SZ642

BY JIM DAWSON

OCTOBER 17, 2016

PATRIOTS CAGE BENGALS 35-17

After being outplayed in the 1^st half (yet holding a 10-7 lead), the Patriots roared back in the 2^nd half to silence the snarling Bengals.

As the Pats began to pull away, we saw more cheap shot hits by the Bengals. Vontaze Burfict (suspended for the first three games of the 2016 season for repeated violations of player safety rules.) clearly went at Martellus Bennett’s knees. That’s why Gronk got up into Burfict’s face later. Someone went for James White’s head on a screen pass, and the reason that LeGarrette Blount got his penalty seemed to be because someone was punching him in the pileup on the goal line score.

I listen to the Sports Hub radio broadcast at Gillette and like Scott Zolak’s emotion and analysis. At one point, Zolak waved a Brady shirt out the window of the radio box and the fans went nuts.

It was Zolak who singled out Burfict for his dirty play. Zolak said Burfict leg whipped Martellus Bennett.

Zolak commented frequently on how the Pats weren’t chucking A.J. Green at the line and instead letting him run free. In the 2^nd half, Zolak noted that the Pats switched from a zone defense to man to man. A.J. Green is one hell of an athlete and burned the secondary, especially Logan Ryan and even Malcolm Butler. New guy Eric Rowe did a decent job on Green. Nelson Eric Rowe, Jr. was obtained from the Eagles for a conditional 4^th round pick just as the season began.

The whole game changed when Dont’a Hightower sacked QB Andy Dalton in the end zone (modesty prevents me from admitting that I called for a sack on the play). It was a dumb call on a 2^nd and 18 from their 8. Cincinnati had run the ball effectively, especially with Giovani Bernard. Move the ball out – safer.

So thanks to the Cincy play calling and Dont’a, of course, it was 14-12 Bengals and they had to kick to NE. An ensuing TD (good field position at the Pats 32 when Edelman had a 16 yard return) gave the Pats a lead they would never relinquish.

STATS PER GAMEBOOK, REMARKS BY ME

The Patriots defense allowed Cincy to go 3 for 6 on 3^rd down in the 1^st half. And with little pass rush, Andy Dalton went 13 of 16 (143 yards) in that half.

Those numbers would change to 5 of 12 on 3^rd down for the game. Dalton finished 21 of 31 (254 yards), so he was 8 of 15 for 111 yards in the 2^nd half as the Pats’ D was better.

Ryan Allen had another good game punting, averaging 44.3 yards on 3 kicks. His 52-yarder backed up Cincy to their 5 and it was the series with Hightower’s end zone sack.

The loudspeakers then played Safety Dance by Men Without Hats. Much dancing ensued.

Rookie LB Elandon Roberts #52 had another strong game, but suffered a head injury when he helped stop Bernard at the goal line. Roberts was able to return later. Hightower led the defense with 3 tackles, 10 assists (13) and 1½ sacks (Sheard had the other ½ sack). But Roberts 1/6 (7) and McCourty 6/1 (7) were next. With 2 sacks and 4 QB hits, the Pats defense needs to work on that pass rush.

The Patriots’ offensive line did a decent job protecting Tom Brady. However for the game, he was sacked 3 times and hit 6 times. In the 1^st half, Brady’s receivers were tightly covered, but stats show he was only sacked once and hit once in the 1^st half. So the rest came in the 2^nd half. The O Line needs to be better. Go get ‘em Scar!

James White, showing his increased importance, was targeted 9 times and had 8 catches. Gronk also had 9 targets with 7 catches. Martellus Bennett was 5 for 5! Edelman 7/4.

TOSSING THE BALL AROUND

Sunday’s Patriots game was a reminder that a player willing to do anything to take out an opponent might just end Tom Brady’s career, before his age ever does.

Vontaze Burfict needs to be suspended for his play which was ‘intent to injure’. We’ll see if ‘God’ Goodell and his minions are paying attention.

There should be a rule change regarding such ‘intent to injure’ penalties. If a player is knocked out of a game by such a play, the perpetrator should be out for as many games as the player that he injured.

It’s on to Pittsburgh now. No Roethlisberger (who had issues with Burfict last year).

IS THAT ALL THERE IS?

