Pats vs. Dolphins

Last night had to have been the most encouraging Patriots game in I don't even know how long.  Seriously, it felt like we were in the middle of the Super Bowl run last night. I kept waiting for a direct snap to Faulk, followed by him lofting it up for Brady in the end zone, or for the field goal unit to come on the field and Troy Brown sneak on at the very last second and wind up catching a ball from Vinatieri for a TD.  But I digress. The Patriots became the first team in NFL history to score in six different ways. That's right, count 'em. Six (6) different ways. A passing TD, rushing TD, kick return TD, blocked field goal return TD, a pick-6, and a field goal (two of them), all adding up to a 41-14 romp for the Pats.

Tom Brady was his usual accurate self, completing 19 of 24 passes. He only threw for 153 yards, which in any other game would have been dooming, but it really wasn't necessary on this night. Eight of his completions were to Wes Welker, who continues to impress in his comeback from ACL surgery. Welker now has 26 catches on the season, putting him on pace for 104. For those keeping score at home, that would be his fourth consecutive 100+ catch campaign. Only former Colts receiver Marvin Harrison has ever had four such seasons in a row.

For the second consecutive game, BenJarvus Green-Ellis did an admirable job running the ball. The third year, undrafted back out of Ole Miss gained 76 yards on 16 carries, including a 12 yard scamper for a score early in the 3rd quarter. What's really impressed me about Green-Ellis has been his ability to keep moving forward at all times.  He hits the hole fast, and he hits it hard, seemingly running downhill.  No unnecessary sidestepping, just good old-fashioned power running. Basically, he's the anti-Laurence Maroney.

Danny Woodhead was great as a changeup back, carrying the ball 8 times for 36 yards. He also caught Tom Brady's lone touchdown pass of the night. Woodhead is more than just a gimmick, people.  Belichick knows what he's doing when he acquires white skill-position players.  I'm not saying he's going to make us forget about Kevin Faulk, let's be realistic, but he definitely gives them yet another weapon on offense that no defense seems to know how to handle quite yet. 

And where do we even begin with the defense and special teams?  Jerod Mayo looks like he is back with a vengeance, racking up 16 tackles in perhaps his finest performance since his defensive rookie of the year campaign in 2008. If Mayo continues to emerge as a force at linebacker, it would do wonders for the entire defensive unit.

Rob Ninkovich had a career night, intercepting the first two passes of his five year career,  both halting what had been lengthy Miami drives. I had to make sure that it was actually Ninkovich wearing no. 50, and not its previous tenant, Mike Vrabel.

Pretty good job by the secondary shutting down Brandon Marshall, limiting him to just 5 catches for 50 yards, all in the second half.  Devin McCourty looks like he can play in this league, other than his unnecessary pass interference on Brian Hartline in the 1st half. The ball was clearly out of Hartline's reach, sailing out of bounds, but McCourty fell on top of him thus taking away from the ball entirely. Hey, rookie mistake. The kid's learning faster than anyone could have imagined he would. Gotta wonder what's happening with Darius Butler too. I don't know how many snaps he played, if any, but I barely saw him on the field at all. 

Brandon Tate returned his second kickoff on the year, giving him more than 30 other whole NFL teams. Only Seattle's Leon Washington has also return two.

Brandon Tate's electrical play has lessened the burden on Moss and Welker in the receiving game so far. And he's not doing a bad Devin Hester impression either.

Saving the best for last here, last night belonged to Patrick Chung. The second year safety out of Oregon is looking like our best playmaker on defense, and boy is he active on special teams. He blocked not one, but two kicks last night--a field goal and a punt--to go along with his pick-six late in the game to put the exclamation point on the Patriots victory.  Like so many early-round draft picks by Belichick before, a lot of the general population scratched their heads when they heard his name called in the second round in 2009. But like so many of said picks, he is quickly justifying his value, a reminder that Bill Belichick is indeed one of the premier talent evaluators of all-time.  Chung had 16 tackles opening week against Cincinnati, and now has interceptions in consecutive weeks.  Did we find ourselves a Troy Polamalu? The sky appears to be the limit for this guy.

One last thing about last night. It has to be a little concerning that Randy Moss ended the game with no catches, and only one target.  I know, I know, we didn't even need him last night.  But Moss isn't one to accept being an afterthought, and he's already been vociferous in his claims that the Patriots don't want him here after the season. It's definitely something worth keeping an eye on during this bye week.