Everything you need to know from the Patriots’ win over the Redskins in quickie form, with BSJ insight and analysis:
HEADLINES
Offense finally found its groove in the second half behind the running game: The Patriots were basically a disaster in the first half on offense, as Tom Brady posted a 78.2 rating (19 of 31, 206 yards, 1 TD) with another brutal red zone interception as he was sacked three times and under pressure throughout. They were just 2 of 9 on third down and the running game produced just 19 yards on seven carries. It marked the ninth-straight quarter of bad play from the offense, since they took a 20-0 lead against the Jets. But in the second half, the Patriots had great efficiency as they were rededicated to the running game, which took some pressure off the offensive line. Sony Michel and James White combined for 100 yards and a touchdown in the second half. As a result, Brady was 9 of 11 for 142 yards and two touchdowns for a perfect 158.3 rating in the second half.
Defense settles after giving up early, sloppy touchdown: The Patriots allowed a 65-yard touchdown run to Steven Sims, when Devin and Jason McCourty and Duron Harmon all had chances to tackle him, and then the Patriots allowed just 133 yards the rest of the game as they sacked Redskins QB Colt McCoy six times and held him to a 60.6 rating. Patriots allowed 3.6 yards per carry besides Sims' burst.
Mike Nugent was an adventure: In his first game since taking over for Stephen Gostkowski, Nugent missed his first extra point wide right, then he made two field goals (37, 23 yards) and two more extra points (one was banked in off the goalposts). It didn't look good early, but Nugent was decent by the end of the game.
TURNING POINT
After running on five of their first six plays out of halftime, Tom Brady worked a wheel route with Brandon Bolden for a 29-yard touchdown pass, and all was right in Patriots-land.
SECOND GUESS
The Redskins may have a good defensive interior, but the decision to drop Tom Brady back to pass 31 times against just seven rushes — and to go with the no-huddle — in the first half was nearly catastrophic as he took a beating behind a tired and struggling offensive line. The Patriots could have run the ball on every down in this game and would have won the game. You would have thought the Patriots were trailing by three scores with that run inbalance. In fact, they never trailed by more than seven points. Too much passing.
FOUR UP
Julian Edelman: He was obviously beaten up in the first half with an aggravation of his rib injury on a gift 40-yard pass interference penalty, but he was sensational with eight catches on nine targets for 110 yards and one score. Might as well add in another catch and 40 yards with the DPI he drew.
Dont'a Hightower: Maybe they should give him a week off here and there because after sitting out last week with a shoulder injury, Hightower was all over the place with 1.5 sacks, four tackles for a loss and one pass defensed.
Sony Michel: Looked like his rookie self with 16 carries on 91 yards and a score. Perhaps more importantly, he caught all three of his targets for 32 yards.
Jamie Collins: Also all over the field with one sack and a forced fumble and fumble recovered.
THREE DOWN
Marcus Cannon: Had a brutal time the entire game, including one pressure where he was just shoved back into Brady.
Ted Karras: Wasn't much better as he also allowed at least one sack.
Marshall Newhouse: Let's make it a clean sweep for the offensive line because the left tackle wasn't much better.
INJURIES
Phillip Dorsett: Left in the first quarter with a hamstring injury and did not return.
Shaq Mason: Was limping badly at one point but didn't miss a snap.
Julian Edelman: Was favoring his ribs against but stayed in the game and was great.
Michael Bennett: Appeared to be holding his left arm after a tackle in the fourth quarter.
TOP PLAYS
Squirrel in the end zone.@edelman11 | #GoPats pic.twitter.com/JTy40uRUAx
— New England Patriots (@Patriots) October 6, 2019
That stiff arm. @JOSH_GORDONXII | #GoPats pic.twitter.com/AzSpajUHSg
— New England Patriots (@Patriots) October 6, 2019
See squirrel run.@edelman11 | #GoPats pic.twitter.com/8etNHyItiO
— New England Patriots (@Patriots) October 6, 2019
Lookin' for the end zone. @Flyguy2stackz | #GoPats pic.twitter.com/gVUD7Qwkmw
— New England Patriots (@Patriots) October 6, 2019
T to the Izzo.@IzzoRyan | @TomBrady pic.twitter.com/6japZrohvr
— New England Patriots (@Patriots) October 6, 2019
J-MAC! Jason McCourty with the interception! #Patriots pic.twitter.com/8e5PjGojq7
— Casey Baker (@CaseyBake16) October 6, 2019
FUMBLE! Jones punches it out and Jamie Collins picks it up! #Patriots ball! #NEvsWAS pic.twitter.com/MLinZLRqvZ
— Casey Baker (@CaseyBake16) October 6, 2019
TWO TAKES BEDARD WILL PROBABLY REGRET LATER
Settle down on the kicker: Mike Nugent missed his first extra point as a Patriot. Then the Patriots went for a fourth down in field-goal range and didn't make it. You would have thought Nugent committed the JFK assassination too the way people reacted. Now they want him cut. Relax. Give the guy a little more time to get settled. He was decent today. It's not like Gostkowski was much better.
The Patriots can't shelve the run game, at least not yet: In the past, if the Patriots had a passing advantage on another team, or if the opponent was really strong on the offensive line, New England could just choose not to run the ball. They can't do that anymore, not with this offensive line. The worst thing you can do with a struggling line is to become one-dimensional and make them pass block every down. Patriots need to get this line into a rhythm, and then they can get into the passing game.