MusketFire.com Game Ball: Which New England Patriots Player is Awarded the Game Ball This Week?
By Hal Bent
Honorable Mention: Stevan Ridley
Sep 14, 2014; Minneapolis, MN, USA; New England Patriots running back Stevan Ridley (22) rushes against the Minnesota Vikings in the first quarter at TCF Bank Stadium. The Patriots win 30-7. Mandatory Credit: Bruce Kluckhohn-USA TODAY Sports
Running back Stevan Ridley was a workhorse on Sunday grinding out 101 yards and a touchdown with most of his clock-killing runs coming in the second half after gaining just 29 times in the first two quarters. Ridley ran hard and attacked the line aggressively. No dancing in the backfield: the LSU alum was decisive and his one-cut style picked up positive yardage again and again.
The Patriots were able to run 37 times to just 22 passing plays, a sharp contrast to last week where quarterback Tom Brady was throwing 56 times to just 20 runs.
Best of all: no fumbles.