OFFENSIVE LINE
The running game went nowhere, and Tom Brady was sacked five times and pressured constantly. Every lineman was guilty of giving up at least one assault on Brady, but left tackle Nate Solder struggled the most, again having serious problems with outside speed rushes. He was beaten early by Jadeveon Clowney on a stunt and later to the outside for a sack, although left guard Joe Thuney was partly to blame because he couldn't handle J.J. Watt. Solder fanned trying to block linebacker Whitney Mercilus, who also beat him to his outside and sacked Brady, knocking the ball loose for Clowney to return for a touchdown. It doesn't get worse than that for an offensive lineman. Watt blew by Cameron Fleming on the first play of the game when he was in as a tight end, hitting Mike Gillislee in the backfield. Next play, Watt beat right tackle LaAdrian Waddle with a swim move and leveled James White. Right guard Shaq Mason made a nice block on linebacker Benardrick McKinney to help White get 6 yards but also allowed a sack when he lost control of defensive end Christian Covington, who jarred the ball loose from Brady. Mason recovered. Thuney had a tough day as well, contributing three hits to Brady's bruised body. As for center David Andrews, he gave up a sack, a pressure and was called for holding, but he recovered Brady's fumble on the final drive. You could say he saved the day. Dante Scarnecchia probably didn't put it so kindly.