5 takeaways from the Patriots’ win over the Texans
COMMENTARY
The New England Patriots are back on track.
After a 27-6 win over the Houston Texans on Sunday night, the Patriots are once again leading the race for the best record in the AFC.
Between the return of a key offensive player and the continued emergence of the defense, the Patriots got a lot of individual contributions that helped the team get back in the win column.
Here are some of the key takeaways from Sunday’s game.
1. Rob Gronkowski is back: And he’s back in a big way.
Rob Gronkowski was questionable to play ahead of Sunday, but the big-bodied tight end was in uniform making big plays against the Texans. He finished the night with four receptions for 84 yards and a touchdown. Gronkowski has now caught 10 touchdowns this season, the fifth time in his six-year career he has reached the mark. The Patriots finally have their monstrous tight end back, and his presence helped in more ways than one. He was opening holes as a blocker, drawing coverage away from his teammates in the passing game, and doing all the usual, physically dominant Gronk activities.
2. Malcolm Butler is a baller: Week after week, the Patriots get more and more proof that they made the right decision by handing Malcolm Butler the keys to the No. 1 cornerback spot.
On Sunday against the Texans, Butler broke up potentially big plays down the sideline and in the end zone. He contested every pass within his grasp, scratching and clawing at the football in a true-to-form display of his scrappiness, which has become his defining trait as a cornerback.
3. The Patriots’ pass rush is a strength: Thanks to the Patriots’ front seven, the Texans’ offense never got off the ground. Texans quarterbacks Brian Hoyer and T.J. Yates combined to complete just 12 of their 24 passes (50 percent) for 159 yards.
The Patriots generated six sacks: Jabaal Sheard (2), Akiem Hicks (2), Rob Ninkovich (1) and Dominique Easley (1) all got in on the party. On the ground, the Texans ran the ball 22 times for just 88 yards. Running back Chris Polk notched 11 carries for just 34 yards.
Oh, by the way, the Texans did not score a single touchdown and managed just six points on the night, tied for the lowest total the Patriots have allowed in a game this season. The offense finally started clicking again, but it’s good for the Patriots to know the defense can pick up the slack when it has to.
(story continues below gallery)
PHOTOS: Patriots vs. Texans
[bdc-gallery id=”139996″]
4. Injuries keep coming: Just when it seemed like the Patriots couldn’t possibly suffer any more key injuries, more big-name players went down.
Gronkowski hadn’t been back in the lineup more than 45 minutes before the Patriots had already suffered multiple injuries on Sunday night. Running back LeGarrette Blount (hip) and safety Devin McCourty (ankle) were both ruled out of Sunday’s game before its conclusion.
The Patriots’ depth at running back is getting dangerously thin. With Dion Lewis already on injured reserve, the only players left were James White and Brandon Bolden.
McCourty’s injury, if serious, could be a big blow. He’s been key to the communication on the back end of the defense, holding that group together through a lot of changes since the offseason. Duron Harmon could fill in his role, which would make Patrick Chung the full-time starting strong safety. Without McCourty for an extended period, their workloads would both increase.
5. Patriots back on track for the No. 1 seed: Just one week after suffering a humiliating defeat at the hands of the Philadelphia Eagles, the Patriots are once again right back atop the conference.
The Denver Broncos and Cincinnati Bengals both fell to 10-3 with losses to the Oakland Raiders and Pittsburgh Steelers, respectively. At 11-2, the Patriots are at the front of the pack in the race for the No. 1 overall seed in the AFC, and home-field advantage throughout the conference playoffs.
There are still three games on the schedule, but if the Patriots win all three, they’ll spend the entire AFC playoffs at Gillette Stadium. The Bengals and Broncos also have to face off in Week 16, so the Patriots still have some margin for error when it comes to clinching a first-round bye.
There are a lot of hypotheticals. Just know this: If the Patriots win all their games, they’re the No. 1 seed; if they go 2-1 down the stretch, they will be no worse than the No. 2 seed.
To comment, please create a screen name in your profile
To comment, please verify your email address
Conversation
This discussion has ended. Please join elsewhere on Boston.com