How the Texans can upset the heavily favoured Patriots Getty Images
The question of whether the Falcons should be rooting for a home game against Aaron Rodgers and the Packers or a road trip to Dallas to face the Cowboys and their rookie quarterback will surely tilt in one direction but not as sharply as, in the abstract, it should.
In the AFC, the Patriots have a much closer question to resolve. Now that they have dispensed with the texans, who should the patriots want to see next Sunday night at home?
The issue will be resolved tonight in Kansas City. Until then, chime in with the preferred choice of the Patriots. Steelers or Chiefs for a berth in Super Bowl LI.
Scott Zolak of the Patriots Radio Network cast a vote earlier this week on PFT Live for the Chiefs, given that the Steelers have such a dynamic offense. That said, the Chiefs may be more adept at applying pressure to Tom Brady, which traditionally is one of the key ingredients to beating the Patriots in the postseason.
Theyll be favored against either opponent. But they surely have a preference. Whats yours?
Tom Brady Torches the Jets with 3 TD Passes! | Jets vs. Patriots | NFL Week 16 Player Highlights
Josh McDaniels is expected to take an NFL head coaching job this offseason after serving as the offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach for the New england patriots since 2012, the boston Globe reports.
McDaniels, 40, will "have his choice of jobs" and is "likely to take one" according to the newspaper"s Ben Volin, who mentions there is talk of a package deal including third-year Patriots backup quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo.
Patriots defensive coordinator Matt Patricia is also likely to be a candidate for head coaching vacancies, but "isn"t as hot a name as McDaniels right now," per Volin.
McDaniels was a personnel and defensive assistant with the Patriots from 2001 to 2003 before being elevated to quarterbacks coach for the 2004-05 season. He added the title of offensive coordinator with the team from 2006 to 2008 before leaving to become the head coach of the Denver Broncos.
Under McDaniels, the Broncos went 11-17 from 2009-10. He was fired and went on to serve as the St. Louis Rams" offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach in 2011.
Tom Brady Torches the Jets with 3 TD Passes! | Jets vs. Patriots | NFL Week 16 Player Highlights
Once you start doing good things week in and week out, said Patriots cornerback Malcolm Butler, who had two interceptions and a fumble recovery, you start to conquer teams.
Graphic
Exploring the playoff chances and potential seedings of every N.F.L. team that hasnt been eliminated.
Presumably, the Patriots will face better quarterbacks in the postseason than Petty or his replacement, Ryan Fitzpatrick. Or Kessler, Goff or Siemian. Or Brock Osweiler, Colin Kaepernick or Landry Jones, some of the others who have succumbed to New England this season.
Of the 10 highest-scoring teams besides themselves, the Patriots have faced two Buffalo and Pittsburgh, which played that day without its star quarterback, Ben Roethlisberger. That is not their fault, but the mediocrity of their opposition such as the Jets, who through three quarters Saturday had four completions and four turnovers suggests that the Patriots have not been sufficiently tested.
Earlier in the week, the Jets offensive coordinator, Chan Gailey, said that New England had probably the smartest defense the Jets had played this season. Asked to elaborate, Gailey highlighted the Patriots players interchangeability how so many of them can line up in different positions and, by extension, their depth.
The Patriots dumped two productive players, the Pro Bowl linebackers Chandler Jones (in March) and Jamie Collins (in October), in decisions that benefited the teams long-term viability and salary-cap flexibility but initially elicited skepticism.
I thought they traded away their opportunity to go to the Super Bowl, the ESPN analyst Merril Hoge said in a telephone interview. I was like, They could be in trouble. And at first, they were very vanilla, like they were searching. But over the last six weeks, that defense is drastically improved.
The improvement, beginning after a Week 10 home loss to Seattle, coincided with two critical developments: a stretch against three of the lowest-scoring teams in the league San Francisco, the Jets and Los Angeles and the continued progress, and integration, of players like linebackers Kyle Van Noy and Shea McClellin; defensive lineman Vincent Valentine; and cornerback Eric Rowe, who intercepted Fitzpatrick in the second quarter.
