The grades are out from ProFootballFocus.com for the Patriots vs. the Titans, and here are some notable tidbits:
Best offensive grade: Rob Gronkowski 4.3 (including a dominant 2.6 in run block)
Best defensive grade: Dont’a Hightower 5.0 (high marks in run d, pass rush, & pass coverage, including 3 QB hurries)
Biggest offensive disappointment: Dan Connolly -3.6 (low marks in both run and pass blocking)
Biggest defensive disappointment: Brandon Spikes -2.5 (slight below average on everything and credited with only one tackle)
Devin McCourty got a 2.9, which was better than any single score he had for all of 2011.
Jerod Mayo had 7 stops and 12 tackles, getting a 2nd place 4.5 score. Dominant in run defense and pass coverage.
Chandler Jones scored the best run defense score with a 2.9.
Ryan Wendell graded out as the best offensive lineman (1.6), the rest were about average, except Connolly.
Hernandez had a rough day run blocking, garnering a -2.4 score.
Ridley most successful off the left end where he picked up 51 yards and a 10.2 average. Second best was up the middle behind Wendell (19 yards on 2 carries).
Runs were least successful behind Connolly at RG. Seems like they were aware of this and only tried 3 times to Connolly’s B gap, and 0 times to his A gap. Clearly they were able to exploit the edges.