We understood heading into Sunday night that the system was going to require to score a lot of points in order to hang in with Seattles own high-powered attack. They had the ability to do that by moving the ball through the air a lot much better than lots of anticipated, and regardless of needing guys to step up offensively after the news about James Whites father held him out of the contest.
We understand one thing leaving Sunday nights loss to the Seattle Seahawks the 2020 New England Patriots are genuine.
For the third straight meeting in between the two teams, it boiled down to the last play to determine the outcome. Although the Patriots actually showed up a backyard short, there were plenty positives to remove from that game– specifically on offense.
Winner: QB Cam Newton
We were waiting to see how the Patriots would assault Seattle on Sunday night after Cam Newtons 15 rushing attempts to 19 passing attempts in Week 1. He did not dissatisfy: Newton was one of the best players on the field Sunday night.
Its clear Josh McDaniels has centered his offense around Newtons strengths and is utilizing his ability to take control of the game with his legs. On Sunday night, however, he likewise revealed that his arm strength and accuracy are right where they were when he won his MVP award back in 2015. The offenses capacity hasnt even scratched the surface area, yet they are still finding methods to move the ball down the field and put themselves in good position to win video games. When you take into how long Newton has remained in New England and the cast around him, he has actually done an excellent task and is certainly enhancing weekly.
A few plays that stood apart to me is when Jamal Adams had him covered up on a free blitz, he averted it and provided a strike off balance to Julian Edelman for a big third down conversion. He then transformed to Edelman with a lovely touch to his back shoulder later on that very same drive that ended up in three points for the Patriots. He likewise made some big time throws to Edelman, NKeal Harry and Damiere Byrd on the Patriots final drive of the game to keep the chains moving.
Winner: WR Julian Edelman
He made some big catches down the stretch to keep the Patriots alive. The Patriots offense still runs through No. 11 and he showed up big when again on Sunday night.
Loser: RB Sony Michel
With James White, the video game versus Seattle presented an opportunity for Sony Michel to step up and take on a bigger work. He could not get anything going offensively, however, as he rushed for just 19 backyards on seven attempts and was changed by Rex Burkhead and his more flexible skillset for the majority of the second half.
Undoubtedly, the Patriots were trailing for much of the video game so they were not going to run the football as much as they normally would. But based on the brings we saw from Michel, it was– regrettably– the usual from him: a lack of burst, while might barely get to the 2nd level or make plays after contact.
Loser: OT Jermaine Eluemunor
Some of Michels issues, of course, was because of the fact that the obstructing in advance stopped working to produce the necessary lanes for him to get up to speed. This was a specific issue on the best side of the line, where first-year beginning tackle Jermaine Eluemunor had some forgettable plays while as soon as again being rotated in and out of the lineup together with rookie Mike Onwenu. At one point, Michel even let Eluemunor hear his aggravations.
Winner: S Devin McCourty
Not the very best night from Jason McCourty as he was beat deep for a goal in the 3rd quarter by David Moore and was beat previously for a goal from Tyler Lockett. The deep ball was good protection and was without any security aid however its no concern the Seattle made the most of McCourty on Sunday night. Jackson, meanwhile, also had an up-and-down efficiency after a stellar outing on opening week. The two cornerbacks integrated to permit 5 catches on 6 targets for 86 lawns and three of Russell Wilsons 5 goals.
A big key for New England to remain in this video game was getting out to an early lead. Devin McCourty did simply that as he returned his 27th career interception to your house simply a minute into the video game. McCourty was all around the ball the whole night, likewise adding a pass separation to accompany the pick. Seattles speed was definitely top concern for the Patriots on Sunday night and utilizing McCourty closer to the line of scrimmage played a huge function because. While this led to some issues on deep passes, the veteran safety himself had a good game– something that can not be said for New Englands entire secondary.
Losers: CB Jason McCourty & & CB J.C. Jackson
Winner: WR NKeal Harry
NKeal Harry much intrigue surrounding him just a dozen games into his NFL profession. Last week, we saw glances of what the former first-round draft choice can bring to this offense, however all positives were– fairly or not– outshined by his fumble out of the end-zone that possibly cost the Patriots six points.
Sunday night, nevertheless, saw Harry set brand-new career-highs in catches (7) and receiving backyards (72) while he made some big plays for the team down the stretch. He also hung in there on a tough catch on fourth down early in the game and took a hard hit from Quandre Diggs over the middle. Harry kept the football, stayed in the game and caught two huge passes on New Englands final drive to establish a possibility at the win.
Winner: WR Damiere Byrd
I believed the Patriots pass receivers as an entire played real well on Sunday night. They didnt get it going till the second half, however they definitely showed indications of enhancement from last week. Damiere Byrd acquired 72 yards on six catches and a lot of the success the Patriots had through the air in the very first half went through Byrd. He also made a nice catch over the middle of the field on the Patriots last drive of the night. Byrd and Newton definitely have chemistry from their Carolina days and they will require to continue building on that foundation as New England will look for more constant methods to move the ball besides going to No. 11.
Losers: Pound JaWhaun Bentley & & S Adrian Phillips
The Patriots again used the Bentley-Phillips tandem at its off-the-ball linebacker areas, but the Seahawks wanted to pursue them. Phillips played as a safety/linebacker hybrid like he did recently, with Seattle having no issues going right after him in the running video game. The team attempted to assault Bentley in coverage and by challenging him in his zone drops. Both plans worked well as New Englands 2 defenders discovered themselves in challenging scenarios throughout the video game.
Winner: LB Chase Winovich
Seattles speed was certainly leading priority for the Patriots on Sunday night and using McCourty closer to the line of skirmish played a huge role in that. I believed the Patriots large receivers as an entire played real well on Sunday night. He had 3 takes on, one of them solo, and 2 quarterback strikes on Sunday night and was truly one of the only gamers who stood out defensively for the Patriots.
Winovich continues to make strides early in his sophomore season. In 2015, we saw his ability as a pass rush however this year he has actually been stout versus the run and causing issues for opposing offenses. He had three takes on, among them solo, and 2 quarterback strikes on Sunday night and was really among the only players who stood apart defensively for the Patriots.
We were waiting to see how the Patriots would assault Seattle on Sunday night after Cam Newtons 15 rushing efforts to 19 passing attempts in Week 1. The Patriots offense still runs through No. 11 and he revealed up big once again on Sunday night.
The Patriots defense as a whole was not great on Sunday night; it got torched for five goals through the air and couldnt get the essential stops versus the run. We knew Seattle would be a tough match-up for them defensively but really the just one up front who was able to create plays consistently was Chase Winovich.