Last Sunday in the high altitude of Denver, where New England had lost its three previous games, including last seasons A.F.C. championship, the patriots smothered the broncos in a 16-3 victory. Watching that game, Hoge found himself in an unfamiliar position: He had never heard of one of the Patriots starting linebackers, No. 52, the rookie Elandon Roberts, who on Saturday forced a fumble.
You really cant pick a guy, Jets Coach Todd Bowles said earlier in the week, because they have different guys to make plays.
Hoge said the team that should pose the greatest challenge to New England in the A.F.C. is Pittsburgh, which can clinch its division Sunday by beating Baltimore. Powered by Roethlisberger, running back LeVeon Bell and a cast of receiving options headlined by Antonio Brown, the Steelers can stress every level of New Englands defense. The Patriots smart stunt packages offset their modest pass rush, but a savvy, sturdy offensive line such as the Steelers can neutralize them.
Depending on how the matchups unfold, the Patriots might not even have to face Pittsburgh until the A.F.C. championship game, if at all. With Tom Brady, dazzling still at age 39, New England holds a perpetual edge at quarterback.
But despite Bradys three Super Bowl Most Valuable Player Awards, none of the climactic moments in those games Adam Vinatieris two late field goals against St. Louis and Carolina, Butlers goal-line interception against Seattle involved the quarterback, which is an instructive point.
Brady, as ever, might position the Patriots for glory. But he might need a little help at the end.
Jacoby Brissett Leads Patriots To 27-0 Victory Over Texans
Pressed into action, rookie quarterback Jacoby Brissett helped guide the Patriots to a 27-0 shellacking of the Texans. Time Sports
New England Patriots outside linebacker Jamie Collins (91) celebrates a touchdown against the Houston Texans during the first half at Gillette Stadium.(Photo: Winslow Townson, USA TODAY Sports)
FOXBOROUGH, Mass. Jimmy and Jacoby. And then, of course, theres Tom.
But for all the headlines, articles, and print the New England Patriots quarterbacks generate, its something else that has the team looking like legitimate Super Bowl contenders through three games.
A championship-caliber defense.
The unit smothered and confused the Houston Texans Thursday night, 27-0, in the ninth shutout of the Bill Belichick era to put New England at 3-0. That was without starting middle linebacker Donta Hightower, who was inactive with a knee injury.
So even as rookie third-string quarterback Jacoby Brissett started his first game while backup Jimmy Garoppolo healed from a shoulder sprain and Tom Brady watched from home serving his four-game Deflategate suspension, the Patriots kept rolling.
We have confidence in Jacoby. We have confidence in Jimmy. And we have confidence in that other guy thats coming back pretty soon, Patriots defensive end Chris Long told USA TODAY Sports after the game. So its up to us as a defense to execute. We know how good our offense can be so we just want to hold up our end of the bargain.
Thatthey did.
The Patriots limited Texans quarterback Brock Osweiler to 24completions on 41 attempts for 196 yards with no touchdowns and one interception.
The first time the Texans crossed midfield came with 1:27 left to play in the third quarter on the 43rd play from scrimmage for Houston.
The Patriotslimited star receiver DeAndre Hopkins and standout rookie Will Fuller to seven catches and 87 yards, combined.
That New England and head coach Bill Belichick did all of this on just three days rest and preparation should turn heads around the rest of the NFL.
Let me tell you, man, Bills game plan each week is the best game plan, Patriots safety Duron Harmon said after the game. He just he continues to amaze you with the things that come up in his mind to attack the offenses weakness.
Said Texans tight end Ryan Griffin: We were shocked.We couldnt get anything going.
So as the Patriots prepare to face a struggling Buffalo Bills (0-2) team next Sunday, theres a good chance New England emerges from the Brady absence undefeated. They already have a lead in the AFC East, and it might only get wider.
Our coaches arent like Hey, youre great, just take it easy, cornerback Logan Ryan told USA TODAY Sports after the game. Were practicing hard. Were in pads. Were doing all the work that it takes. When youre doing all that work, the games should be fun. Right now, thats the case for us. When you see an outcome like this, you believe.
Every Jimmy Garoppolo Throw (Week 2) | Dolphins vs Patriots | NFL
NFL Week2
Top Story Lines | Injury NewsFantasy Football| ATS Betting Tips/Picks
[Looking for Redskins coverage? Click here.]
