It was closer than it was supposed to be, but in the end, the Colts couldnt help themselves. They had to do something stupid. As Julian Edelman put it when asked about Indianapolis ill-advised fake punt: Shame on them for trying that again. You know youre not surprised with anything how they play. You know, Colts.
In other words, You know, desperate housewives.
Trailing by only six points late in the third quarter, the Colts did what they so often do against the Patriots. They panicked and made beating them easier. Do that against Tom Brady, and youre going down, which Indy did for the fifth straight time in this rivalry since Andrew Luck arrived.
QUARTERBACK
A-minus
Statistically, this wasnt Tom Bradys finest hour, but he deserves high marks for the way he moved in the pocket, often buying time for his depleted offensive line. The Colts put a lot of pressure on him, but he delivered accurate throws despite being chased off his spot. Bradys shoulder fake froze the Colts secondary just long enough to loft a 39-yard completion to Keshawn Martin early. Late in the second quarter, he was flushed from the pocket but stepped up, his movement allowing Danny Amendola to create space on a 35-yard reception. He did have several passes tipped at the line and was the victim of a batted one by Julian Edelman for his first interception of the year, a pick-six that originally was on target. But his legs created an opening for LeGarrette Blounts 11-yard touchdown catch in the fourth quarter, buying time in the pocket and then rolling right as the running back followed him on a parallel line, Brady putting the ball on the money for an easy score. He even made a good play while being sacked by safety Dwight Lowery on a blitz. Brady knew there was no one to block Lowery and wanted to go to Rob Gronkowski on a shallow cross, but at the last moment, the tight end was jammed by linebacker DQwell Jackson. Brady wisely took the sack rather than risk a hurried throw. This was a night he won more with his head and feet than his arm.
RUNNING BACK
B-plus
Dion Lewis had become a staple in the backfield but was all but invisible as LeGarrette Blount did the heavy lifting with 93 rushing yards, including a 38-yard touchdown burst on which he showed great acceleration through a massive hole on the right side. Blount also bounced off a pile of humanity at the line and stepped inside for an 11-yard gain that was all about vision. Credit him with a sound blitz pick-up on DQwell Jackson at the Patriots 10-yard line as well. Blounts TD catch was easy money partly because he gave Tom Brady an easy target by drifting with him once linebacker Jerrell Freeman bolted off in pursuit of the quarterback. Lewis time was limited, but he made it count, taking a screen for 12 yards that was doubled when he was hauled down by his face mask. Later, with the Pats facing third-and-6, Lewis made a nifty run for 7 by bouncing left then cutting back through a small crease. Good days work all around.
WIDE RECEIVER
B-minus
This was Danny Amendolas night. He hauled in seven of the nine b***s aimed at him for 105 yards and two long gains. His 35-yard out-and-up route on a slow developing play read the zone perfectly as Tom Brady bought him time to get free. Julian Edelman was playing with an injured finger that might have explained three dropped passes and another he batted into a Mike Adams pick-six. The finger must have been an issue because the passes were on point. He ran a fine route between linebackers, avoiding an attempted jam by Robert Mathis coming out of the slot and finding open space on his 11-yard touchdown. We could have done without his spike into the Colts logo, but thats Edelman. One day, somebody is going to spike him. Edelman also made an agile spin that shook off Mathis on a fourth-and-1 sweep and gained 2 yards. Keshawn Martins 39-yard catch wasnt his only contribution. He also drew an interference call on a fade route that had Greg Toler holding on, putting the ball on the Colts 7.
TIGHT END
C-minus
It was a below-average night for Rob Gronkowski, who often was jammed by a defensive end or linebacker and seldom left one-on-one. Because the method held him to just three second-half catches, Gronk can expect to see more of that. His blocking wasnt super effective, either. He was unable to maintain his leverage several times. The Colts had safety Dwight Lowery on him much of the game, but someone else usually had a hand or a body on him first. The few times he was out wide and one-on-one, he won the battles, including his touchdown. Scott Chandler averaged 19.5 yards on two catches because the emphasis was on Gronk. Chandler made a tough catch of a high throw from Tom Brady for 25 yards. He also got away with a nice hold on LeGarrette Blounts 38-yard TD run. Mike Williams blocking was spottier than usual. He couldnt hold his block on nose tackle David Parry, resulting in LeGarrette Blount being stuffed for 1 yard.
OFFENSIVE LINE
B-minus
Considering the line lost two left tackles Nate Solder (torn biceps) and Marcus Cannon (toe) this was a fairly solid performance. One of the two sacks allowed was of the coverage variety. While the six hits on Tom Brady and the consistent pressure are concerning (especially with the Jets coming to town), the Pats ran the ball effectively and did a better job in the second half once the linemen became accustomed to their spots. The upside is the kids in the middle kept a solid enough pocket that Brady usually was able to step up to avoid outside rushers, the two glaring exceptions being when T.Y. McGill beat guard Shaq Mason clean inside and forced an incompletion, and when center David Andrews missed Billy Winn and got the quarterback leveled. Sebastian Vollmer is one of the leagues best right tackles but had to move to the left side with Solder done for the season and Cannon limping. Ex-practice squad denizen Cameron Fleming stepped in for Cannon and held his own without holding the Colts. The line continued to pull effectively and get out in front of screens. The Pats averaged 4.6 yards per carry, which is effective.
DEFENSIVE LINE
B-plus
Good or bad, it starts up front, and Sunday night was pretty good. Three sacks and 10 hits on Andrew Luck forced the quarterback into too many off-target throws. End Chandler Jones finished with 21
Source: http://www.bostonherald.com/sports/patriots_nfl/new_england_patriots/2015/10/patriots_report_card_smart_win_for_brady_pats
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