On a night where rain fell in torrents, the New England Patriots weathered the storm.
With the rain coming down in torrential downpours, Cam Newton and the New England Patriots escaped Sunday Night Football in Week 10 with a 23-17 over a heavily favored Baltimore team. And in the midst of the storm, the Patriots were able to score an unforeseen upset. The Patriots are now 4-5 while the Ravens drop to 6-3.
Newton wasn’t Superman but, in a battle of Heisman Trophy winners at quarterback, he got the better of Lamar Jackson, throwing for 119 yards and a touchdown while also running for a touchdown.
However, it was second-year running back Damien Harris who led all runners with 121 yards on 22 carries and provided the spark needed for the New England offense in the conditions. Jakobi Meyers also became one of three Patriots wide receivers to throw touchdown passes, joining David Patten (2001) and Julian Edelman (2014 Divisional vs…ironically the Ravens).
Defensively, while Jackson tossed for 249 yards and two scores, the Patriots recorded an interception and rookie Josh Uche had a sack. Additionally, the pressure was on from the opening snap and the weather only amplified that.
Though still under .500, the Patriots found a glimmer of hope.
This season has not gone well for New England and, without question, this win is a boost for a team that was teetering on not even making the playoffs for the first time since 2008. Against Baltimore, however, they found a formula to win and used it.
Granted, smash-mouth football isn’t praised as much in today’s passing league as it was praised in the early days of the NFL. But sometimes, old-school principles and discipline can be a recipe for success rather than the flash and glitz and glamour. Going against the grain, especially during a downpour, can aid the cause.
Bill Belichick has been around long enough to understand this, as has John Harbaugh. On Sunday Night Football, Belichick used it to his advantage and, thus, the Patriots will be off to Houston to face a reeling Texans team. As for Baltimore, the gap is widening and they must fix it, given the situation in Pittsburgh.
However, one fact came out of all the rain. The Patriots are not out of the running — at least not yet.