The Patriots were already without the suspended Tom Brady and injured tight end Rob Gronkowski, now they may be without Jimmy Garoppolo as well.
Facing the Miami Dolphins, the Patriots were cruising to a 2-0 start to the seasonbehind three touchdown passes from Garoppolo before his right shoulder was driven into the turf on a hit by Kiko Alonso. Garoppolo was takento the locker room and ruled out for the remainder of the game, giving way toJacoby Brissett.
Brissett, who played college footballat both Florida and N.C. State and was selected in the third round of the 2016 draft by the Patriots, finished the game completing 6-of-9 passes for 92 yards. He orchestrated a touchdown drive on the Patriots first drive of the second half, capped by a run by LeGarrette Blount.
[Absent Tom Brady, Bill Belichicks brilliance is on full display]
The Dolphins crawled back into the game late in the second half, scoring 21 straight points to applysome pressure in the fourth quarter, but a last-second heave into the end zone was intercepted by the Patriots to secure the victory.
New England will no doubt savor the win, but faces a challenge in Week 3 should Garoppolos injury prove serious.ThePatriotsplay Thursday night against the Houston Texans and star defensive end J.J. Watt. The Texans had four sacks Sunday in their game against the Kansas City Chiefs, including one-and-a-half by Watt.
Elsewhere, the Browns appear to have survived aQB injury scare of their own against the Baltimore Ravens, though they could not survive a ferocious second-half comeback by the Ravens. Replacing injured starter Robert Griffin III, Josh McCown came out firingfor the Cleveland Browns, throwingtwo touchdowns torookie receiver Corey Coleman and giving the Browns an early 20-2 lead over the visiting Ravens after the Ravens blocked an extra point try and returned it for two points. McCown went to the locker room for X-rays on his shoulder after the second touchdown pass, though he later returned to the field.
The blocked point-after return helped spark the Ravens, who scored the final 23 points of the game to win on the road.
[Jacoby Brissett takes over for injured Jimmy Garoppolo]
The Steelers and the visiting Cincinnati Bengals squared off in Pittsburghwithboth teams promising a punishing, physical game following last seasons playoff meeting. Pittsburgh narrowly won that meeting after two personal fouls by Cincinnati defenders including a brutal hit by Vontaze Burfict to the head of receiver Antonio Brown. With a persistent rain soaking both teams, Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger overcame two interceptions to give his team an eight-point victory.
In a game featuring two of the NFLs most potent offenses, the New York Giants and New Orleans Saints instead combined for a nip-and-tuck affair that featured only one offensive touchdown. The last of Josh Browns three field goals, a 23-yarder with two seconds remaining, gave the Giants the win to move New York to 2-0.
There was no shortage of points in Carolina, as the Panthers put up 43 points on the visiting San Francisco 49ers to rebound from their season-opening loss to the Denver Broncos. Cam Newton threw for over 350 yards and four touchdowns in the win.
The Houston Texans also improved to 2-0 with a win over the Kansas City Chiefs, who could not overcome three lost fumbles, falling 19-12.
A season after winning the NFC East, the Washington Redskins begin their schedulebylooking up at the rest of the division after losing at home, 27-23, to the Dallas Cowboys and rookie quarterback Dak Prescott. Former Redskins running back Alfred Morris supplied the decisive touchdown run. Washington falls to 0-2, while the Cowboys move to 1-1.
The Detroit Lions couldnt muster any late-game magic at home this week, falling to the Tennessee Titans on a touchdown pass from Marcus Mariota to Andre Johnson with 1:13 remaining.
[Blow-by-blow details of the Redskins loss to the Cowboys]
In the late afternoon games out West, the NFLreturned to Los Angeles, with the Rams claiming their first win of the season at L.A. Coliseum, a 9-3 upset of the Seattle Seahawks. The league appears to already be a big winner, though, as Forbes estimates the Rams value has already doubled, ranking the franchise as the sixth-most valuable in the NFL at $2.9 billion. The Denver Broncos reached 2-0 behind Trevor Siemian, beating the visiting Indianapolis Colts, 34-20.
