Patriots Week 10 Studs & Duds

Here are some Patriots who were studs in their Week 10 victory over the New York Jets, and some who were more of a dud.

Studs

• TE Rob Gronkowski. Gronk has really become a force at the tight end position. Tom Brady targeted him 11 times and connected with him 8 times for 118 yards and 2 touchdowns. The connections were also meaningful connections, of course the two touchdowns and several catches that kept drives alive. Pro Bowl? YES!
• DE Andre Carter. Where did Andre Carter come from? He, and the rest of the defense, really turned the pressure up on Mark Sanchez. The pass rush helped take the pressure off an injured secondary and kept the Jet offense back. Carter led the way on the defense with 4.5 sacks, though at times it seemed as though you could have given credit to other players who made Sanchez get off his spot and into Carter’s arms.
• LB Rob Ninkovich. Ninkovich did a phenomenal job at outside linebacker setting the edge and in pass coverage. He had 5 total tackles and 2 interceptions, one which was the game-clincher that he returned for a touchdown.
• QB Tom Brady. Brady shook off his critics and turned in a performance that was, well, Brady-like. He was clutch and picked his play up a notch in a game that for all intents and purposes was like a playoff game. Brady finished the game completing 26 of 39 passes for 329 yards and 3 touchdowns against a tough Jet defense.
• Offensive Game Plan. Not sure if credit goes to offensive coordinator Bill O’Brien, Bill Belichick, or Tom Brady, but the game plan, most notably in the second half, got the Patriot offense back into its groove. The hurry up offense kept the Jet defense from making substitutions and the utilization of bunch formations forced Darrelle Revis and others to back off the line in their coverage. If these two teams meet again in the playoffs, it’s something the Jets are going to have to try and adjust to.

Duds

• RB BenJarvus Green-Ellis. After a phenomenal Week 5 performance against the Jets, the Law Firm ran only 8 times for 8 yards. It’s not the number of carries that are troubling but the production when he had the ball. Conversely, Danny Woodhead had 7 carries, one less than Green-Ellis, but ran for 38 yards on those 7 carries.

That’s all for the Duds. After a 37-16 victory on the road, against a division rival, a good team, and in a place you haven’t won in three years with a potential three-game losing streak hanging in the balance, you can’t help but accentuate the positives. There were certainly some coverage and offensive line issues at times, but who wants to nitpick?