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New England Patriots Week 7 team grades vs Atlanta Falcons

By Kenneth Teape

FOXBORO, MA - OCTOBER 22: Tom Brady #12 of the New England Patriots looks on in the huddle during the first quarter of a game against the Atlanta Falcons at Gillette Stadium on October 22, 2017 in Foxboro, Massachusetts. (Photo by Maddie Meyer/Getty Images)
FOXBORO, MA - OCTOBER 22: Tom Brady #12 of the New England Patriots looks on in the huddle during the first quarter of a game against the Atlanta Falcons at Gillette Stadium on October 22, 2017 in Foxboro, Massachusetts. (Photo by Maddie Meyer/Getty Images) /
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New England Patriots Week 7 team grades vs Atlanta Falcons
FOXBORO, MA – OCTOBER 22: Matt Ryan #2 hands the ball to Devonta Freeman #24 of the Atlanta Falcons during the fourth quarter of a game against the New England Patriots on October 22, 2017 in Foxboro, Massachusetts. (Photo by Adam Glanzman/Getty Images) /

C. . . . RUSHING DEFENSE GRADE

The Patriots were able to figure out the Falcons passing offense, but the same cannot be said about the Falcons ground attack. New England is lucky that they essentially ended the game in the first half, changing the game script, because they struggled to slow the Falcons down on the ground.

Devonta Freeman had his way picking apart the Patriots front seven. Freeman received 12 carries and turned it into 72 yards, good for an average of 6.0 yards per carry. The Patriots were also hurt by Matt Ryan scrambles, as he ran for 37 yards on three attempts with a long of 16 yards.

The Patriots run defense had looked better, but they took a step back against Atlanta. The Falcons, despite trailing as long as they did, still managed to rush for 120 yards on 22 carries. That comes out to 5.5 yards per carry, which is an unacceptable number.

Freeman joins a rather long list of players who averaged over 4.0 yards per carry against the Patriots this season. It is something they will have to figure out as they have another difficult matchup next week against Melvin Gordon and the Los Angeles Chargers.

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