Patriots Beat Giants 35-14, Gordon Leaves Before Half
Friday, October 11, 2019
The Patriots improve to 6-0 on the season.
However, wide receiver Josh Gordon was injured late in the second quarter and did not return to the game.
According to the Patriots, Gordon suffered a knee injury and was listed as questionable to return, but did not.
ESPN’s Mike Reiss reports that Gordon did remain on the sideline during the game and worked on the stationary bike.
New England was already without wide receiver Phillip Dorsett to start the game.
“We dealt with a few things offensively. We were just kind of down to one grouping there the whole second half. I thought Josh [McDaniels] and the offensive staff did a great job of managing the game. It was kind of an odd game,” said Patriots head coach Bill Belichick after the game.
He did not give an update on Gordon.
Despite the injuries, the Patriots improve to 6-0 on the season, while the Giants fall to 2-4 overall.
Defense Seals Win
With the Patriots leading 21-14 to start the fourth quarter, it was New England’s defense that sealed the win.
The Giants took over possession on their own 32-yard line after the New England offense failed to convert on fourth-and-five. .
After an incompletion from quarterback Daniel Jones and then a one-yard run by Jon Hilliman, the Giants had third-and-nine from their own 33.
On the play, Jones threw to Hilliman who then fumbled after being hit by Patriots linebacker Jamie Collins. The ball was picked up by Kyle Van Noy and returned 22 yards for.a touchdown to give the Patriots a 28-14 lead after Mike Nugent converted the extra point.
“Any of those defensive or special teams touchdowns are really kind of bonus points. You don't really think about getting those when you go into the game so to be able to get 14 of them was huge. That was a big spark,” said Patriots head coach Bill Belichick after the game.
The fumble was one of four turnovers that the Patriots defense forced in the game. The other three turnovers were interceptions.
The Patriots defense has a league-leading 11 interceptions on the season.
“We talk about turning the ball over. I think I keep saying it’s a whole defensive effort. It’s pressure, it’s disguise, it’s guys when the ball is thrown to them, catching it. And I think that’s something we know we have to do as a defense. It makes us a better team. Tonight we did a good job of taking advantage of our opportunities that came up,” said Devin McCourty after the game.
Brady, Offense Continue to be Inconsistent
The Patriots offense continued to struggle to find any consistency in the game.
It started on the opening drive of the game when they went for it on fourth and one from the Giants 19 yard line and did not get it.
New England had third and one and fourth and one, and on both plays ran the ball with Sony Michel, and on both plays he was stopped.
After a four and out on New England’s second possession, the Patriots offense got the ball back due to a John Simon interception.
On the Patriots ensuing possession, Brady fired a pass down the middle that was intended for Julian Edelman, but was not really close and ended up being picked off by Janoris Jenkins.
“Bad decision. It was a bad decision, trying to squeeze it in there,” said Brady after the game.
The Pick was Brady’s third in the last three games.
After rookie linebacker Chase Winovich returned a punt block for a touchdown to give the Patriots a 7-0 lead, New England would get the ball back int he second quarter courtesy of an interception by Duran Harmon.
With a short field, the Patriots offense used six plays before Brandon Bolden ran it in from one-yard out to give New England a 14-0 lead following a Nugent extra point.
Later in the quarter, the Patriots led 14-7 when Brady was hit from behind and fumbled the ball on his own 42-yard line.
The fumble was picked up by Markus Golden and returned for a touchdown to tie the game at 14.
Patriots Take Lead for Good
The Patriots' ensuing possession following the Giants touchdown might have been New England’s best of the game.
New England took the ball on their own 25-yard line with 4:38 to play in the half.
The Patriots went on an 11-play, 75-yard drive that ended with Brady diving into the end zone for a touchdown to give the Patriots a 21-14 lead.
Brady would get himself another touchdown late in the fourth quarter to put the Patriots up 35-14.
He finished the game completing 31 of 41 passes for 334 yards and one interception.
“Happy we won. Happy to get to 6-0. Yeah, we just grinded it out pretty good. Got kind of forced into one grouping there in the second half. I don’t think that’s ever happened in 20 years, but defense played great, special teams played great. Outside of a few plays, it would have been pretty good. So, we’re hanging in there,” Brady added after the game.
Julian Edelman led all receivers with nine catches for 113 yards.
Nugent Misses Another Kick
New kicker Mike Nugent made his Gillette Stadium debut on Thursday night.
He made all of his extra points, but missed a 40-yard field goal that would have given the Patriots a ten-point lead late in the third quarter.
On the missed kick, holder Jake Bailey failed to turn the ball so that the laces were out. The ball ended up hitting the post and bouncing out.
Nugent missed an extra point last week in his Patriots debut against the Redskins.
Next Up
The Patriots return to action on Monday, October 21 when they visit the New York Jets on Monday Night Football.
The Jets are facing the Dallas Cowboys on Sunday with quarterback Sam Darnold expected to make his return.
Game time is set for 8:20 p.m.
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