Under the circumstances, an ugly win looks pretty good
Nineteen thoughts on the Patriots’ 19-14 victory over the Buccaneers on Thursday.
1. Well, that was tense, and surprisingly tight, and not exactly what Patriots fans were hoping to see in Tampa after Sunday’s debacle against the Panthers. The Patriots’ 19-14 win over the Buccaneers on Thursday Night Football felt like a certain win right up until the moment it was suddenly all in jeopardy. But Bucs quarterback Jameis Winston couldn’t connect with O.J. Howard in the end zone on the final play of the game – Patriots defensive back Jonathan Jones got a hand on the pass — and the Patriots escaped with a 3-2 record.
Given how this season has started, a win is all that matters, no matter the means or the aesthetics.
2. There was some clear progress made in the four days since the 33-30 loss to the Panthers at Gillette Stadium. Stephon Gilmore, the most maligned member of the Deltha O’Neal Tribute Quartet that was masquerading as an NFL defensive backfield against the Panthers, appears to have achieved what we call Getting Your Act Together. Gilmore was pointed in the direction of a Bucs receiver all night, did a nice job when he covered stalwart receiver Mike Evans, and he even seemed to realize who he was supposed to be covering on most plays. Progress!
3. Bucs quarterback Jameis Winston did help the Patriots defensive backs find their mojo by missing some throws. He had a wide-open DeSean Jackson down the right sideline in the second quarter but overthrew him by five yards. He also didn’t get a lot of help from his receivers. Cameron Brate dropped a perfect throw in the end zone that would have cut the Patriots’ lead to 16-14 with 7 minutes left in the game. But Brate did score just before the 2-minute warning on a similar play.
4. Winston isn’t especially impressive at this point in his career. In terms of effectiveness against the Patriots, here’s how I’d rate the five quarterbacks they have faced so far, least to most impressive: 5. Jameis Winston. 4. Cam Newton. 3. Drew Brees. 2. Deshaun Watson. 1. Alex Smith.
5. The Bucs might have won this had their kicker not been the reincarnation of Scott “Missin’’’ Sisson. Nick Folk missed three field goals (after missing two FGs and an extra point Sunday) and will probably be ex-Bucs kicker Nick Folk by Friday afternoon. Where have you gone, Donald Igwebuike? It’s as wonder the Bucs didn’t pull CBS kicking expert Jay Feely off the sideline to give it a shot.
6. Meanwhile, Stephen Gostkowski hasn’t missed a field goal attempt all season. He was 4 for 4 Thursday night, including a 48-yard dart with 1 minute 10 seconds left to put the Patriots up 19-14. The Bucs would probably give up a couple of first-round draft picks for him if Belichick asked Friday morning.
7. Danny Amendola seems to make a big play or two, usually when the outcome still hangs in the balance, every game. Thursday night he made those plays throughout the game.
8. Amendola had six catches on six targets in the first half, for 50 yards. He finished with 8 catches for 77 yards. He busted a 40-yard punt return that set the scene for Chris Hogan’s touchdown catch a few plays later.
With Rob Gronkowski out with a thigh injury, there were more opportunities to be had for Amendola. He caught all of them.
9. The NFL Network has a Wes Welker “A Football Life’’ queued up for Friday night. Haven’t seen it yet, but I’m sure it will be properly sentimental toward his time in New England. What I’m sure it won’t mention is that the Patriots were absolutely right to sign Amendola instead of him.
10. I can’t imagine I’m the only one who wondered whether we were seeing signs Thursday night that Tom Brady is fighting through an injury. He’s still taking too many hits – the Bucs entered the game with one sack all season and had tripled their total by halftime.
11. A couple of times he got up after getting whupped by a Buc and looked at his hand and wrist like something wasn’t right. He also could be seen stretching his shoulder after a couple of throws. I’d say it’s probably nothing, but even a small fear that Brady is hurting is something.
12. And he is getting walloped. This has to stop. Tony Romo said on the broadcast he thought left tackle Nate Solder looked like he was hurt. If he keeps playing like this, he’s going to get Brady hurt. Brady has already been sacked 16 times this year. He was sacked 15 times all of last season, and behind the same line.
13. Brady did have two turnovers, an interception in the first quarter (his first of the season), and a fumble near midfield in the third with the Patriots holding a 16-7 lead. At the point of the fumble – with 2 minutes 40 seconds left in the third quarter – Brady had been hit, and hit hard, seven times by the Bucs.
14. The interception, Brady’s first on the road since the 2015 season, was a wobbly throw to Hogan that sailed high and wide right. Brady makes a throw like that twice a season.
15. We know there are certain things that Brady hates. Questions about politics. Delicious food for humans. Wide receivers who cannot meld their minds to his. Here’s another: Patriots drives that cover 89-yards but end in a 27-yard field goal.
16. But that’s how the Patriots scored their first points, on a Stephen Gostkowski chippy field goal with 1 minute, 25 seconds left in a sluggish first quarter. The Patriots used 13 plays on the drive and used up 7 minutes and 10 seconds on the clock, but ended up with 4 fewer points than they wanted.
17. Dion Lewis had 48 yards on his first four carries, including a 31-yarder on that initial scoring drive. I like Mike Gillislee’s running style. James White is a heck of a receiver. But Lewis is their best running back. Play the man.
18. Good to see Matthew Slater make his season debut. He’s going to have a sneaky-interesting Hall of Fame case when his time comes.
19. The Patriots’ white color rush uniforms were fine. The Bucs looked like what would happen if someone tried to make a creamsicle with a Bloody Mary mix.
