6 reasons why the New England Patriots won in Week 14

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The New England Patriots broke their uncharacteristic two-game losing streak on Sunday night, re-asserting themselves in the landscape of the AFC. The 27-6 victory was a sight for Patriots’ fans sore eyes after back-to-back painful losses. Here are six reasons why the Patriots won in Week 14:

6. Rushing offense

Finally, the ground game got going for the Patriots in Week 14. For the first time since the win over the Washington Redskins back in October, the backfield passed the 100-yard mark. It was about time.

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Before leaving the game with a hip injury, LeGarrette Blount had churned out 53 yards on 10 carries, including an impressive 17-yard burst. When Blount exited the game, Brandon Bolden picked up the slack, rushing for 15 yards on 16 carries. Additionally, James White’s only carry of the game was a two-yard touchdown score.

As a result of the Patriots’ success running the ball, the Texans weren’t able to key-in on Tom Brady. In fact, Brady threw the ball only 30 times, nearly half of his attempts the previous week against the Philadelphia Eagles (56). The less Brady throws, the better, as it means the ground game is working and there is less pressure on the 38-year-old’s right arm.

Regardless of the status of Blount moving forward, the Patriots must continue to utilize the run game. Bolden may have been a core special teamer this time last year when Blount, Stevan Ridley and Shane Vereen were ahead of him on the depth chart, but now is his time to prove his worth as a regular ball carrier. As long as Bolden plays like he did last night, the Patriots will be fine.

Next: 5. Health of Gronk, Amendola

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5. Health of Rob Gronkowski, Danny Amendola

No surprise here. When Gronk is healthy, the Patriots are leaps and bounds a better team. Sure enough, Gronkowski caught four balls for 87 yards and a touchdown last night, which is something no one would have expected two weeks ago when the mammoth tight end was writing in pain a mile high in the sky.

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Echoing Gronk’s efforts was Amendola, who again displayed his dependability as Brady’s safety blanket by catching six passes for 46 yards. Amendola is one of the toughest players on the Patriots’ roster despite his small stature, and he showed that when J.J. Watt gave him an unnecessary bump in the first half:

Gronk and Amendola accounted for 133 of the Patriots’ 226 passing yards, or 59 percent of the total. As if we needed further proof of why the Patriots struggled without these two on the field together. Just think how good the offense will be once Julian Edelman is back on the field.

Next: 4. Rise of James White

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4. Rise of James White

Even if White can be three-fourths the player Dion Lewis was before going down with an ACL injury, the Patriots will be fine. On Sunday night, White showed us that he can be everything Lewis was as a receiver out of the backfield and open-field ball carrier.

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White was the Patriots’ third-leading receiver in Week 14 after Gronk and Amendola, catching four balls for 38 yards, including a 27-yard catch and run. That stat line hides White’s outstanding grab on the sideline, which was ruled incomplete after further review. It was a questionable call by the referees, as there was not definitive evidence that his heel touched the sideline. Here it is, in case you forgot:

White is becoming everything the Patriots hoped he could be and more when they drafted him in the fourth round of the 2014 NFL Draft. On the season, he has 26 receptions for 248 yards and a pair of touchdowns. Don’t expect White to lose his newfound role anytime soon.

Next: 3. CB Johnson’s awesome debut

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3. Leonard Johnson’s awesome debut

Many Patriots fans probably wondered why Shane Vereen was back in New England playing cornerback last night. But no, the No. 34 jersey currently belongs to newly signed cornerback Johnson, formerly of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

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In his Patriots debut last night, Johnson made a pair of great pass break-ups, both of which ended threatening Texans drives. It’s a small sample size, but judging by Johnson’s performance in his first game wearing a Patriots jersey, it looks like the Patriots have finally found their nickel corner after trial runs with Justin Coleman and Rashaad Melvin.

If the Patriots can depend on Johnson in the slot, then they have a pretty decent group of starting cornerbacks with Malcolm Butler and Logan Ryan on the perimeter. Despite the presence of DeAndre Hopkins, the Patriots allowed only 155 yards through the air. Not bad at all.

Next: 2. Front seven play

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2. Front seven play

Going into this game, everyone and their mother was talking about J.J. Watt and Jadeveon Clowney and how lethal the Texans’ front seven is, but it turned out that the Patriots’ defense was the better unit on Sunday night.

Brian Hoyer was hit 10 times, including six sacks and two forced fumbles. Two of those sacks and both of the forced fumbles were a result of Jabaal Sheard growing into his own as a Patriot; Sheard was arguably the best player on the Patriots’ defense last night.

On the interior of the defensive line, Malcom Brown and Akiem Hicks played lights-out, as Brown recovered one of Sheard’s forced fumbles and Hicks recorded a pair of sacks and three hits on Hoyer.

Jamie Collins was his normal self, maybe even a bit faster now that he’s a few pounds lighter. Collins flew around the field last night, much like his fellow linebacker, Jerod Mayo. After Jonathan Freeny exited the game, Mayo played years younger and snuffed out several Texans plays at the point of attack.

Next: 1. Double-teaming Watt, Hopkins

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1. Double-teaming Watt and Hopkins

The Texans are a very good team, primarily because they boast the best defensive player in football as well as the Julio Jones of the AFC. The Patriots prevailed last night because they approached Watt and Hopkins perfectly.

Watt was neutralized as a result of the Patriots’ constant double teams. Sure, he was hindered a bit because of that broken hand, but give credit where credit is due. The Patriots constantly chucked an extra blocker Watt’s way, such as offensive lineman/tight end hybrid Michael Williams. It worked out well, as Watt only mustered a pair of tackles and nothing more.

On the other side of the ball, the Patriots plugged No. 2 corner Logan Ryan on Hopkins and gave Ryan safety help over the top. Hopkins broke away from Ryan just once for a 40-yard gain, but other than that, the Patriots held him to two catches on 12 yards. Devin McCourty did a great job providing Ryan with security on the deep ball.

Not surprisingly, Malcolm Butler absolutely owned Nate Washington in coverage except for Washington’s single reception of 49 yards. Butler made one of the best individual plays of the day when he punched out a near-touchdown catch in single coverage on the veteran wideout.

So there you have it. The Patriots won last night because of a potent run game, the presence of Gronk and Amendola, the ascendance of White, the solid debut of Johnson, outstanding front seven play and by taking the right approach toward Watt and Hopkins.

Next: Week 15 AFC Power Rankings: Pats back on top

Now, the attention in Foxboro as well as here on Musket Fire turns to the Week 15 game against the Tennessee Titans.