1. Offensive coordinator Bill O’Brien is schizophrenic. A week after running the ball just a dozen times and utilizing the tackle-eligible just three times, the Patriots rolled out the heavy lineup 18 times. Three times Nate Solder and Ryan Wendell we called in to run block. The latter personnel group gained six total yards on three carries.
2. Déjà vu sucks. New York Giants QB Eli Manning won his first regular season game over the Patriots. It’s his second straight win over New England and he won both games with last-second game-winning drives.
3. WR Chad Ochocino saw the most action in one game all season long, but finished with no receptions. Part of it was the lack of timing between Ochocinco and QB Tom Brady as Brady overthrew Ochocino a few times. But Ochocinco cut a flag pattern short in the second half. If he ran the pattern towards the pylon instead of turning towards the sideline, it would had been a reception.
4. Talking about Brady, his home winning streak is over. It was Brady’s first home loss since week nine in 2006, a stretch of 31 games. And Brady/Bill Belichick reaching the coach/quarterback summit is becoming Tim Wakefield’s 200th win.
5. With 136 receiving yards, WR Wes Welker had his 20th 100-yard game.
6. A pre-game ceremony was held in honor of Veteran’s Day. It included a moment of silence for Stephen Gutwoski, an Army specialist who was killed by a roadside bomb in Afghanistan earlier this year. Gutowski was from Plymouth, MA.
Extra Point: In addition to the moment of silence, a flyover was performed as the National Anthem was completed. They flew over Gillette Stadium in a missing man formation.
Question? Comments? Send to talktome@randolphc.com.
Keywords: Bill Belichick, Chad Ochocino, Eli Manning, New England Patriots, New York Giants, Stephen Gutowski, Tom Brady, Wes Welker