The Arizona Cardinals also won at home, a 40-7 drubbing of the Tamba Bay Buccaneers. The San Diego Chargers also won in a rout, 38-14, over the Jacksonville Jaguars, while the Atlanta Falcons won a 35-28 shootout over the Oakland Raiders.
On Sunday Night Football, the Minnesota Vikings opened their new stadium with a victory over the rival Green Bay Packers. The team is seeing the emergence of a star in wide receiver Stefon Diggs, who has finished with more than 150 receiving yards in his first two NFL games, but may have lost another when running back Adrian Peterson went down with a knee injury in the third quarter.
Top Storylines
California love: Rams embraced in return, and reward fans with a win
In first L.A. home game in 22 years, the hosts surprise Seattle, 9-3. (Read More)
Dak Prescott is the Cowboys next quarterback. Its just a matter of when.
Dallass rookie quarterback averaged 9.7 yards per pass, but his coaches continue to play it safe.
Dak Prescotts first win helps Cowboys avoid panicking two games into season
Jacoby Brissett takes over for injured Jimmy Garoppolo
The Patriots were cruising behind their backup QB until he got hurt and now must rally around their third-stringer. (Read More)
NFL denies report that Lady Gaga will perform at Super Bowl
US Weekly previously reported the singer would headline the halftime show. (Read More)
No hard feelings: Alfred Morris makes Redskins pay for letting him leave
The Dallas Cowboys running back scored the game-winning touchdown against his former team Sunday. (Read More)
Cam Newtons straw hat earned him all the Internet jokes
Online jokesters teed off on the quarterbacks latest eye-catching lid. (Read More)
[Fantasy football: The most important, must-read tips and takeaways from NFL Week 2]
At long last, NFL action returns to Los Angeles
Throughout his entire adult life, Matthew Gunn has been a displaced Denver Broncos fan, wearing the foreign orange and blue while living in a city illuminated by stars except for the one that truly matters in todays American sports landscape: the NFL. But Sunday, all that changes when the Rams host division rival Seattle inside Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum the franchises first home game in L.A. since 1980.(Read More)
L.A. Coliseum morphs from college field to pro venue
Converting the stadium from USCs home field to the Rams temporary field is a labor of love. (Read More)
Andrew Luck and Colts offensive line faces a referendum in Denver
The quarterback took a pounding last season and now faces one of the NFLs best pass rushes. (Read More)
Roger Goodell says eliminating kickoffs still an option
The commissioner says he would not balk at radically altering the game if it can promote safer conditions for players. (Read More)
Eagles plan anthem protest for Monday Night Football
Philadelphia players signaled their intention to support Colin Kaepernick, but arent yet sure exactly how theyll do so. (Read More)
NFL Week 2 Power Rankings
The Patriots and Steelers look potent, even without their top players. (Read More)
Tim Tebow isnt worried about the inglorious life of the minor leagues
A lifetime working on service projects in the Pacific has taught the former quarterback to accept less than glamorous conditions. (Read More)
Injury News
Latest updates: 11:48 p.m.
Minnesota Vikings RBAdrian Petersonsuffered a right knee injury in the third quarter. The veteran player, who suffered a torn left ACL in 2011, hopped off the field on his own, but then was helped to the locker room.
New England Patriots QB Jimmy Garoppolo left the game and went to the locker room with an apparent shoulder injury. Meanwhile the Dolphins are reportedly treating running back Arian Foster for a groin injury.
Josh McCown seems to having trouble with his shoulder. He went to the locker room for X-rays in the first half but returned to the game. Now backup Cody Kessler is again loosening up on the sideline.
Detroit Lions pass-rusher Ziggy Ansah left the game against the Titans and gone to the locker room. Trainers were reportedly looking at his left ankle.
In Carolina, Panthers running back Jonathan Stewart left the game against the San Francisco 49ers with a hamstring issue that had dogged him throughout the week. He is questionable to return.
Pregame injury reports
Patriots tight end Rob Gronkowski and Chiefs running back Jamaal Charles will miss a second week due to injury. Gronkowski continues to battle a hamstring issue, while Charles has been not returned to full strength after last years season-ending ACL injury.
Chris Ivory, hospitalized prior to Week 1s game with a still-unknown condition, will not play in Week 2.