As I listen to Peggy Lee’s Is That All There Is?, I wonder how the Red Sox lost their mojo and their momentum. When your two aces, Cy Young candidate Rick Porcello (22-4) and David Price (17 wins), can’t get out of the 5th and 4^th inning respectively, and each give up 5 earned runs, well it’s tough to come back. Especially in a 5-game series.

This team seemed lifeless right from the start. Like the zombies in The Walking Dead (who actually exhibit more life than these BoSox did). Was it the 5 losses in the last 6 games (NY and TOR) when one win would have forced the Indians to play Detroit on a Monday and mess up their rotation? And potentially give the Red Sox home field? The Indians had one of the best home records (53-28) so that good Red Sox road record (46-35) was offset. The Red Sox missed all the comforts of home.

Was it that the team just tired much like its super hero star David Ortiz? Those bats looked like limp linguine. Youngsters who had not seen much playoff experience? In the 3^rd game, the must win game, Brock Holt was pinch hit for as was Andrew Benintendi. The two were leading the moribund Sox in hitting. Tough to win that way. Right-lefty moves, be damned.

Terry ‘Tito’ Francona brought a fighting, aggressive team to play. And Francona’s willingness to go all in by using Andrew Miller in the 5^th inning to effectively win the 1^st game was an example.

Catcher Roberto Perez had a series which will make his season. Swipe tag on Holt to cut down a run. Solo homer (after hitting 3 on the year). A tag up ‘dash’ to 2^nd when Benintendi hesitated on his throw in. Perez was playing because Yan Gomes was hurt. It takes unexpected players and plays like that to win championships.

Good luck to Francona and the Indians against Toronto.

BULLETS

• Jason Kipnes had the cojones to tell David Ortiz before Game # 3 “I just watched your last batting practice ever.”(per a Heidi Watney tweet via NESN’s Darren Hartwell 10/10)

• Of the catchers on the Red Sox roster, I would keep Christian Vazquez (needed more time to heal) and Blake Swihart. Swihart (25 next April) is a switch hitter with power who may move to a different position. Sandy Leon’s trade value won’t get any higher.

• Cowboys QB Dak Prescott broke Tom Brady’s record (162) for throwing consecutive passes without an interception at the start of a career. Prescott was intercepted by the Packers on his 177^th throw.

Sportzine is available at jimdawsonsports.com thanks to Buffalo Steve Lenz

THE HOT CLUB

Matt Dawson and I were talking about Murray Head and his LP Say It Ain’t So and his role as Judas in Jesus Christ Superstar (Head sang the single Superstar). I mentioned Head’s One Night in Bangkok. Matt noted that the two guys from Abba wrote that song.

Since the Hot Club’s aquarium now has denizens of the deep in its salt water tank, I was able to ask Eben Bates about a few of them . He pointed out a few different types of tangs and a couple clown fish. Chef Sean also helped me to identify a yellow sailfish and some fox faces Very beautiful fish and Eben intends to add more. Eben also noted that a couple pieces of coral have been added to the aquarium.

Asked Mike Module if he’d ever been to the Annie Street Club in Pawtucket. Yup, he saw Buster Douglas knock out Mike Tyson at the Club.

ANSWER TO LAST ISSUE’S QUIZ

So who was the person who was an American singer, songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, and actor of film and television, who performed in a range of musical genres, including jazz, pop, rock 'n' roll, folk, swing, and country, and is in the Rock n’ Roll Hall of Fame?

No one had it – Bobby Darin (Walden Robert Cassotto) who died way too young at age 37 after heart surgery. He will always be remembered for Splish Splash, Dream Lover, Mack the Knife and his version of If I Were A Carpenter. I saw him in Hell Is For Heroes with Steve McQueen and he did a decent job of acting.

Wikipedia notes that Darin (once married to Sandra Dee) dated Connie Francis but her father didn’t approve and they split. She later said it was the mistake of her life. He also worked for Robert Kennedy’s 1968 campaign and was at the Ambassador Hotel the night Kennedy was assassinated. Darin had rheumatic fever as a kid. In 1971, he had two heart valves replaced. In 1973 he failed to take antibiotics before a dental visit which led to sepsis, surgery and death.

THIS ISSUE’S QUIZ

This lead singer/guitarist of a great American band changed his first name (a guru suggested it) to perform. He is noted for his 12-string electric guitar and the great sound from it which helped propel his band to many hits. He even played in Bobby Darin’s nightclub band. Name the singer/guitarist, his band, the guitar and your favorite song.