Well, that was a relief.
The Patriots headed into Sunday's Week 3 matchup with Atlanta with a 1-1 record and a desperate need to prove that their offense and defense weren't as incompetent as they seemed. It took a while — about two and a half quarters, to be exact — but they finally got into an offensive rhythm in time to send Matt Ryan's Falcons packing with their first loss of the season on their backs.
After going five quarters without a touchdown, the Patriots finally got one in the second quarter — courtesy of an impressive rushing performance by Fred Taylor — and they got another one in the fourth quarter, when Tom Brady hooked up with Chris Baker for a 36-yard bomb to put the Patriots up 26-10.
The New England defense, despite losing anchor Vince Wilfork late in the first half, held Atlanta scoreless in the second half and rendered heralded tight end Tony Gonzalez completely ineffective. Gonzalez finished with a single reception for 16 yards. Running back Michael Turner was held to 56 yards on 15 rushes.
Brady finished the afternoon 25-of-42 with 277 yards, a touchdown and zero interceptions. Ryan threw for 199 yards, no interceptions and no touchdowns.
Patriots 26, Falcons 10
Gillette Stadium, Foxborough, Mass.
Sept. 27, 2009
Headliner: Without a rejuvenated rushing attack, the Patriots would have been done for on Sunday. True, the Brady-to-Moss connection seemed to heat up in crunch time at the end of the third quarter. But for the other 55 minutes of the game, when the Patriots were moving the ball, it was because of Fred Taylor. The 33-year-old Jacksonville import gained 105 yards and rushed for New England's first touchdown in its past five quarters to put the Patriots up 10-3 in the second quarter. It was one of the only times all day New England was able to establish some kind of rhythm on offense, and it got the bad taste of last week's touchdownless affair against the Jets out of the Patriots' mouths.
Game Ball: When you have an offense that goes 1-for-5 in the red zone — and 1-for-8 in its past two games — and you're still putting points on the board, some credit is due to the kicker. Stephen Gostkowski is now New England's leading scorer on the season with 30 points through three weeks, and he knocked four field goals plus two extra points through the uprights on Sunday for 14 points.
Better Luck Next Week: Let's start with Joey Galloway. The receiver has yet to find his bearings in New England and has yet to establish any kind of connection with Brady, and Brady let it show on Sunday in a way he never has before.
With about one minute left in the first half, the Patriots drove all the way to the Falcons 15-yard line but came away with a measly three points after Brady failed to connect with a receiver on three straight plays. Galloway flubbed a would-be touchdown and provoked the best imitation of Peyton Manning-on-Mike Vanderjagt that will ever come out of him. After the end of the drive, Brady sat on the bench barking obscenities as Bill Belichick tried to calm him while Galloway stood about three feet in front of him, pouting with his arms crossed. He finished the day with two receptions for 14 yards.
Special shout-out to the Falcons' Michael Turner, whose fumble with four minutes left in the second led to a 13-10 Patriots halftime lead and marked the beginning of a massive momentum swing that would never quite return for Atlanta.
Key Moment: With about seven minutes remaining in the third quarter, the Patriots faced fourth-and-1 at their own 24. They went for it, and Sammy Morris' 2-yard rush got them a first down. The offense then marched all the way down to the Atlanta 37 and once again faced fourth-and-3. Brady connected with Moss on a deep pass down the right sideline for a 21-yard pickup. On the very next play, Morris ran the ball and lost it as he was taken down. He was ruled down before the ball popped out, but in one last-ditch effort to catch some momentum, Atlanta head coach Mike Smith challenged the ruling.
He lost, the Patriots got another field goal to go up 19-10, and the Falcons were officially deflated.
Scouting Report: The Patriots offense still is nowhere where it needs to be in order to truly compete in 2009, but they'll get a good bench mark for where they're at when Baltimore hits Foxborough next Sunday. The Ravens' notorious defense will make Brady and his efficiency-challenged receiving corps work for every single yard, and if they can get in the red zone frequently enough to get four field goals, they'll be lucky.
The Patriots defense will get their second straight look at a second-year quarterback, and if they give Joe Flacco the Matt Ryan treatment, they may have a shot. Ryan was rendered completely mediocre on Sunday, proving that the Patriots' porous defense may have more to offer than it seems. But just in case, let's hope that Vince Wilfork is good to go.
