Late Thoughts (Week 10): New England Patriots Keeps Finding a Way
On Sunday at MetLife Stadium, quarterback Tom Brady and the New England Patriots were far from perfect.
But that doesn’t mean the team didn’t remain unbeaten.
Nov 15, 2015; East Rutherford, NJ, USA; New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady (12) throws a pass during the second quarter against the New York Giants at MetLife Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jim O
Thanks to some later heroics from their four-time Super Bowl champion signal-caller and a 54-yard field goal from reliable Stephen Gostkowski with one second to play, the Pats prevailed 27-26 over the New York Giants, ran their record to 9-0 and secured a 15th consecutive winning season dating back to 2001.
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The game-winning boot came moments after the Giants, who owned a 20-10 advantage in the third quarter, took a 26-24 lead with 1:47 remaining thanks to a 29-yard kick from New York’s Josh Brown.
“You’re one kick away from being Public Enemy No. 1,” Gostkowski told the Associated Press following his late-game heroics on Sunday. “You’re always one kick away from trending on Twitter as the No. 1 loser in America.”
“But it’s fun being on a good team,” added the 10-year veteran, who has connected on 30 straight field goals dating back to last season. “It’s kind of like being on a baseball team where everybody’s got a hit, and you can’t wait to get up there and get a hit, too.”
For most of the afternoon, the New England defense looked somewhat helpless. They would give up 422 total yards to the Giants as quarterback Eli Manning riddled the Pats for 361 yards and two scores through the air.
Meanwhile, Brady and company also racked up some yards but the veteran signal-caller saw his two touchdown passes (and 334 yards) matched by a pair of turnovers while he was also sacked three times. Still, he made the crucial plays when necessary, orchestrating a 12-play, 44-yard drive in 1:46 to set up Gostkowski’s kick.
Nov 15, 2015; East Rutherford, NJ, USA; New England Patriots head coach Bill Belichick during the game against the New York Giants at MetLife Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Robert Deutsch-USA TODAY Sports
Now the bad news. The win came at a cost, just as was the case last week when running back Dion Lewis was lost for the year with a knee injury. According to Adam Schefter of ESPN, wide receiver Julian Edelman suffered a broken bone in his foot and is out indefinitely.
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But we seem to know the story by now. In nine games this season, Brady has thrown for 3,043 yards and 24 touchdowns while being picked off just three times. As a team, the Patriots have committed only seven turnovers during their 9-0 start and their defense, while pushed around a bit by the Giants, has been getting better on weekly basis.
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It’s been a year unlike any other season in NFL history. Both the Patriots and Carolina Panthers are 9-0 and the Cincinnati Bengals are a Monday night win over Houston from joining those other two clubs were perfect records.
For both the Panthers and Bengals, perhaps this is the Year of the Cats. Then again, both clubs are in uncharted territory. For Bill Belichick, Brady and the Patriots, we’ll call it business as usual.