Most other fantasy-relevant players are active/or look like theyll play as of now, with the Steelers Markus Wheaton (shoulder) the only exception, as h**l sit out against the Bengals.
Fantasy Football
Well monitor some key fantasy story lines throughout the day in this space, starting with the fact that the New Orleans Saints defense may not have the Midas Touch when it comes to opposing fantasy players. Most predicted big days from all of the New York Giants skill position players after the Oakland Raiders scorched the Saints in Week 1. Instead the Giants didnt manage a single offensive touchdown and running back Rashad Jennings put up just 21 yards on 13 carries.
Rookie receivers seem to be a bit of a thing so far this season. While he didnt score, Giants rookie Sterling Shepard put up 117 yards on eight receptions and was outproduced by a few of his other first-year counterparts. The Browns Corey Coleman scored two touchdowns in addition to racking up 104 yards receiving against the Ravens. And down in Houston, Will Fuller again bettered the century mark with 104 yards on four catches.
Check back later for a more comprehensive rundown from the Posts John Romero, but in the meantime, here are a few lingering questions entering the late games:
Is Devonta Freeman destined for a down year? He saw a pretty even split with Tevin Coleman in Week 1 and the Falcons coaches promised more of the same. That doesnt bode well for people drafting him in the first two rounds.
Can Todd Gurley get it rolling? After a bad start against the Niners, the Rams RB faces another tough defense in Seattle. If he struggles again, he could become a great buy-low candidate from panicking owners.
The fantasy scout: Your incredibly in-depth guide to Week 2
The key questions owners will want to monitor closely Sunday. (Read More)
Week 2 player rankings
How everyone stacks up heading into Sunday. (Read More)
Podcast: The Fantasy Football Beat
The best way to prep for Week 2. (Read and Listen)
ATS Betting Tips/Picks
Week 2NFL ATS picks
The top trends and insights from Las Vegas. (Read More)
Fancy Stats: Week 2picks
Heres how Week 2should play out according to the numbers. (Read More)
The NFL suspended New England Patriots defensive end Rob Ninkovich on Friday for the first four games of the regular season for violating the NFL"s policy on performance enhancing substances.
It is the latest blow to the Patriots, who will also be without quarterback Tom Brady the first four games as he serves a league-imposed suspension for his role in the Deflategate case.
Like Brady, Ninkovich will not be eligible to return to the Patriots" active roster until Oct. 3 following the team"s game against the Buffalo Bills.
The 32-year-old has not played this preseason after suffering a reported triceps injury during a joint training camp practice with the Saints on Aug. 9. He had returned to practice recently, but had only participated in light conditioning.
Ninkovich was a defensive captain in 2015 and had 52 tackles and 6 1/2 sacks.
More than his production, he has been New England"s ironman on defense, playing in 102 consecutive regular-season games. That is behind only Green Bay"s Julius Peppers and Indianapolis" Kendall Langford, who have both played in 128 straight games.
Taylor arrested on suspicion of DUI
The Florida Highway Patrol says ex-NFL player Lawrence Taylor has been arrested in Palm Beach County on suspicion of driving under the influence, the Palm Beach Post reports.
Spokesman Sgt. Mark Wysocky toldthe newspaper that Taylor was arrested after a crash on Florida"s Turnpike. Wysocky saidmore details will be released Saturday.
WPTV reports that Taylor, 57, was driving south on the turnpike from Beeline Highway at about 5:20 p.m. when he became involved in a crash. The TV station says that Taylor switched lanes and hit a motor home and sideswiped a patrol vehicle.
Taylor was taken to the Palm Beach County Jail, WPTV reports. Taylor, a retired linebacker, played 13 seasons with the New York Giants, helping the team win Super Bowl titles in 1987 and 1991.
ChiefsCharles is still questionable for opener
Kansas City Chiefs running back Jamaal Charles remains iffy for the season opener against the San Diego Chargers.Chiefs Coach Andy Reid said on a conference call with reporters Friday that Charles might need some more time to get himself back, though Reid did not rule him out of next weekend"s game.
Charles tore the ACL in his right knee in Week 5 last season. He has been working out for several weeks, though he did not participate in any of the Chiefs" preseason games.
