Shorthanded Pats dig in
Defense stymies Packers
FOXBORO — Down three key offensive starters and up against a magician of a quarterback, there was every reason to believe the Patriots’ five-game win streak would be snapped last night.
But the Pats kept rolling.
The much-maligned defense swarmed Aaron Rodgers. Often rushing from an interior position, defensive end Trey Flowers had his way with the Packers offensive line. Adrian Clayborn was a terror from the edge. The Pats were willing to concede yards on the ground to Aaron Jones, but they made this night as difficult as possible for Rodgers. And the offense?
No Sony Michel, no Rob Gronkowski, no Shaq Mason. They were thin across the board. And they still torched Green Bay, emerging with an impressive 31-17 victory at Gillette Stadium.
Much like the Kansas City game in Week 6, the Patriots defense played a tremendous first half against a highpowered offense. Green Bay ran 42 plays. Not one of them went for 20 yards or longer.
Also like the Kansas City game, the momentum appeared to shift after the break. The Patriots gambled on a third-and-6 and played without a deep safety. Rodgers recognized the Cover-0 and connected with rookie receiver Marques Valdes-Scantling for a 51-yard gain. He beat Jason McCourty on the play.
Rodgers continued to look for his 6-foot-3 rookie. Near the end of the third quarter, Valdes-Scantling outjumped J.C. Jackson for a difficult grab along the visitors sideline, picking up 24 on a third-and-1. On the next snap, Valdes-Scantling beat Jonathan Jones for a 26-yard pickup.
The first play of the fourth quarter might have been the biggest of the night for the Patriots.
Aaron Jones, who had success facing light fronts throughout the night, bounced to the left edge and cut upfield for a 6-yard gain to the Patriots 28-yard line. Defensive tackle Lawrence Guy pursued from the back side, met Jones and punched the ball free. A handful of players from both teams dove for it, and Stephon Gilmore emerged with possession.
Soon after, Josh McDaniels queued up a double pass, as Tom Brady threw back to Julian Edelman near the Green Bay sideline. Edelman tossed it across the field to James White. He had blockers in front, weaving his way for 37 yards to the Green Bay goal line. White punched in a 1-yard touchdown to give the Pats a 24-17 lead.
Brady delivered the final blow, finding Josh Gordon for a 55-yard touchdown with 7:20 remaining. Packers cornerback Tramon Williams whiffed on the tackle at the 38-yard line, and Gordon coasted into the end zone.
White briefly exited in the second quarter with an apparent left leg injury. He emerged from halftime with a wrap on his leg, but he quickly shed it and returned to the game.
White had 103 yards from scrimmage and two touchdowns. While he was sidelined, Cordarrelle Patterson assumed running back duties. He looked great, totaling 61 yards on 11 carries.
Gordon enjoyed a seasonhigh 130 receiving yards in the win.