(Michael MacDonald – September 27, 2009)
Patriots running back Fred Taylor ran for 105 yards in today's win over the Atlanta Falcons. (NESN Photo.)
The Patriot team that took the field at one o’clock this afternoon was not the same Patriot team that left the field at four o’clock. Aside from the fact that the Pats had moved beyond an ugly prior-week loss to the New York Jets, they seemed to have found several answers in nagging questions.
A huge question was answered with the assertion of the Patriots running game. Laurence Maroney left the game with a bruised thigh but Fred Taylor and Sammy Morris stepped in and stepped up with huge efforts. Morris actually had only 16 yards rushing but his 3 pass receptions for 46 yards came at key moments. Kevin Faulk had 5 rushing attempts for 25 yards. Taylor bulled when he needed to, scampered at other times and amassed 105 yards.The passing game was inconsistent but improved as the game went on.
Patriot QB Tom Brady chastised team mates at the end of the first half for leaving points on the field. (Reuters photo by By Adam Hunger.)
In the first half, quarterback Tom Brady was clearly exasperated with some of his receivers and exploded following three consecutive miscues. While receivers were out of position at times and dropped passes at other times, Brady missed open receivers many times and was fortunate not to have been intercepted. Still, the passing game solidified through the second half and Brady connected with Chris Baker for a 36-yard touchdown reception.
Perhaps most interesting was the much maligned defense. As hard as it is to believe, the Pats entered the game ranked 4th in total defense. After today’s game, the team is averaging just 15 points allowed per game. Some of that seems like it has to be illusion and may not hold up when the Pats face some of the better offenses in the game but the Falcons came into town with a pretty decent set of offensive weapons themselves. The defense in fact looked shaky in the first quarter as Atlanta moved the ball down the field with ease on the opening drive. They had to settle for a field goal. The defense tightened up and pretty much stymied the Falcons the entire second half.
The Patriots have a big test next week when they host the 3-0 Baltimore Ravens. After that, the Pats travel to Denver to face the Broncos in the stadium in the sky before returning home for an intriguing matchup with a struggling Tennessee Titans team.
It’s too early to tell how good this Patriots team is. Moves still clearly need to be made including making a decision about the oft-injured Maroney. I personally would like to see BenJarvus Green-Ellis brought back to the team. Also, for all his skills Joey Galloway doesn’t seem to sync well with Brady…more work needs to be done there or perhaps the Pats simply need to move on.
Milestones
Today’s win was their 400th since the team was formed 50 years ago. Their 400 wins are the third most of the original 8 AFL teams (Denver and Oakland have more wins).
The win was the Patriots’ 175th win since the Kraft family purchased the team in 1994. The Patriots have more wins than any other NFL team in that time period.
Tom Brady threw his 200th touchdown today in his 116th game. He is the first player to throw 200 TDs while still having less than 100 interceptions. Only four players have gotten to the 200 touchdown pass plateau quicker than Brady (Dan Marino 89 games, Peyton Manning 107, Bret Favre 108).
Boston Patriots wide receiver Randy Moss had an ailing back but opted to play today. Here he is in pre-game practice. (Boston Herald photo.)
Fred Taylor’s 105 rushing yards move him into 15th place on the all-time rushing list with 11,447 career yards. Today was his 49th 100-yard rushing game placing him 9th all time in that category.
Randy Moss had his 61st 100-yard receiving game and ranks 2nd all-time in that category behind only the great Jerry Rice who had 76 100-yard games. He has had 26 catches threw the first three games, the best start of his career.
