Patriots scalp the Chiefs on Monday Night Football
Tuesday, November 22, 2011
Call it malaise, call it indifference, or maybe even call it overconfidence.
But whatever you call it, the Patriots are just happy to call it a win. In spite of a slow-starting offense on a chilly night, New England utilized a strong pass rush for a second straight game and beat the Kansas City Chiefs 34-3 Monday night at Gillette Stadium in Foxboro.
On the Chiefs third possession, working behind back-up running backs Dexter McCluster, Thomas Jones and Jackie Battle, KC moved the ball to the Patriots 5 yard line, before a penalty and QB sack from Andre Carter forced the Chiefs to settle for a 26 yard FG from Ryan Succop to make it 3-0, with 1:30 to go in the first quarter. On the ensuing kickoff, the Chiefs surprised NE with an onside kick attempt, but a penalty for illegal touching gave the Pats great field position at the KC 44.
Hey, it was worth a shot, right? Perhaps the Chiefs knew they needed a few surprises, in order to pull a fast one on the Pats.
On a 3rd and 8 play to start the second quarter, Tom Brady was hit from behind, forcing a fumble that was recovered by the Chiefs on their 27. Tyler Palko, in his first NFL start at QB (replacing the injured Matt Cassel) found Dwayne Bowe for 28 yards to convert on 3rd down, before Carter and Mark Anderson combined on a sack to take KC out of field position. But the Chiefs’ defense managed to sack Brady twice on the next NE offensive series, keeping the Patriots’ offense bottled up in its’ own end…and giving Kansas City yet another chance to do some damage on the scoreboard, with great field position.
But the Patriots defense began to show its mettle, forcing the KC offense into another punt after starting a drive at the NE 44. To this point, however, the Chiefs had outgained the Pats 142 yards to just 33, even though it was only 3-0 on the scoreboard, with just over 6:00 to play before the half. It just felt a lot worse than that.
On the ensuing drive starting from their own 15, however, it didn’t take Brady long to find out where his targets were – at tight end. Hitting Aaron Hernandez short, and then finding Rob Gronkowski over the middle deep for 52 yards, Gronkowski hit the end zone in full stride to get New England on the board, after a review of the play (he had been close to the sideline inside five yard line) confirmed the score. Six plays and 85 yards on the drive, the Patriots finally had their first lead with 4:18 to play in the first half.
Maybe the Patriots offense inspired the Chiefs? Immediately moving into a no-huddle tempo, Palko had his team in Pats territory until a tipped pass was intercepted by Kyle Arrington and returned to the NE 46. With 1:57 and a mere 51 yards to travel, there was plenty of time for Brady and the offense to get untracked one more time. Using Danny Woodhead on the ground for two key gains, the Pats reached the Chiefs’ six only to have an illegal procedure penalty called on Logan Mankins push them back. After a Brady scramble for 8 yards to the three, Woodhead could not hold onto a pass thrown a bit behind him, and the Pats settled for a 21 yard field goal from Stephen Gostkowski for a 10-3 lead at halftime.
On the opening drive of the third quarter, starting at their own 15, the Patriots took slow, measured steps up the field against the KC defense. Runs from BenJarvus Green-Ellis and Danny Woodhead set up Brady to Gronkowski from 19 yards out, with Gronk going head-over-heels to reach the end zone for the score. Traveling 85 yards in 4:33, New England grabbed control of the contest to make it 17-3 early in the third. After forcing the Chiefs into a 3-and-out on their first possession of the second half, Julian Edelman took a Dustin Colquitt punt back 72 yards for another score – and suddenly, the Patriots were coasting at 24-3 with 9:24 to play in the third.
It might have taken New England awhile to get things started, but after all…it was a bit cold outside.
The Patriot defense then warmed to the occasion as KC reached the Pats’ 43, only to have a tipped pass picked off by Kyle Arrington (his second of the game) and returned to the NE 49. The second turnover of the game forced by the defense led to a 19 yard Gostkowski field goal for a 27-3 lead as the 3rd quarter ended.
With 10:50 remaining, interception number three was picked off by the Pats’ defense, as Philip Adams got into the act with an interception in the end zone off of Palko. While the NE defense bent a little most of the night, it stiffened when it needed to most - against a KC offense short on healthy bodies this season, if not a little short on talent as well.
"It’s a step in the right direction," said Pats' defensive tackle Vince Wilfork. "Each week you get tougher and tougher. I think you have to be able to move forward and get better each week because the opponents get tougher, games get tougher."
The Patriots added a final score on rookie Shane Vereen's three yard run with 1:01 left, bringing the final tally to 34-3.
Indifference? Maybe. Indecisive? Not a chance.
Post Game Notes
Bill Belichick won his 184th career regular season game as a head coach with the win against Kansas City. Belichick moved past Bill Parcells into sole possession of ninth place on the NFL’s all-time list...With the win, the Patriots improved to 7-3, and are tied with Baltimore, Houston, and Pittsburgh for the best record in the AFC. New England also claimed a two-game lead in the AFC East, leading Buffalo and the New York Jets (both 5-5)...Kyle Arrington had two interceptions and now leads the NFL with seven interceptions. "I think we are all pretty…we’re not satisfied, but we like the direction that we are going," Arrington said in the locker room. "[If] we just keep preparing, stay focused and come out and play for each other and play hard like that for 60 minutes, I think we will be in pretty good shape down the road..."
Rob Gronkowski has 10 touchdowns in 2011, while Aaron Hernandez has five. The tandem has totaled 15 touchdown receptions through ten games this season, comprising more than half of Tom Brady’s total of 25 scoring tosses...
Fifth-round draft pick OL Marcus Cannon made his NFL debut during the extra point attempt in the second quarter. Cannon began the season on the reserve/NFI list. He entered the game at right tackle late in the fourth quarter...Julian Edelman returned a third quarter punt 72 yards for a touchdown. It is his second punt return for a touchdown. He set the franchise record with a 94-yard return in the 2010 regular season finale vs. Miami on Jan. 2, 2011. He is the fourth Patriots player with two or more punt returns for a touchdown...
One-and-One:
Nitpick - Not a lot to go on here, except for another fair catch on a punt inside the 10-yard line (c'mon, Wes Welker!) and a slow start overall by the Patriots' offense. Brady simply has something wrong (elbow? forearm?) and it doesn't take a rocket scientist to see it...
Superlative - Gronkowski continues to impress, as his numbers approach Ben Coates' TE receiving records set in 1994. He is also on pace to challenge the NFL single-season record for receiving yards by a tight end, set by Kellen Winslow...
Sneak peek at Next Week - @ Philadelphia:
Normally, you wouldn't think that a 4-6 team - minus its' starting quarterback - would provide much of a threat. However, the Eagles provide a different story. Michael Vick, with bad ribs and all, might be available to play. If not, Vince Young will take his place again, and all he seems to do is win. LeSean McCoy is one of the top rushers in the NFL, and containing his ability will be crucial to the Patriots' chances in winning on the road next Sunday. If the Pats decide to kick in the direction of DeSean Jackson, they do so at their own extreme risk. The Eagles know they need to just about "win out" from this point, in order to reach the playoffs. How desperate are they, and can the Patriots match the intensity?
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