Five plays after Michel’s 38-yarder, Rex Burkhead found the end zone for the second time. The veteran running back was able to get through a hole on the left side of the line before bouncing over the goal line for the score — one that put the Patriots up by 10 points after the game was relatively close up until that point. On the day, Burkhead scored three touchdowns and finished with 98 yards on 13 touches,
4.) Devin McCourty prevents a touchdown
DEVIN MCCOURTY SAVED A TD WITH A GREAT PBU IN THE END-ZONE! #GoPATS pic.twitter.com/dyLabo5Uc7
— KÏŁŁÄ ČÄM (@FTBeard1) September 27, 2020
The Patriots pulled away in the second half, but the Raiders and their potent offense remained in a position to strike back quickly — especially after they drove into the red zone early in the fourth period. And on a 2nd-and-7 from the New England 9-yard line, they came close to making the game a one-score contest again. Devin McCourty, however, had other plans: he was able to undercut a likely touchdown pass intended for tight end Darren Waller. Las Vegas ultimately had to settle for a field goal on the series.
5.) Deatrich Wise Jr.’s scoop-and-score
First career touchdown for @wisehog94. pic.twitter.com/LZPmoyLHN2
— Pats Pulpit (@patspulpit) September 27, 2020
Rex Burkhead’s third touchdown put the Patriots up 29-13, but the missed extra point was potentially big: the game was still a two-score contest with over five minutes left to go. The very next play from scrimmage, however, put an end to any questions about who would win the game. With Las Vegas setting up shop at their own 6-yard line, ex-Raider Shilique Calhoun and fourth-year man Deatrich Wise Jr. were able to sack Derek Carr in the end zone. The play was originally ruled a safety, but the ball had come free. Wise Jr. scooped it up and scored to secure New England’s victory.
With all that said, what do you think was the Patriots’ best play on Sunday?
Poll
Which play was the Patriots’ biggest against the Raiders?
This poll is closed
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18%
The Winovich/Guy fumble
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17%
Michel’s 38-yard run
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17%
Burkhead touchdown No. 2
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15%
McCourty’s pass breakup
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29%
Wise Jr.’s scoop-and-score
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1%
Other (name in comments)