SZ693

BY JIM DAWSON

NOVEMBER 26, 2018

PATRIOTS GROUND AND POUND JETS 27-13

When Patriots fans quizzed me on how the Tennessee Titans could whip NE by 24, part of my answer was the following. The Offensive Line was beaten up. I saw LaAdrian Waddle sub in for both LT Trent Brown (who was ill during the week), and RT Marcus Cannon. Not good. Ted Karras played RG vs. the Titans. Hard to run without an intact O Line. It’s obvious that the Patriots need to run to win. It gives pause to pass rushers, and we all know that a heavy rush gets Tom Brady unsetttled.

The Titans game saw the return of Sony Michel, who had 11 carries (31 yards). James White had one carry all game. Part of the meager running numbers (19 carries for 40 yards) had to do with the Pats getting down by 2 TDs in the 1^st Half.

On Sunday, the Patriots had their Offensive Line intact. LT Brown, RT Cannon and RG Shaq Mason were all in on Sunday. Waddle was seen once as a TE next to LT Brown. La Adrian immediately caved to the pass rush. No matter. That Offensive Line paved the way for Sony Michel, who had a career high 133 yards on 21 carries, and James White who added 73 yards on 9 carries. And let’s give a shout out to Cordarrelle Patterson who bulled his 6’2”, 228 pound frame for a big 1^st down.

The Patriots started slowly and looked logy from the layoff. Yes, Tom Brady did lead them to a TD and FG, but the D gave those points back. However the intact Offensive Line was protecting Brady. It wasn’t until the 3^rd quarter that the Pats offense seemed to get in sync, scoring a FG (at 8:34), and then Edelman’s 21 yard TD (at 1:52). And the next Patriot possession resulted in Michel’s 1-yard TD run that grounded the Jets.

It helped too that in the 2^nd Half, the defense took over in stopping the run and chasing Josh McCown (2 sacks, 13 QB hits total per Gamebook). Trey Flowers had a sack and 4 QB hits. Deatrich Wise Jr. had the other sack and 3 QB hits.

Tom Brady was not sacked though he took some hits (5). He was happy to have Gronk back and targeted him a team leading 7 times (3 catches, one a 34-yard TD). Gronk also came to Brady’s rescue as he knocked away a sure interception by CB Jamal Adams.

Brady threw to 8 different receivers. Josh Gordon and Julius Edelman were both targeted 5 times. Gordon caught all 5. Edelman, who looked to have hurt his right elbow in the 1^st Half, had 4 receptions and the big 3^rd quarter TD. Gordon had a high catch on 3^rd down that got the Pats a 1^st down and led to Gostkowski’s 1^st half 34-yard FG. Gordon also had a sensational diving catch on 3^rd an 10 for a 1^st down that was unbelievable. It led to Michel’s clinching 4^th quarter TD run.

Phillip Dorsett and Chris Hogan, who had disappeared of late, each had 2 targets and 2 catches. Strangely, James White was targeted 5 times but had only 1 catch.

The Patriots will need to have all their weapons Sunday next when they play the Vikings

LEFTOVERS

Bill Belichick will not be happy with his team’s 11 penalties (105 yards), 7 of them in the 1^st Half. Of those 7 in the first half, three were on receivers (White, Gordon and Patterson). LT Trent Brown had 2 holding calls, but one was declined as the Jets took the one on David Andrews for a chop block. Rustiness? Hopefully only that.

The CBS guys had this early stat: the Patriots at home convert 3^rd downs 47.6% of the time, but 31.7% on the road. Sunday NE was 5 for 12 (42%). Not great, but...

Jets head coach Todd Bowles had a curious call in the 1^st half. On a NE 3^rd down play, the pass was incomplete. A penalty was called on White. Bowles, instead of going with 4^th and 2, took the penalty that made it 3^rd and 12. Next play Brady hit Gronk for a TD.

Early in the 2^nd Half, Sony Michel was hurt as he was bent backwards by two tacklers. He came back, fortunately, and ran great. The Pats had 66 yards rushing in the 1^st Half, 215 for the game. So they had 149 yards rushing in the 2^nd Half. Ground and pound.

BULLETS

• In Sunday’s Steelers – Broncos game, analyst Tony Romo opined that Pittsburgh was the best balanced team in the NFL. Then Jim Nantz reminded Romo of the New Orleans Saints. That best balanced Steeler team then went on to lose to Denver.

• Nice to see the Bruins beat the Montreal Canadiens 3-2 Saturday. Jake DeBrusk scored a goal and now has 7 in the last 9 games. Sadly, the Bruins play Montreal ony 4 times.

