SZ677
BY
JIM DAWSON
JANUARY
15, 2018
PATRIOTS
- NOT DONE
The
mantra this year for the Patriots is ‘Not Done’. They showed that
they are Not Done after dismantling the Tennessee Titans 35-14 in
un-Nashville-like weather (24°
game time, a drop of 30
degrees during the day). In
fact at 28-7 with 4:02 left in the 3rd
quarter, the game was over. When Gronk got it to 35-7 on a 4-yard TD
catch in the 4th
quarter, many frigid fans headed for their cars. Fans like Driller
Killer, ‘Search Her’
Susan and I stayed
to the end. Soaked
it all in. The early departure made the escape from the parking lot
much easier.
The
Patriots were going to win this game anyway, but a key play came with
the Pats up 14-7 but pinned at their 14 and 4th and 5.
Initially Geneo Grissom was called for a penalty, but it was changed
to ‘neutral zone infraction’ on Brynden Trawick which gave the
Pats a first down and new life. They ran another 12 plays and scored
to make it 21-7 just before half. The Defense would then stop Derrick
Henry on 4th and 1 (M. Butler and Gilmore – 5-yard
loss).
Tom
Brady lit up the Titans on 35 of 53 for 3 passing TDs. He was never
sacked and hit but 4 times on 53 throws! Good job by the O Line which
lost RT LaAdrian Waddle with a knee injury. Cam Fleming stepped in
and did a good job. That same O Line helped NE to 101 yards rushing,
a way to keep Brady healthy. Lewis led with 62 yards (15 carries).
The
receiving stats were incredible. Amendola 13 targets – 11 catches
(112 yds.). Dion Lewis 10 targets, 9 catches (79 yds.). Strangely
neither had a receiving touchdown. But Gronk (9/6) and White (7/4)
did. And Hogan’s only catch was a TD.
In
fact, James White had a rushing and receiving TD. With White and
Hogan back from injury, Dorsett (active) didn’t play nor did Kenny
Britt (inactive).
The
Defense set a record with 8 sacks. The amazing thing about this team
is the ability to plug in players who are other team’s discards or
an unsigned free agent or a practice squad player and succeed. Ricky
Jean-Francois had a sack as did Alan Butler (rookie free agent).
James Harrison had 3 tackles. Geneo Grissom, who was mostly on the
practice squad, had 2 sacks. A tribute to DC Matt Patricia, who may
be gone soon.
Other
D notables: Marquis Flowers had 4 tackles and a sack. Trey Flowers
had 3 QB hits and a sack. Rookie Dietrich Wise, Jr. had 2 sacks.
The
D was able to stop the run and the pass. Marcus Mariota (4 for 37)
had more yards than Derrick Henry (12 for 28). Once the Titans got
behind, they had to abandon the run.
On
their fourth possession, the Patriots went to a no huddle offense. It
sparked them.
Bill
Belichick must not like the Titans and their organization. Up 35-7,
Brady tried to hit Brandin Cooks on a long pass up the left sideline.
The
Patriots will face a tough D when they play the Jacksonville Jaguars
next Sunday. It will take another team effort to get to the Super
Bowl. Keeping Brady upright and unharmed will be crucial. Nothing is
guaranteed. Just ask Mike Mitchell and Pittsburgh coach Mike Tomlin
who were more concerned about a rematch with NE and forgot they had a
game with the Jags.
BULLETS
• Congratulations
to my Minnesota friends, Mike Curtis, Dave Knudson and Steve Born who
are still walking on air after that Minnesota Miracle win. Supposedly
no one’s ever had a walkoff win in an NFL playoff game. This
was one for the annals. The Saints weren’t blessed on this day as a
61-yard pass and catch with 10 seconds left buried them
• However
as I pointed out to my Minnesota friends, had Marcus Williams stayed
on his feet and tackled Stefon Diggs, the game would have been over.
And what was Saints Defensive Coordinator
Dennis Allen doing,
celebrating the win? You can bet that the Patriots would have been in
a different prevent TD defense than that of New Orleans.
• ESPN
has announced that the 30
on 30 show with Bill
Parcells and Bill Belichick is scheduled for February 1 at 9 PM. Must
watch TV for New England football fans.
EMAIL
My
guess would be Creedence Clearwater Revival. I
was home on leave in July, 1971 and got to see them with Bo Diddley
at the RI Auditorium. Barry
Spadea
You
are correct - it's Creedence Clearwater Revival. Lucky you - I never
got to see them perform live. - Z
THE
HOT
CLUB
The
Wizard let me know that Eric Clapton is going deaf and has trouble
with his hands when playing guitar. Checked and Clapton admitted that
he has tinnitus (ringing in the ears) and that his hands ‘just
about work’ (NBC News.com – 1/12 of a BBC Interview).
On
a more upbeat note, the Wiz said that Leo Kottke (a personal
favorite) would play the Greenwich Odeum on May 10. Kottke is one of
the best 12-string guitarists ever. And his singing is better than
his take on it (sounds like ‘geese farts on a muggy day’).
Incidentally,
Jackson Browne (with a band) will be playing PPAC, the night before
(5/9).
Dr.
John, who skis, said that a man named Hans Badrutt helped invent
skiing as we know it. Back before Badrutt, only shepherds skied and
that was to get to their flocks. Badrutt had a hotel in St. Moritz in
Switzerland. He convinced some Brits to come back to his hotel in the
winter of 1864 and some did. It became the first European winter
resort. Visitors learned to used sleds, toboggans and skis (The
Guardian.com – 11/15/14)
Aaron,
aka Bob Seger, and I were talking about Country music (always a place
in my heart for Country). He liked Neko Case, whom he said had a
modern Country sound. I told him that the woman who played music at
our St. Ray’s canteen dances must have had a spot in her heart for
Country as she played Patsy Cline among others.
LAST
ISSUE’S QUIZ
Last
time I asked you to name a
band with
an
unusual
name and a
sound
that
seemed
different from where they hailed.
They have the most
#2 hits on
Billboard’s Hot 100 without ever having a
#1 hit. Barry
Spadea and Ken Forestal knew it was Creedence Clearwater Revival. CCR
came
from El
Cerrito, CA,
but their
sound was like swamp music. Per www.creedence-online.net/faq:
“The
quartet turned professional in December 1967 and changed their name
to Creedence Clearwater
Revival (from
Golliwogs).
Tom Fogerty had a friend at work who had a friend whose name was
Creedence Nuball. John Fogerty took the "Clearwater"
part
from a beer advertisement. "Revival" referred to the band's
rebirth or revival.
THIS
ISSUE’S QUIZ
This
band was not rock
music
critics favorite but they had a strong following. Their
first two albums went gold and
in
1971 they sold out Shea Stadium faster than the Beatles. Name?
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