Found: Security blanket
FOXBORO — Tom Brady had an extra bounce in his step last night, an added air of confidence when he stepped in the huddle.
When he dropped back to pass, and surveyed the field, all finally seemed right.
Julian Edelman was back.
PATRIOTS BEAT Karen Guregian
His favorite receiver and go-to guy had finally returned after serving his four-game PED suspension. It’s no secret, really. On the football field, Edelman makes the world right for Brady.
But in the bigger picture of the offense, he’s so much more. Last night, he breathed much-needed life into an offense that’s been waiting for a boost. His mere presence gave the Patriots a jolt of energy, but more than anything, his ability to play the slot, and allow everyone else to take their usual positions, made everyone better.
And it didn’t take long. The first play from scrimmage, Brady hit Edelman with a 9-yard pass, and off they went on a 12-play scoring drive.
Brady went 9-for-9 for 78 yards to open the proceedings, hitting five different receivers before throwing a quick slant to Cordarrelle Patterson for the first touchdown of the game.
But it all started with Edelman, who caught three passes for 28 yards in the drive. Actually, it started with his charge out of the tunnel before the game — a full sprint from end zone to end zone ending with a leap and fist pump — to get everyone ready for business.
“He brings the juice in our room … on the field, he’s a dog,” Phillip Dorsett said of Edelman on Tuesday. “Him bringing that energy is going to help us a lot.”
It was so obvious last night.
Edelman hadn’t played in a game that mattered since the incredible Super Bowl LI comeback against the Falcons, and even though he’s coming off a torn ACL, his presence made a difference, especially in the early going.
The Patriots stormed to a 24-3 lead at halftime. He played on 29-of-43 snaps to that point. Brady was 23of-27 for 207 yards with a 122.7 quarterback rating at intermission. Seven players caught passes, led by James White (nine catches, 74 yards), but there was so much more. Chris Hogan came out of witness protection, with two catches for 27 yards, although he later had a pass go through his hands for an interception in the third quarter.
Rob Gronkowski, who was playing with an ankle that wasn’t 100 percent, had three catches for 26 yards at the half. He got going in the third quarter, but again, having Edelman drawing attention in the slot takes defenders away from him. Gronk had receptions of 15, 15 and 19 yards before having a pass bounce off him for an interception. Initially, it was ruled a fumble, and later changed, as he couldn’t hold onto a ball, giving the ball back to the Colts on their 20.
Dorsett also got in the act.
And Josh Gordon was held to one catch before he showed why the Pats acquired him two weeks ago.
Up 24-17 and with the Colts generating momentum, the Patriots drove to the Indy 34. On first down, Brady went back to pass and had all day. He waited for Gordon to get near the end zone and threw one up into double coverage. Gordon was the only one who made a move on the ball and the Pats had six points and a comfortable lead once more.
Edelman did show some signs of rust, dropping a third-down pass in the first quarter. He was wide open, and just didn’t hang on.
But the Patriots won’t complain too much, although the offense did get sloppy with Gronkowski’s muff, the pass that deflected off Hogan for an interception, and Edelman’s drop. Those were mistakes that killed drives, cost them points, and essentially kept the Colts in the game.
Still, we got a glimpse of what this offense can be. With more time, and more work, it should be even better.