• The Celtics are still putting the pieces of the puzzle together. The NY Times’ Sopan Deb (11/25) had this: the Celts are shooting under 35% on catch and shoot 3 pointers. The Green are also near the bottom of the league in drives to the rim per game.

• The PC Friars basketball team looks to provide pleasure to their fans this year as Ed Cooley molds them into a team. In a Kevin McNamara article about the win over Iona, I learned that getting open is now called ‘relocating’.

• Per Bill Chuck (Cafardo quotes his stats every Sunday in the Globe), David Price had the most starts vs the AL East, and went 9-4 with a 3.70 ERA (Boston Globe – 11/25).

• Just found out that Lady Gaga performed at Half Time of Super Bowl LI (51). That’s the one where the Patriots came back from 28-3 to beat the Falcons. Maybe Lady Gaga will be in Atlanta for this year’s Super Bowl.

EMAIL

Jim,

Trivia, first thought was Jefferson Airplane? They were bay area. Maybe I’m stuck on obvious?

Garry Gillett

Garry, good guess but no, not the Jefferson Airplane. - Z

Jim - enjoy your time off - Let us not forget Celtics - they are in a bit of spin at moment-

Last week’s Trivia - good one - I was thinking Cooder - but he doesn't play fiddle - I even remember John Hartford played with Garcia - but not with other Dead - you stumped brother - now Bromberg played with Jerry Jeff Walker and he said in an interview that after shows they would do "nasty" things to Bojangles.

In your answer to this week’s Trivia - I just put QuickSilver’s "Happy Trails" on the turn table 

Ken Forestal

Ken, yes, last week’s answer was David Bromberg and only Professor Peter got it. Have you ever heard Bromberg's Sharon? It's a hoot. Look for the You Tube from the LP Demons in Disguise. It's better than the live version.

Celtics are still sorting out lineup and bench. Brad Stevens will fix their problems.

As for Quicksilver Messenger Service, a favorite is Pride of Man. 'Oh God, pride of man, broken in the dust again.'

I love that it was Dale Evans who wrote Happy Trails. I still use that as a close to my emails some times. - Z

Kimbrel - moving on!

Kelly - staying could be closer (Kelly told Jim Rome he likes Boston as does his wife)

Quicksilver song - "Shady Grove" – Nicky Hopkins piano opening haunting.

Ken Forestal

Ken, yeah pretty cool that a Brit like Nicky Hopkins could contribute to a San Francisco Sound band.

Just saw Bohemian Rhapsody. It's as good as A Star is Born. Saw prevue of Rocketman, a new pic about Elton John. - Z

THE HOT CLUB

In talking to the Bear, Foot Joy and Fleet Feet Pete, I noted that with the Red Sox winning the World Series, it made me wonder whether any city had won all 4 major professional championships in the same season. The Patriots have a chance to win another Super Bowl. The Celtics could win the NBA Championship. The Bruins, with their youth (‘utes’) and injuries, are unlikely to win the Stanley Cup. Foot Joy, of course, immediately reminded me that tha Patriots play in Foxboro. I researched it to see if any city/area had done it. Answer at the bottom just before the Trivia.

The night after Thanksgiving, the Hot Club was graced by PC basketball coach Ed Cooley. There were many requests for cell phone selfies with Coach Cooley. And it was only fitting that PC fan and employee Charlie Clancy had his pic snapped with Coach Cooley. Remarkably, Charlie, who bleeds black and white, wasn’t wearing his PC cap.

I was lamenting Alex Cora not getting Manager of the Year despite leading the team to the best regular season record with 108 wins. Foot Joy felt that Oakland Manager Doug? Melvin deserved it and pointed out that the voting is done before the playoffs. I told Foot Joy that as a Red Sox fan I wanted Cora to win it. FootJoy said that Melvin would probably rather have the World Series trophy instead of the one for Manager of the Year.

Answer to winning 4 major pro championships in the same season: No one has ever won all 4. But one team did win 3. In 1935, Detroit won the MLB, NFL and NHL championships. There was no NBA in 1935. The NBA was formed in 1946. CHECK

ANSWER TO LAST ISSUE’S TRIVIA QUESTION

The question was to name the San Francisco Sound band that had albums in the Top 30, played at Monterey Pop and recorded a Dale Evans song. Ken Forestal and Professor Peter got it. Special K had it but admitted she looked it up. Making his Mark had part of it (Quicksilver). Quicksilver Messenger Service had a few hits including Fresh Air, Pride of Man, and their cover of Happy Trails.

THIS ISSUE’S TRIVIA QUESTION

This great bluesman wrote many hits that were recorded by other people, yet his own career was less than successful. He played in a house band that backed many great black musicians. He was revered in Europe. He sued a major rock group (and won) over not receiving credit for writing a song that was a major hit. Name? The disputed song?