BSJ Game Report: Patriots 28, Buccaneers 23 - New England dominates middle eight, then survives

Everything you need to know from the Patriots’ 28-23 win over the Buccaneers in quickie form, with BSJ insight and analysis:

HEADLINES

Patriots have to hold on for dear life to win a 7th straight game. Up 21-10 early in the third quarter, the Pats appeared to take their foot off the has pedal, got sloppy on both sides of the ball and then needed a stop in the final minutes to survive (hell of an effort by K'Lavon Chaisson and then Milton Williams). But survive they did, in their second biggest test of the season (trailing on the visit to Buffalo). This wasn't quite the referendum game it could have been had Tampa been healthier on offense, but that's not to diminish what this team is doing. 

The kids are alright. The much-maligned Kyle Williams finally delivered on what the coaches have been promising, showing off his blazing speed with the longest TD the Pats have had in four years, a 72-yard catch and run to open the scoring for the Patriots. Then second-rounder TreVeyon Henderson started the 3rd quarter off with a 55-yard scoring jaunt, the longest run by a Pats rookie since 1969, and one-upped himself to ice the game, going 69 yards to the house. Electric.

It was Mack Hollins' turn today. The veteran wideout became the latest Patriot WR to go over 100 yards receiving in the game, and was Maye's best friend on third downs. He's 

TURNING POINT

During their halcyon days, the Patriots were famous for dominating the middle eight (the final four minutes of the 2nd quarter and the first four minutes of the 3rd quarter). Well, they're back to doing that again, double-dipping on the Buccaneers defense by scoring on the final play of the first half, then getting the ball to start the 2nd and scoring two plays into that drive. In doing so, they turned a 10-7 deficit into a 21-10 lead, rewriting the game script in the process. 

SECOND GUESS

Just because the decision to fiddle with the clock at the end of the first half worked doesn't mean I have to like it. Risky, to say the least. The Patriots haven't been very effective in gaining yards with the run game short yardage-wise, and this was no different here. However, as usual, Vrabel's decision didn't backfire, largely due to Maye and Diggs. That was a hell of a catch.

FOUR UP

Henderson: 55 and 68-yard touchdown runs. We saw this in the summer, and after a slow start, the former Ohio State star is emerging as a playmaker, with more speed than any running back the Pats have had in recent memory.

Stefon Diggs: This isn't because he was a volume receiver today. No. This was about the touchdown catch. Patience on his release when patience is hard to have, then skying for a high throw over the excellent Antoine Winfield Jr., plus the wherewithal to get both feet in. Saved Vrabel, who rolled the dice with his clock management down there.

Hollins: Had a number of go to have it catches on third downs, including his 57-yarder down the sideline midway through the 4th. 

Jack Gibbens: Dr. Gibby, as Vrabel calls him, was Johnny on the spot several times, sniffing out a red area screen in the first half, pressuring Mayfield on a third down, and then diagnosing a swing pass early in the 4th quarter. He's not as athletic as Christian Elliss (out with a hip), but you can see why Vrabel found him work in NE.

THREE DOWN

Marcus Jones: Appeared to get lost in coverage on the first TD by the Bucs, a 21-yard TD pass to a wide-open Emeka Egbuka. He also missed a tackle and dropped a punt that he was very lucky to recover (and got shaken up on the play).

Jared Wilson: A false start, some poor run blocking, and he damn near got Maye killed midway through the fourth quarter in pass protection (Vita Vea smoked Maye)

Maye: Once again, the quarterback is a huge reason why you won the game. But he didn't find that "sweet spot" that Josh McDaniels was hoping for. He took a terrible hit in the fourth quarter on a play where he should have thrown the ball away; then, just a few snaps later, he tried to force a throw into the back of the end zone and was intercepted, costing the Pats at least three points. 

INJURIES

Terrell Jennings (knee): Left the game in the first half and didn't return. Henderson also got shaken up but came back into the game. The Pats are thin at RB. 

Christian Barmore (back): Was in quite a bit of pain, and Vrabel went out there to check on him. The team called him questionable to return, but of course, he did.

TOP PLAYS

THREE TAKES GIARDI WILL PROBABLY REGRET LATER

1. The Patriots are a legit Super Bowl contender and I think, when all is said and done, they're going to be in the #1 seed in the AFC and get a first-round bye...

2. Take 1 is assuming Maye is in one piece. That hit he took near the sideline was brutal, but more importantly, it was avoidable. He's going to get smoked in the pocket from time to time (that Vea hit I mentioned earlier), but he can control more of what happens outside of the pocket than he does. Playing with fire there, fella.

3. And finally, Maye should be the MVP if the Pats end up as the one-seed. Yep, that's ahead of Mahomes, or Stafford, or Jonathan Taylor, who should actually be his fiecest competition except the award goes to QBs and only QBs (since 2012).