In what was a minor upset, the New England Patriots fell at home to the visiting Seattle Seahawks in a rematch from Super Bowl 49, 24 to 31. In what was reminiscent of said Super Bowl, the Patriots lost after an incompletion on the one yard line. The Patriots had tried to run the ball the previous three downs.
Both Russell Wilson and Tom Brady threw for over 300 yards, but Brady was unable to find the end zone. While Brady threw his first interception of the season, while Wilson was able to find the end zone 3 times through the air.
Doug Baldwin was on the receiving end of all three Wilson touchdowns, while LeGarrette Blount scored three touchdowns for New England on the ground.
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What It Means
No need to panic New England fans. At 7 and 2, the Patriots still hold a good lead over the AFC East. While the New York Jets are basically out of contention and the Buffalo Bills momentum has now been halted, the only worry on the horizon is the Miami Dolphins and the revelation of running back Jay Ajayi. They also still have the best recording in the entire AFC.
The Seahawks continue to start slow and pick up momentum as the season goes on. While it was a nail biter, Seattle played better overall. The Legion of Boom continued to be one of the best secondaries in the league, as they did not give up a receiving touchdown. The offense as a whole seemed to operate smoother than New England’s. You have to wonder how much of a difference Jamie Collins would have made if he was still on the team.
Stats of the Game
Seattle only scored on one of three extra point attempts. They had one extra point kick blocked, and one failed two point conversion, which kept the Patriots in the game during the final drive. In the end, it was a non-factor.
There was a total of four punts the entire game, which were two a piece per a team. That’s a lot of drives that didn’t stall.
The Patriots are undefeated on the round, but have lost 2 at home. Best team on the road besides Oakland? Maybe.
Unsung Hero
While this game was a total team effort all around, my recognition goes to Trey Flowers. While Flowers only had 3 tackles, he also had 2 sacks. The Patriots pass rush is known as one of there weaker points, and the Patriots struggled getting to Russell Wilson against an offensive line that is considered one of the worst in the league. Putting pressure on Wilson helped keep New England in the game, and Flowers was the most prominent member of that movement.
Noteworthy
Dion Lewis, who was activated to the active roster but not active in last nights game, will probably make his debut next week. While this week was a disappointing result for Patriots fans, Lewis’s return will help add an element of speed that has been missing in the backfield since last season.
What’s Next
The Patriots continue there NFC West inter-conference matchups as they go to Santa Clara to take on the San Francisco 49ers. Kickoff is at 4:25 Eastern Standard time, with the game being broadcast locally on your CBS affiliate or streaming through the NFL’s Sunday Ticket.
