4th and Forever

By Gerry Stewart

What is it about the Pats when they play the Dolphins in Miami late in the year? More often than not leaving south FLA with a win is like pulling teeth. Perhaps by December we New Englanders are already hunkered down in winter mode, and, like Punxsutawney Phil, feel decidedly put upon when unceremoniously yanked from our wintery habitat. Somehow, playing football on 79 degree days under a defiantly blue December sky seems unnatural. It’s not as if Patriots v. Dolphins is a rivalry game like Pats v. J-E-T-S, at least before Sanchez’ butt-fumble, Fireman Ed abandoning his post, and the J-E-T-S becoming the jets. Nor does it rival Pats v. Manning’s Colts, or in the not too distant future, Pats v. Manning’s Broncos. After all, during the Marino years it was simply too one-sided in favor of Miami to be designated a rivalry. But even in Miami’s post-Marino plummet, victory rarely comes without its share of bona fide whoa Nelly, edge of your seat, nail-biting moments. Sunday’s little tryst was a case in point. As mother would have said: “It was a triumph of competence over mediocrity”.

This was a day when the much maligned defense didn’t rest on the comfortable cushion provided by the usually high-flying offense, but instead rose up and smote down the Tannehill Dolphins. As to why the offense was a pale shadow of its usual self, well that remains something of a mystery. Perhaps Tom Terrific was distracted by impending fatherhood. Perhaps injuries along the offensive line finally took their toll. Starting left guard Logan Mankins is still among the missing; starting right guard Dan Connolly was rendered hors de combat early on; and starting right tackle Sebastian Vollmer was clearly hobbled all game by back and knee pain. The resulting makeshift line didn’t fare too well for much of the game against Miami’s stout front 7, allowing 4 sacks and Brady to be beaten like a pinata all day.

Perhaps it was McDaniels’ curious first-half decision to abandon the run before even trying to run; the footballing equivalent of being against something before being for it. Despite lauding the merits of balance all season, McDaniels called 26 passes and a mere 7 runs in the first half, which seemed somewhat perverse when one has a 1000 yard rusher in the backfield. The result was entirely predictable. A diverse offense suddenly became stilted and one-dimensional, a plight which wasn’t helped by Lloyd auditioning for a milk carton and Edelman’s latest injury. Despite the stellar efforts of Welker and Hernandez, the Miami secondary pressured Brady, squeezed the field and double teamed the obvious threats. Thankfully, McDaniels saw the light and repented the error of his ways in the second half which saw a more balanced 25 runs and 14 passes.

Perhaps Big Brain was playing out some dastardly Machiavellian scheme of bait and switch, luring future opponents into complacency with plain vanilla before unleashing the surprise 4 scoop chocorama double-fudge delight with sprinkles on the unsuspecting Texans next Monday night. Who can fathom the inner workings of Belichick’s mind?

Whatever the reasons, strangely enough it all turned out well, and In the end the offense got it right. The defining series played out with 8.28 remaining in the game and the Patriots ahead by 7, 20-13.The Dolphins were harboring illusions of victory, not merely respectability. The Patriots got the ball on their own 20, knowing they must be brave. And brave they were. For once it was not the normally stellar Brady who was called on to close the deal as he has done so many times before. Instead, the game was put in the hands of Ridley; he didn’t disappoint. Ridley ran 10 times for 46 yards on the drive with an assist from Vereen who chipped in 8 yards. Brady was content to be efficient; 3 passes, 3 completions for 24 yards, to 3 receivers. When Gostkowski kicked a chip shot FG to make it a 2 score game at 23-13, the Pats had used up 7.18 on the clock and forced Miami to use all 3 of its timeouts. It was a Championship drive, a drive which once again wrapped up the AFC East. Despite Dan Shaughnessy’s typically churlish perspective that ”winning the AFC East is kind of a joke”, it should not go overlooked that Brady is the first QB in the history of the NFL ever to win 10 Divisional titles.

As for the defense? Well, it is still a work in progress. Certainly, they played very well against Miami, but let’s not forget the Dolphins are vertically challenged and Tannehill is not yet ready for prime time. Still, all one can do is play against that week’s offense, and the Pats were stingy against the run and shut down the passing game when they had to. Sterner tests lie ahead which will test their mettle, but there are signs of improvement and a growing confidence.  

The talking heads will ponder how the Pats will manage in the continuing absence of Mankins, Gronk, and now Edelman; they will lament the injuries and count the growing legion of the halt and the lame. But the team accepts the losses with stoic forbearance and picks up the slack. It’s one of the reasons we admire them. They are “Everyman”; our Sunday surrogates, expected to persevere and emerge victorious whatever life throws at them. We identify with them without the need to possess knowledge, skills or abilities outside our everyday experience. The next 2 weeks will tell us much. A sacrificial festive turkey or two, sundry dried fruit offerings and silent prayers to the Virgin Mary and we may be on a winner. As mother used to say: “The road we walk is littered with unanswered prayers, but it’s too late to stop now”.  

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