Here are the winners and losers from the New England Patriots’ stunning 20-13 loss to the Tennessee Titans in the wild-card round at Gillette Stadium on Saturday night.
Loser: Tom Brady, QB
The Gillette Stadium crowd chanted, “BRADY, BRADY, BRADY,” when their quarterback threw the ball from the 1-yard line with 15 seconds left in the game.
And he threw a pick-six. It might be his last throw for the Patriots.
The game felt over even before the interception. But that play put an exclamation mark on the win and left a question mark on Brady’s future in New England. Brady is set to enter free agency in 2020 after having one of the worst seasons of his career statistically. He finished this game 20 of 37 for 209 yards and the interception.
The Patriots quarterback looked nothing like Tom Brady. When he got the ball with four minutes left in the game, New England went three-and-out — though Julian Edelman dropped a pass that would’ve been a first down. It was a strange sight. What might be stranger? Brady in a different uniform next season.
Loser: Everyone trying to tackle Derrick Henry
Arm tackles were no use. Sometimes, quality form tackles weren’t any good either. The NFL’s leading rusher powered through the line of scrimmage, showed burst on the edge and even caught the ball for good measure. All the while, Patriots defenders bounced off his thighs.
His running style is familiar for New England. Former Patriots running back LeGarrette Blount did something similar when he played at Gillette Stadium. In particular, there were flashbacks to Blount’s game against the Indianapolis Colts in the playoffs in 2015, in which he had 24 carries for 166 yards and four touchdowns. But Henry was probably more explosive and just as powerful on Saturday night. He finished the night with 34 carries for 182 yards and a touchdown.
Winner: Patriots offensive line
In the first half, they were plowing. They created ample room for running back Sony Michel (14 carries, 61 yards) to run, particularly in the first half, when he had 10 carries for 50 yards. Michel was running well off tackle and behind fullback (and linebacker) Elandon Roberts. Receiver Julian Edelman was also helping clear out of the edges of the field.
That’s likely why the Patriots returned to those off-tackle runs on the goal line on three consecutive plays. But that’s where the offensive line (and running backs) let them down — they couldn’t get that one yard and settled for a field goal. And there should be some question as to whether Josh McDaniels shouldn’t have run a similar play on three consecutive plays.
Loser: Terrence Brooks, S
He has been a competent replacement for safety Patrick Chung during the season. When Chung has been hurt, Brooks comes in to be a versatile safety, who can cover tight ends and thump running backs at the line of scrimmage. But Brooks wasn’t sharp at a crucial moment in the game. Chung exited the game with an ankle injury — and quarterback Ryan Tannehill took note. He went after Brooks on the following play for a 12-yard touchdown to tight end Anthony Firkser.
Brooks managed a slice of redemption with a pass-breakup in the second half on third down — but it wasn’t enough to erase the score.
Then his night got worse when he allowed a catch from Firkser with three minutes left in the game for a first-down conversion on third down. The failure in coverage might have been as costly as the touchdown play.
Winner: Julian Edelman
I’ve mentioned his efforts as a run blocker, which were strong. But he also logged his first career rushing touchdown. The receiver is the first Patriot to throw, catch and rush for a touchdown in a season since David Patten.
On his career, Edelman has a touchdown via reception, pass, rush, punt return and fumble return. He’s working on every kind of touchdown there is. Edelman was also the target on Tom Brady’s prettiest throw of the night. Credit goes to Edelman for making the throw in traffic (even if more credit goes to Brady for making the pass).
The wideout finished with three receptions for 30 yards. He also drew a holding penalty.
Winner: Kyle Van Noy, LB
He logged a pressure on Duron Harmon’s interception, which should have been a major momentum-changer for the Patriots in the fourth quarter. Alas, New England’s offense couldn’t capitalize. Van Noy’s crucial pressure followed another big play, a sack in the third quarter. The linebacker stripped Tannehill, but the quarterback recovered.
Van Noy finished with five tackles (and wasn’t credited for the sack above.)
Loser: Pass catchers not named Julian Edelman
The narrative heading into this game was that someone — anyone — needed to step up to help Edelman and running back James White in the passing game. And that didn’t happen.
They were struggling to create separation for much of the game, and they didn’t prove reliable. N’Keal Harry got seven targets for two catches and 21 yards. Mohamed Sanu had four targets, one catch and 11 yards. Phillip Dorsett had one catch and six yards.
The Patriots tried desperately to improve this skill group over the offseason and regular season, by adding N’Keal Harry, Josh Gordon, Antonio Brown and Mohamed Sanu. They tried to add Jared Cook in free agency, and probably tried to our Gronk out of retirement. Belichick seemed to know this group wouldn’t be enough. And they weren’t.
