The day after a win by the New England Patriots is always a good day even if in most cases it is Monday. On Sunday, the Patriots beat the San Diego Chargers behind the arm of Tom Brady and the defense coming up with four takeaways at very opportune moments in the game.
Also the defense is starting to develop after a major offseason overhaul in which several new linemen and secondary players were brought in and the scheme was changed to hopefully address some of their deficiencies from 2010.
While they’ve given up over 800 yards in two games they’ve played against two quarterbacks who had very good days. One, Chad Henne of Miami, had probably the best day of his career while the other, Philip Rivers of San Diego, had a typical week.
Last week we reviewed the soft yards given up when the game was in control and I’ll accept that for time coming off the clock. This week the defense was just matched up against a very good, potent offensive unit and once again they had to choose what aspect of the Chargers game they would take away.
Well they slowed up the Bolts the running game, which the week before had well over 200 yards against Minnesota, allowing only had 98 yesterday. And they took away TE Antonio Gates, one of the best to ever play the position, and they kept him off the score sheet. That’s right the 5-time All-Pro and 7-time Pro Bowl selection did not have a catch for the first time since 2008 and was a non-factor. Safeties Patrick Chung, Sergio Brown and Josh Barrett did a great job on Gates, playing him tight all game. Plus Bill Belichick used the defensive ends to chip him at the line, ala Marshal Faulk in Super Bowl XXXVI, and knock him off his pass routes and take away any timing plays that Rivers had for him.
That being said they knew they also couldn’t take away WR Vincent Jackson, he ended up with 10 grabs for 172 yards and 2 TD’s. You can’t stop everyone so you have to pick your poison and once again even though Jackson and Rivers had great games their team still lost.
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According to Mike Dussault of Pats Propaganda 25 of Rivers 29 completions went to Jackson, Mike Tolbert or Ryan Matthews.
New England head coach Bill Belichick had his weekly day after media meeting about Sunday’s game.
Patriots QB Tom Brady on the comments by former Patriots players on WR Chad Ochocinco “None of those guys have any clue what they’re talking about. They’re not in the locker room.” For comments about the game and other things check out the full Brady interview from WEEI’s Patriots Monday.
Former UConn running back and Chestnut Hill MA native Jordan Todman returned this weekend with the Chargers but the rookie is yet to see any game action in 2011.
From our friends at Awful Announcing comes this piece on Chargers play-by-play man Josh Lewin making fun of Vince Wilfork’s huskiness.
Connecticut native TE Aaron Hernandez took a helmet to his knee towards the end of the game on Sunday and did not return. Shalise Manza Young of the Boston Globe has learned from a source that he has a sprained MCL and will likely miss 1-2 weeks. While The Herald’s Ian Rapoport says there appears to be no set timetable.
With Hernandez apparently out, that means it’s time for Dan Gronkowski to get involved more.
S Patrick Chung hurt his thumb yesterday and he returned to play but did so with a cast on.
Massachusetts native and former UMass star S James Ihedigbo and LB Tracy White have carved out roles on the 46-man game day roster.
DT Albert Haynesworth says of the defense “when we put it all together…”
LB Jerod Mayo held his annual “Mayo Bowl” Monday night and several teammates showed up including K Stephen Gostkowski who brought his own ball, with the Memphis Tigers logo and colors on it. Other players at the charity included QB Brian Hoyer, P Zoltan Mesko, WR Chad Ochocinco, DE Andre Carter and DT Albert Haynesworth among others.
New England plays the Buffalo Bills Sunday at 1 p.m. as the two division rivals face off in Buffalo. Look for the Sox & Dawgs “In The Red Zone Game Preview” available on Friday morning.
Follow Steve on Twitter @djstevem