Reid was more optimistic about safety Eric Berry and linebacker Tamba Hali.Berry did not report to training camp until last weekend after refusing to sign his franchise tender, while Hali is returning from surgery in February on his ailing knee.
Etc.
The right shoulder of New York Jets quarterback Bryce Petty escaped serious injury after he was sacked in Thursdays preseason game.An MRI exam on the second-year quarterback, who now has to wait to see if he survives final roster cuts, revealed no structural damage.Houston Texans Coach Bill O"Brien says that injured star J.J. Watt is feeling much better and that it looks decent for him to play in the season opener against Chicago on Sept. 11.Watt missed the entire preseason on the physically unable to perform list after having back surgery in July. Last year"s NFL Defensive Player of the Year has started every game in his five-year career. ...
Matt Bryant appears set for his eighth season as the Atlanta Falcons kicker after Shayne Graham was cut.After missing two preseason games with muscle tightness in his leg, Bryant returned to kick a 27-yard field goal and two extra points in Atlanta"s 17-15 preseason win over Jacksonville on Thursday night.Graham missed a 32-yard field goal Thursday night. Cleveland signed defensive lineman Stephen Paea, a 2011 second-round pick released earlier this week by the Washington Redskins. The 6-foot-1, 310-pound Paea gives the Browns some depth and versatility up front. The ArizonaCardinals acquired cornerback Marcus Cooper from the Kansas City Chiefs for an undisclosed draft choice. The Indianapolis Colts put cornerback D"Joun Smith on the waived-injured list. The Cincinnati Bengals released veteran safety Jimmy Wilson, who played with the Chargers last season.
Jimmy Garoppolo Highlights | Saints vs. Patriots | NFL
Tom Bradywill sit out theNew England Patriots first four games of the regular season while serving a four-game suspension. Backup Jimmy Garoppolo is preparing for his time in the spotlight.
Garoppolo"s performance in the Patriots 34-22 win against New Orleans Thursday in their preseason opener gave Patriots fans a reason to be excited, and concerned.
Playing the entire first half, Garoppolo completed 11-of-18 passes for 168 yards, and he was sacked twice for 20 yards. Garoppolo completed two of his first five passes and the Patriots offense had three-and-outs on their first two offensive series.
Garoppolo seemed to find a rhythm on the Patriots third series and then completed nine of his final 11 passes, including a 56-yard, catch-and-run touchdown pass to running back James White and a drive that ended with a field goal on the next series.
"It wasn"t our best start, no question," Garoppolo told reporters after the game. "You"re not going to always start the right way and it"s just how you react to that. It was a good experience tonight just being put in a difficult situation...I think we reacted in the right way."
Garoppolo escaped a couple of potentially costly mistakes. He dove - instead of sliding - for a first down after scrambling, taking a hit that could have resulted in an injury. He seemed to panic a bit on a third-and-12 play from the Saints 20, throwing a pass to no one that could"ve been intercepted.
"I think I"m working in the right direction," Garoppolo said. "There"s plenty of things I could work on, little things here and there. That"s just part of being a quarterback."
Tom Brady Highlights (Divisional Playoffs) | Chiefs vs. Patriots | NFL Getty Images
The Patriots traded for wide receiver Keshawn Martin in September and they appear tolike what theyve seen from him over the last few months.
Field Yates of ESPN.com reports that the Patriots have signed Martin to a two-year extension that runs through the 2017 season. Martin was set to become an unrestricted free agent this offseason.
Per Yates, Martin stands to make base salaries of $850,000 and $1 million in the next two seasons with a variety of roster bonuses, escalators and incentives that can boost his total earnings. Theres also a $600,000 signing bonus included in the deal.
Martin had 24 catches for 269 yards and two touchdowns in nine games for the Patriots. Receiver Julian Edelman, Danny Amendola and Brandon LaFell are all under contract through next season, although Amendolas salary of $5 million could make him a possible cut or restructuring target.
Jonas Gray became the first running back in Patriots history to rush for four TDs in a game.(Photo: Thomas J. Russo, USA TODAY Sports)
INDIANAPOLIS Few people outside of New England might have known anything about Jonas Gray before Sunday night, but Robert Kraft knew.
