Brady Bunk, Patriots Putrid

The New England Patriots had it taken to them last night at the Razor, yet again, by an old nemesis, the Denver Broncos, by a score of 17-7. While the score looks small, this one was never really in much doubt once the Broncos took a 10-0 lead, and kicker Stephen Gostkowski had his second field goal blocked in as many weeks, late in the second quarter.

While Brady's numbers were gaudy, his overall performance was lackluster. Brady finished the day 31-55 for 320 yards and 1 TD, but most of those stats came after the Broncos were up 10-0 and playing cover 4 against a Patriots offense that had to completely abandon the run. The truth is Brady missed on a lot of easy throws, and on critical third downs, the usually efficient Patriots offense had a tough time converting against the Broncos' D. The Pats were a paltry 4 for 16 on 3rd downs (25%), and that eventually did in the Pats on what turned out to be lovely weather in Foxboro last evening.

The Defense was a highlight for the Pats, holding the Broncos to 10 points through 3 quarters. But, the Defense yet again gave up the big play. On a critical 3rd and 6 from the Denver 17, Broncos signal-caller Jake Plummer dropped back to pass and found Javon Walker on the left sideline. Walker made 2 Patriots miss, and scampered 83 yards to put the Broncos ahead 17-0. Seventeen points would prove to be plenty for the Broncos in this contest.
Stephen “not Adam” Gostkowski had a field goal blocked that would have been very helpful to the Pats chances. Now both Patriots ex-kickers are kicking for the Colts (Martin Gramatica signed late last week due to an Adam Viniateri scratch from Sunday’s tilt.

Coach Bill Belichick has had tough times against the Denver Broncos in his career as a head coach. The genius is only 1-5 against the Broncos. Hopefully, if these teams meet again in January, old Bill will have found a way around this Bronocos defense.

More bad news for Pats fans… the Funway Café is no more. It is now called Stoneforge-Foxboro. Now known to many a Pats fan as the “UnFunway Café”. This place did not feel like the pre-game football establishment its predecessor was. This felt more like a place where Bostonist would have Sunday brunch with Gram. Fireplaces on the way in, new hardwood everywhere, this eatery (no longer a bar, it’s a nice restaurant) had an overall feel of having to “tolerate Pats fans” on occasionally Sundays. Bad times, Bostonists. Looks like the new pre-game watering hole for Pats games is the parking lot, where, thank the man upstairs, is the last bastion of true football pre-game festivities.