Menu needs turnovers
FOXBORO — While the Patriots have relied on their usual recipe to win games this time of year, they’ve been woefully short on one key ingredient. Turnovers. Surprisingly, the Patriots haven’t forced a turnover in four straight games, which is the longest stretch for a Bill Belichick-coached team, or any Patriots team. Ever.
In fact, they’ve only produced one in their last six games, that being Duron Harmon’s interception of Ben Roethlisberger on a deflected ball off Eric Rowe in the end zone during the closing seconds of the 27-24 Week 15 win in Pittsburgh.
Turnovers have historically played a huge role for the Patriots, particularly in the playoffs, but especially in Super Bowls.
Remember Dont’a Hightower’s game-changing stripsack of Falcons quarterback Matt Ryan during the Patriots miracle comeback in Super Bowl LI last year?
How about Malcolm Butler’s pick of Russell Wilson in the closing moments of Super Bowl XLIX as the Seattle Seahawks appeared headed for victory?
The Patriots recorded at least one takeaway in all five of their Super Bowl wins.
“They’re doing a better job protecting it, we’re not doing a good enough job getting it out,” said linebacker Marquis Flowers. “We have one more game, so obviously it’s going to be a big point of emphasis this week. There’s opportunities every game. We just have to do a better job capitalizing on them.”
The Patriots finished the regular season 25th in takeaways with just 18 overall (12 interceptions, six fumble recoveries). That’s not what you’re looking for with a defense that surrenders so much yardage.
Turnovers have long been a staple of bend-butdon’t break defenses during Belichick’s tenure.
Last year’s unit was 14th in takeaways (13 interceptions, 10 fumble recoveries). Those turnovers were a big help in lifting the defense, and in turn, producing opportunities for the offense.
“Turnovers are so huge, especially when you’re going against a great offense like Philadelphia,” said Harmon. “You have to do something to try and slow them down, and maybe create some momentum for us. That’s a faststarting team that likes to put up points. They have tremendous skill at every position. So we know the turnover battle is going to be huge. We need to make our mark by getting some type of turnover and forcing turnovers when we get the opportunity.”
The Eagles might actually help the Patriots get out of their turnover slump. They haven’t been the best with ball security. While they didn’t turn the ball over in the NFC title game win against Minnesota, they had five giveaways over their previous three games. They’ve given up 12 fumbles and thrown nine interceptions. Carson Wentz, out for the season with a knee injury, threw seven of those. Nick Foles, meanwhile, threw two picks during the regular season, and has yet to throw one in the postseason. But he has yet to feel the pressure of starting in the Super Bowl.
Wentz was also part of the fumble total with five. Foles has three, so the Patriots need to get to the quarterback.
Defensive end Trey Flowers, who leads the Patriots with 6.5 sacks, has forced two fumbles. Only Malcolm Butler (three) has more. Flowers said yesterday he’s been watching plenty of film of Foles, his tendencies, how he holds the ball, and where he might be vulnerable for a strip sack. It’s all part of the preparation.
“We haven’t been able to get as many (turnovers) as we want,” said Flowers, “but we’re going to continue to work at it. We understand to be successful as a defense, we’ve gotta try to get the ball, force the ball off these guys. You take pride in it.”
Harmon leads the team with four interceptions, followed by Stephon Gilmore with two.
“We gotta get going. For some reason, the ball’s not bouncing our way,” said Harmon. “Last game, E-Rowe (Eric Rowe) got his hand on one. Forced a fumble on the last drive, didn’t get it. It’s there, but it’s not there. We just gotta finish. The time is now . . . . But the most important thing is stop them from scoring, and make sure we have more points than them, at the end of the game.”
Adding a few turnovers to the recipe certainly won’t hurt.