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n. Ron Brace. Huge play in Minnesota-New England late in the first half, with the Vikings having a first-and-goal at the Patriots’ one with the score tied at 7. Brace, a second-year defensive tackle from Boston College (looks like he has classic noseman size), lined up on the head of Minnesota right tackle Phil Loadholt. At the snap, Adrian Peterson took the ball and ran right behind Loadholt. One problem: Brace was pushing Loadholt back. Peterson couldn’t find a hole, and he was enveloped by the Patriot defense. Never would have happened if Brace hadn’t win the man-to-man battle with Loadholt.

Peter King gives Ron Brace some love.

https://www.patspropaganda.com/n-ron-brace-huge-play-in-minnesota-new-england/

Patriots Third Down Defense Reset

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  • CIN 8/15 = 53%
  • NYJ 6/13 = 46%
  • BUF 5/10 = 50%
  • MIA 10/15 = 66%
  • BAL 5/16 = 31%
  • SD 7/15 = 46%
  • MIN 4/11 = 36%

Statistically the Vikings game was the best one yet for the Patriots defense on third down, however these stats don’t reflect the two times that the Pats got penalties on 3rd down and kept the Minny drives alive. 

The first was Brandon Meriweather taking a necessary PI call on Randy Moss that prevented a touchdown. I can live with that one.

The second was an illegal contact on Wilhite that was not necessary. Bill Belichick was visibly pissed with him after that. Minnesota would’ve had 4th and 3 if not for that penalty.

Overall the Pats percentage on third down rose from 49% to 47% which still keeps them last in the NFL, but the improvement of the past three weeks, where they are only giving up an average of 37.6% of their third downs, which is just about the league-wide average.

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Counterintuitive though it may be, the shiny hood ornament theory stands today indisputable. The Patriots suddenly appear tougher, nastier and better equipped to play various styles of football than they appeared just one month ago. Their defense is playing better, surrendering fewer points and roughing up opposing teams like it once did in during its Super Bowl glory days earlier in the decade.

The Patriots, in the wake of the Moss trade, have all the appearances of a tougher team. They look like the Old School Patriots, as we noted a couple weeks ago.

Two plays have summed up that new-old grittier style of New England football perfectly: the first was when safety Brandon Meriweather roughed up Baltimore tight end Todd Heap with an illegal hit in New England’s 23-20 victory three weeks ago, the first game of the post-Moss Era. Yes, it was an illegal hit that spawned a wave of controversy from folks other than the Cold, Hard Football Facts. But in the NFL, in a realm where the Law of the Jungle still rules, the hit changed the course of the game.

And then against Minnesota on Sunday, one play summed up the new Old School Patriots: the Vikings faced 4th and goal at the New England 1 in the final seconds of the first half. The game was tied 7-7.

Minnesota decided to pound it into the end zone with the great Adrian Peterson. But in a statement moment, the suddenly tougher New England defense rose up and stuffed Peterson for a 2-yard loss. The stop preserved the tie, preserved momentum and, in the end, might have preserved the victory.

Cold Hard Football Facts

https://www.patspropaganda.com/counterintuitive-though-it-may-be-the-shiny-hood/

This Means Nothing… (but it’s nice to look at)

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Peter King’s Fine Fifteen

1. New England (6-1). Adrian Peterson found out Sunday it might not be so easy to try to make a season-saving yard against the Patriots defensive front, which looked absolutely impenetrable for stretches against the Vikes.

2. Pittsburgh (5-2). Very uncharacteristic late mistakes led to a loss that, ultimately, is understandable because it happened in New Orleans on Halloween night, and the Saints played defense the way they played it down the stretch of their Super Bowl season. I doubt this loss will linger with the Steelers.

3. Baltimore (5-2). The bye made the Ravens look a lot better in the AFC, didn’t it? With the Jets and Titans losing, and the Chiefs looking shaky in holding off the Bills in overtime, Baltimore’s back in the top-of-the-AFC mix.

4. New York Jets (5-2). An inexcusable performance coming off the bye. Scariest thing is how

the offense couldn’t make a play, either in the running or passing game.

5. Indianapolis (4-2). The Colts probably couldn’t have asked for a better time to have 15 days between games. They’ve had some good rehab time. Reggie Wayne’s back to near full health.