1st Glance, #PoWwWwW

Well, this was a tough game to watch, but sooo satisfying. The first half was so terrible that I thought we were headed for a third straight loss. However, the game ball has gotta go to the Offensive Line. Really, Brandon Bolden's day is just a testament to how well they played. Ridley and Bolden both went over 100 yards, and when the Offense needed to score, it was the running game that pulled through. Also, I've gotta give it up to the RBs for hitting their holes hard and fast. It was a clinic out there.

The first half was marred by some major bummers: 2 missed FGs, 2 Fumbles which led to Buffalo points, Dont'a Hightower left with a hamstring injury, and the Offense couldn't capitalize on 2 INTs. I was yelling through the TV at Gronk, just freaking out. Everything was going wrong. However, that first TD drive was probably the best, most efficient drive the Pats had this season. 90 yards on 5/5 from Brady. Also, Brandon Spikes' forced fumble on the 1 yard line really helped to swing the momentum back before the end of the half. Likewise, the Offense was 1 for 6 on 3rd down in the first half.

The Defense was up and down in this game, literally alternating between really good and laughingly bad. The final stats look very good on Defense, but really, they got gashed over the middle and up the seams too many times. The Safety play was really bad, especially on the long TDs by Donald Jones and Brad Smith. Gregory and Chung got totally turned around by Jones, and it was just ugly. Also, Chung did everything he could on the first TD to Chandler, but still he's gotta turn around and make a play on the ball. Also, The D looked really slow to react on some screen passes in the first half, but they made some good adjustments to shore that up in the second.

The Offense really saved us in this one becuase 28 points allowed with the benefit of 6 turnovers is really not going to cut it. The Patriots D needs to force opposing teams to convert in the red zone, so far this year we have seen quite a few easy TDs on deep passes or breakaways. This has to get better... I mean, I am not an advocate of going back to bend-but-don't-break D, but we can't make it so easy to get explosive TDs.

Overall, a win is a win. It looked really ugly at times, but 52 points should put the concerns about the Offense to bed. Also, its nice to know that the team was able to overcome a lot of adversity to pull this one out in convincing fashion. In the first half, Brady got into a bit of a rut by trying to force it in to Brandon Lloyd on Stephon Gilmore. I thought that Lloyd would be able to exploit Gilmore, but he was well covered for most of the game.

Still, I am happy with the result because they figured it out big time in the second half. The running game was just stellar, and a lot of analysts were high on Buffalo's front seven before the game. No one saw this coming without Logan Mankins. Great win, way to get the schnyde.

Comment below: what do you think was said at halftime?