Gold Stars, Penalty Flags: Jabaal Sheard, Logan Ryan Lead Way For Patriots Defense
BOSTON (CBS) -- The Patriots are finally back on the winning side of things and the timing is right on. The Denver Broncos lost and the Cincinnati Bengals lost. So now the Pats have the top seed in the AFC. Here are your gold stars and penalty flags.
Gold Stars
- Rob Gronkowski gets a gold star. This was an easy one but you have to figure this. Gronk single-handedly stepped in and calmed down the Pats offense. His four catches for 87 yards and a touchdown lit up the stat sheet but when he stepped into the huddle, the Pats immediately thought they were going to win the game. That's what he brings. Like your big brother showing up to the street fight. He's tough and tips the scales in New England's favor when he's out there. Everything ran better thanks to Rob Gronkowski.
- Jabaal Sheard gets a gold star. Maybe the Texans had no idea who Sheard was before the game but they know him now. He had two sacks and disrupted all of Houston's offense in the second half. Sheard has quietly become a star for the Patriots. Sooner or later, the Pats are going to get everyone on that defense healthy and when they do, stopping Sheard will be a nightmare. He did whatever he wanted to do against the Texans.
- Logan Ryan gets a gold star. Coming into the game, the Pats needed to slow down Texans wide out DeAndre Hopkins. They put Ryan on him and that was that. Ryan has become a top corner in the NFL. Everyone focuses on Malcolm Butler and he's been fine but most of the time, it's Ryan that gets the No. 1 receiver and most of the time, the No. 1 gets nothing. The Pats secondary is solid. You would not have thought that coming into the season. Logan Ryan has helped that.
- Honorable mention goes to Leonard Johnson. Had no idea who he was when the Pats signed him to a two-year deal on Wednesday but he made his presence felt during the game. Good for him. hopefully he can keep it up.
Penalty Flags
- Keshawn Martin gets a penalty flag. If you are put back there to field the punt, then field the punt. Martin has played well since he's been here but he muffed a punt and that can not happen. While Danny Amendola is on the mend and Julian Edelman is out, these other guys have to step up and help out. Martin let the Pats down. He'll have to get better.
- Scott Chandler gets a penalty flag. I keep waiting for Chandler to jump off the page but now I feel like it's not going to happen. He was involved in one offensive snap in Houston. What is going on there? This guy used to beat up the Pats when he was in Buffalo, now he's struggling to get into the game plan. The Pats are going to need him. Both sides need to figure this one out.
- The Texans gets a penalty flag for running the wildcat. How many times were they going to try that play before they realized, IT WAS NEVER GOING TO WORK?!?!?! If there is one team in this league that has defending the wildcat down, it's the Patriots. Bill O'Brien should have known better.
