Four Ups, Four Downs From Patriots' Victory Over Raiders
FOXBORO (CBS) -- Had 'em all the way!
OK, so maybe when Darren McFadden strode across the goal line for what looked to be the game-tying touchdown (or game-winning, if Oakland wanted to try a two-point conversion), the Patriots weren't exactly in control of the game. But that touchdown got called back due to a holding penalty, and on the very next play, the Patriots came up with an interception to seal a closer-than-expected 16-9 win over the Oakland Raiders.
The game wasn't exactly full of bright spots for the Patriots, but we will nevertheless navigate the Four Ups and Four Downs from the win.
Four Ups
Vince Wilfork
He may not look like the world's most agile athlete, but Vince Wilfork has proven time and time again that looks can be deceiving. In the game's critical moment, Logan Ryan put a hit on receiver Denarius Moore. The impact popped the ball out of Moore's hands and into the air, and standing right underneath the ball as it came down to earth was Skinny Vinny.
Wilfork grabbed the interception at the 10-yard line and hit the deck with the game wrapped up in his arms. Three kneeldowns and a lofted incompletion later, the Patriots walked away winners.
Julian Edelman
The shifty receiver continues to be the player most capable to carry the offense through this rough patch. He caught 10 passes -- the fourth time in his career that he's reached double digits -- for 84 yards and was once again Tom Brady's No. 1 target, officially getting 13 passes sent his way. He also drew a crucial pass interference penalty on an inaccurate third-down pass which set up the Patriots for their only touchdown drive of the day.
As bad as the Patriots' offense has been (297 total yards on Sunday; 301 yards per game through three weeks), it's frightening to imagine how much worse they'd be without Edelman.
Nate Ebner
No, he won't make many headlines after this game, but the third-year safety doubled his total tackle number on the year by coming up with a pair of third-down stops.
Known primarily as a former-rugby-player-turned-special teamer, Ebner was called upon by Bill Belichick and Matt Patricia in big moments on defense. The first came on a third-and-10 near midfield early in the second quarter. Derek Carr completed a pass to Mychal Rivera, but Ebner closed quickly to make the tackle immediately, forcing an Oakland punt when the Raiders led 3-0.
The second play came late in the third quarter, when Carr connected with James Jones near the sticks on a third-and-15 pass. But again, Ebner wrestled the receiver down, this time 2 yards shy of the first down, forcing a fourth-and-2. (The Raiders successfully kicked a field goal.)
It wasn't highlight-reel stuff, but those were big plays from an unexpected source.
The Defense
It wasn't just Ebner, obviously, as the Patriots were able to keep Oakland out of the end zone all day long. Granted, it wasn't exactly the most powerful offense, but the Patriots can only play the opponent that's put in front of them.
Overall, the Patriots limited the Raiders to 241 total yards -- 174 through the air and 67 on the ground. They came up with a game-clinching turnover in crunch time, and in the past two weeks, the defense has allowed just 16 total points.
Again, the Adrian Peterson-less Vikings and the Maurice Jones-Drew-less Raiders aren't exactly the 2013 Broncos, so they haven't been faced with the most difficult of tests. Regardless, the New England defense has earned high marks the last two times out on the field.
Extra Point: Rob Gronkowski
The big tight end didn't earn a full "up" grade, as he wasn't perfect. He did, however, haul in the Patriots' only touchdown of the game. In doing so, he and Brady moved into a tie for third all time in touchdown passes for quarterback-tight end tandems. That is not bad at all.
Four Downs
Red Zone Offense
The Raiders came into the game having allowed 200 rushing yards per game, so it would stand to reason that the Patriots would have their way with that defense. Yet on four trips into the red zone, the Patriots came away with a touchdown just once. That's the type of issue that turns what should be a lopsided victory into a nail-biter.
That ineptitude included a first-and-goal from inside the 2-yard line. Shane Vereen ran for no gain on first down. Tom Brady's pass on second down was deflected by Charles Woodson. Though it ended up in Rob Gronkowski's hands, the tight end couldn't hold on. On third down, Brady threw to Danny Amendola. Incomplete.
It turned a seven-point trip into a three-point trip, and as Brady put it himself, "You can't do that."
Well, against the Raiders you can get away with it, but that's not likely to work against most of the league.
Sealver Siliga
The Patriots are thin on the defensive line as is, so losing Sealver Siliga to a foot injury hurts a great deal.
Siliga left the game in the first quarter and never returned. Siliga was already dealing with a hand injury this season, so the additional ailment to the foot will likely force the Patriots to work to add more depth along the D line.
Darrelle Revis
In what was the most surprising development of Sunday afternoon, it seemed as though rookie QB Derek Carr was picking on Darrelle Revis. The cornerback, of course, has proven to be an All-Pro in the NFL, but he didn't exactly live up to the "Revis Island" nickname in this game.
Carr completed four passes when throwing at Revis, according to Jeff Howe of the Boston Herald, and Revis also committed a pass interference penalty that didn't count due to penalties on Oakland on the same play.
Revis is far from being considered a liability after Sunday's performance, but the Patriots expected a little more than that when they brought him in this year.
Tom Brady
Look, if you're the quarterback, you're going to receive a disproportionate amount of praise after wins, but the converse will apply after losses. Because really, Brady wasn't bad in this game, but he wasn't as good as the Patriots need him to be.
He threw for zero yards in the first quarter on 3-of-5 passing, as the offensive struggled early and never really established any great rhythm. Whether it was his calls or Josh McDaniels' that led to a number of hurries to the line to try to catch the Raiders napping with a quick handoff to Stevan Ridley, it wasn't working, and a badly missed pass to a wide open Rob Gronkowski in the second quarter stands out as a major missed opportunity.
All in all, Brady finished 24-of-37 for 234 yards, a touchdown and no interceptions, which doesn't look terrible. He also got sacked twice and took four more heavy hits, so the offensive line has a lot of work to do in terms of protecting the QB. But still, he's the quarterback, and he's supposed to be better.
Read more from Michael Hurley by clicking here, or find him on Twitter @michaelFhurley.
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