New England Patriots Game Grades: Good Marks Across The Board

Here are this week’s game grades for the New England Patriots:

Passing Offense: A+

Once again, the Patriots were unstoppable through the air against the Jaguars, as Tom Brady completed 33 of 42 passes for 358 yards, and two touchdowns. He had plenty of time to throw the ball (offensive line continues their great play), and Brady spread the ball around this game, as he got a number of different targets involved.

Of course Rob Gronkowski and Julian Edelman led the pack as usual, combining for 12 catches and 186 yards, but Danny Amendola was big, Dion Lewis and James White were effective out of the backfield, and newly traded-for Keshawn Martin even got in the end zone. It was an overall dominating performance.

Rushing Offense: B

Early in the game the Pats were focusing on the passing game again, but as the game wore on, LeGarrette Blount was brought into the huddle to close out the game, and he was very good in that familiar role. Blount gained 78 yards on 18 carries, and got into the end zone three seperate times, as he brought a power-game that the Pats had been lacking in the first two weeks.

Dion Lewis is still the top back in my mind, as his ability to break tackles and win 1-on-1 matchups in the passing game supersedes Blount, but having that combination will be very useful going forward for New England.

Pass Defense: B

The front seven got after Blake Bortles, hitting him twice, and sacking him twice, and the secondary fared well, aside from one big mistake in the third quarter. Malcolm Butler had Allen Hurns matched up 1-on-1 with safety help over the top, but he took a gamble by cutting inside to make a play on the ball, and he missed, which allowed Hurns to make a big grab.

However this would have been a small gain if safety Duron Harmon had been able to make the tackle, but he took one of the worst angles I have ever seen in pro football, and Hurns was able to scamper into the end zone. Other than that, the secondary was very impressive.

Run Defense: A

New England’s run defense had been heavily scrutinized coming into this game, but they were strong against the Jags, holding their solid running game to 2.8 yards a carry. Sealver Siliga and Alan Branch were strong at the point of attack, and the linebackers were elite as usual in making the necessary stops. Hopefully this play keeps up.