The New England Patriots owner stopped Gray, the unheralded, undrafted, former practice squad player in a hallway of Gillette Stadium on Saturday, before the team headed to the airport to board its plane to Indianapolis.
"You're going to have a good game this week, so be ready," Kraft told him.
Gray relayed this story late Sunday night, surrounded by dozens of reporters and television cameras after Kraft's prediction came true. Gray, who had just 131 career rushing yards in three previous games in the 2 since he entered the NFL, rushed for 199 yards and scored four touchdowns in New England's 45-20 win against the Colts.
No Patriots running back had ever scored four touchdowns in a single game before Gray did it Sunday night.
"I'll probably go home tonight, when we get back around 4 a.m., I'll lay in bed, look up at the ceiling and just be astonished about what's going on," Gray said. "It's writing a great story, man."
Indeed, Gray's tale is one of patience and resilience, and his performance against the Colts is one that should inspire the hundreds of players grinding through the season on a practice squad never getting to play on Sundays, receiving a paltry-by-comparison salary.
Gray, who suffered a torn anterior cruciate ligament during his senior year at Notre Dame, spent his first year in the NFL with the Miami Dolphins, going through rehab, never practicing, never playing. He was cut a year later, after training camp, and spent last season on the scout team in Baltimore. He did the same in New England for the first six weeks of this season, until a season-ending injury to Stevan Ridley opened up a roster spot.
The running game is never going to be what defines these New England Patriots, not as long as Tom Brady is quarterback and he's got a hulking and healthy Rob Gronkowski to throw to, but Gray on Sunday gave the Patriots a new dimension that should terrify the rest of the AFC.
These Patriots will bully you, beat you up and run you over which they did to the Colts when Gray rushed 38 times. These Patriots can win even when Brady isn't at his best which they did Sunday even after Brady threw two first-half interceptions.
"Even though we'd love it for Tom to throw seven touchdowns every game, sometimes it's not going to be like that," cornerback Darrelle Revis said.
VIDEO: Week 11 around the NFL
USA TODAY Sports reporters break down all of the action from Week 11 around the league.
Video Transcript
Automatically Generated Transcript (may not be 100% accurate)
00:02 To St. Louis Rams had the most dangerous team in 00:04 the NFL it's probably not going to make the playoffs. After 00:08 winning earlier this season against the Seattle Seahawks in San Francisco 00:12 49ers. The rams got this statement win on Sunday 22 to 00:16 seven against Peyton Manning and the Denver Broncos. Just seven points 00:20 the Broncos scored. Those are the fewest amount scored in the 00:24 Peyton Manning air and Denver. Revealing even major issues going on 00:28 the Broncos offense right now particularly when they're offensive line and 00:32 their running game. The rams meanwhile become my teens that no 00:36 one wants to face. They have discovered their pass rush the 00:40 one that was so that some earlier in the season. And 00:42 no one's gonna wanna have to try to block Robert quit 00:45 her parents Donald over the last half of the season. No 00:49 Carson Palmer and no problem. The Arizona Cardinals defeated the Detroit 00:53 Lions 146. And a dominant performance with backup quarterback Drew Stanton 00:58 at the Helm. Arizona extended league's best record and now sits 01:02 at 91 on season. Six who threw for 306 yards two 01:06 touchdowns and two interceptions on the game. The cardinals looked like 01:09 bona fide Super Bowl contenders. After contending a very talented lions 01:13 team that now drops to seven and three. It's probably time 01:18 to pick Kansas City Chiefs a little bit more seriously. After 01:21 they pulled into it tied for the AFC west lead. With 01:25 Sunday's twenty or twenty win. Over the Seattle Seahawks Jamaal Charles 01:29 led the way with a 159 rushing yards and two touchdowns. 01:33 All the chiefs defense got 34 down stops. In the final 01:37 eight minutes the chiefs go to Oakland next before the November 01:41 30 showdown against the Broncos in Kansas City. Seahawks would be 01:46 on the outside the playoff picture looking in the postseason begins 01:49 today. They prepare to host the Arizona Cardinals who currently lead 01:54 the NFC west. It won't go down as the. Produce victory 01:57 for the 49ers will surely take it. San Francisco defeated the 02:01 New York Giants 1610 and MetLife stadium to improve to six 02:05 and four. With the Seahawks dropping their game against the Kansas 02:08 City Chiefs. Both Seattle and the 49ers are now tied for 02:12 second place in the NFC west the 49ers and Seahawks haven't 02:15 played yet this season. And the outcome of those two games 02:18 later this year. What it is slides from the wildcard spots 02:21 in the NFC. Another home game another epic route for the 02:26 Green Bay Packers to crush the Philadelphia Eagles. 53 to twenty 02:31 on Sunday. They've now outscored their last four opponents here at 02:34 Lambeau Field by 144. Points in the first three quarters before 02:40 they call off the dogs. And they've outscored fifteen point two 02:43 consecutive games. For the first time in franchise history. Those are 02:48 good omens for January they'll go to Minnesota next week the 02:52 Eagles draft pick up the pieces at home against Tennessee. As 02:57 in New England Patriots where art scary and now we just 03:01 Tom Brady Rob Gronkowski who worry about and the patriots went 03:05 out and found a running game that's exactly what happened Sunday 03:09 night in the 45 to twenty win against the Indianapolis Colts. 03:13 As Jonas gray a former practice squad players who only made 03:18 it and it felt that you last month. Rushed for a 03:21 199. Yards and four touchdowns those four touchdowns were as many 03:26 as all the other running back and believe come behind. Scored 03:30 on Sunday and has a franchise record for the patriots. What 03:34 this means right now for the patriots is that there the 03:37 most of well rounded team in the annex south for the 03:40 colts meanwhile this is the third loss against the patriots in 03:44 that answer love Sarah at once again. The colts were proven 03:48 to be one dimensional against New England. And that's something that 03:52 they're going to have to figure out if they want to 03:54 chance to beat the patriots should they meet again in the
These Patriots have, in consecutive games, thoroughly whipped the Denver Broncos and the Colts, teams widely considered to be among the NFL's elite, and moved a game ahead of everyone else in the AFC.
It's hard to remember now, in the midst of the Patriots' six-game winning streak, just how badly they were floundering in September. Now, it's hard to imagine any team going into Foxborough in January and beating a team with that quarterback, that running game and a defense that held Andrew Luck and the NFL's leading offense to just 322 yards, and only 19 rushing yards.
"I mean, when Bill (Belichick) talked about the run game, he's talking about the offensive line, defensive line. So the defensive line, for me to look over and see our offensive line go to work, it was the best feeling in the world," New England nose tackle Vince Wilfork said. "We kind of fed off of them. They led. They showed us the way."
Of course, Wilfork was among those who knew about Gray long before Sunday's breakout game, practicing against Gray for weeks while Gray was on the scout team. Though Gray was running scripted plays, mimicking opposing tailbacks, his legs were always churning, his reps were always at full-speed.
"I was just happy to see him get rewarded tonight," Wilfork said.
Watching Gray and the Patriots rack up 244 rushing yards had to be disheartening for the Colts, who found themselves once again rendered one-dimensional against New England. Though Luck still managed to throw for 303 yards and a pair of touchdowns without the benefit of a running game Luck was the leading rusher with 15 yards on three scrambles it wasn't even close to enough.
Indianapolis players said this week they understood the stakes of his game, that the Patriots were the best measuring stick against which to gauge their progress in Year 3 of the Andrew Luck Era. Years 1 and 2 had lopsided losses to New England, including a loss last January in the divisional round of the playoffs in which Luck threw four interceptions. Luck threw another interception Sunday night, when Revis deflected a pass up and into the arms of teammate Devin McCourty. That interception happened in the red zone, the type of mistake the Colts can't make in games of this magnitude.
The Colts certainly will be a playoff team, and it is conceivable that they might still wind up with a first-round bye, but there is little reason now to believe that should the Colts have to play the Patriots again, the result would be any different than it was Sunday.
"To be honest, it really doesn't matter how you folks look at this team. To us, what matters is we lost a game. We've got to fix what we did wrong and go out and try to win the next one," Luck said. "Thankfully this is not the last game of the season. We'd truly be sick to our stomachs. We've got a lot to improve."
Follow Lindsay H. Jones on Twitter @bylindsayhjones.
