The New England Patriots take on the New Orleans Saints in a regular season game at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome on Sunday, September 17, 2017.
New Orleans Saints quarterback Drew Brees, facing, embraces New England Patriots wide receiver Brandin Cooks, a former Saint, up before an NFL football game in New Orleans, Sunday, Sept. 17, 2017. (AP Photo/Bill Feig)
before an NFL football game in New Orleans, Sunday, Sept. 17, 2017. (AP Photo/Butch Dill)
New England Patriots linebacker Harvey Langi warms up before an NFL football game against the New Orleans Saints in New Orleans, Sunday, Sept. 17, 2017. (AP Photo/Butch Dill)
New England Patriots wide receiver Brandin Cooks warms up before an NFL football game against the New Orleans Saints in New Orleans, Sunday, Sept. 17, 2017. (AP Photo/Butch Dill)
New England Patriots quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo warms up before an NFL football game against the New Orleans Saints in New Orleans, Sunday, Sept. 17, 2017. (AP Photo/Butch Dill)
New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady (12) warms up before an NFL football game against the New Orleans Saints in New Orleans, Sunday, Sept. 17, 2017. (AP Photo/Butch Dill)
New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady (12) warms up before an NFL football game against the New Orleans Saints in New Orleans, Sunday, Sept. 17, 2017. (AP Photo/Butch Dill)
New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady (12) warms up before an NFL football game against the New Orleans Saints in New Orleans, Sunday, Sept. 17, 2017. (AP Photo/Butch Dill)
New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady (12) warms up before an NFL football game against the New Orleans Saints in New Orleans, Sunday, Sept. 17, 2017. (AP Photo/Butch Dill)
New England Patriots running back Rex Burkhead (34) pulls in a touchdown recetion in front of New Orleans Saints linebacker Alex Anzalone (47) in the first half of an NFL football game in New Orleans, Sunday, Sept. 17, 2017. (AP Photo/Butch Dill)
New England Patriots running back Rex Burkhead (34) pulls in a touchdown recetion in front of New Orleans Saints linebacker Alex Anzalone (47) in the first half of an NFL football game in New Orleans, Sunday, Sept. 17, 2017. (AP Photo/Butch Dill)
New England Patriots running back Rex Burkhead (34) celebrates his touchdown reception with fullback James Develin (46) in the first half of an NFL football game against the New Orleans Saints in New Orleans, Sunday, Sept. 17, 2017. (AP Photo/Butch Dill)
New England Patriots running back James White (28) carries against New Orleans Saints defensive tackle Sheldon Rankins in the first half of an NFL football game in New Orleans, Sunday, Sept. 17, 2017. (AP Photo/Butch Dill)
New England Patriots tight end Rob Gronkowski (87) carries against New Orleans Saints strong safety Kenny Vaccaro (32) in the first half of an NFL football game in New Orleans, Sunday, Sept. 17, 2017. (AP Photo/Butch Dill)
New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady passes under pressure from New Orleans Saints defensive tackle Sheldon Rankins (98) in the first half of an NFL football game in New Orleans, Sunday, Sept. 17, 2017. (AP Photo/Butch Dill)
New England Patriots running back James White (28) carries against New Orleans Saints defensive tackle Sheldon Rankins in the first half of an NFL football game in New Orleans, Sunday, Sept. 17, 2017. (AP Photo/Butch Dill)
New England Patriots tight end Rob Gronkowski carries for a touchdown past New Orleans Saints cornerback Marshon Lattimore (23) in the first half of an NFL football game in New Orleans, Sunday, Sept. 17, 2017. (AP Photo/Butch Dill)
New England Patriots tight end Rob Gronkowski (87) celebrates his touchdown in the first half of an NFL football game against the New Orleans Saints in New Orleans, Sunday, Sept. 17, 2017. (AP Photo/Butch Dill)
New England Patriots tight end Rob Gronkowski pulls in a touchdown reception in front of New Orleans Saints linebacker Alex Anzalone (47) in the first half of an NFL football game in New Orleans, Sunday, Sept. 17, 2017. (AP Photo/Butch Dill)
in the first half of an NFL football game in New Orleans, Sunday, Sept. 17, 2017. (AP Photo/Butch Dill)
New England Patriots tight end Rob Gronkowski carries for a touchdown in the first half of an NFL football game against the New Orleans Saints in New Orleans, Sunday, Sept. 17, 2017. (AP Photo/Butch Dill)
New England Patriots tight end Rob Gronkowski celebrates his touchdown with running back James White (28) and wide receiver Phillip Dorsett (13) in the first half of an NFL football game against the New Orleans Saints in New Orleans, Sunday, Sept. 17, 2017. (AP Photo/Butch Dill)
New England Patriots tight end Rob Gronkowski pulls in a touchdown reception in front of New Orleans Saints linebacker Alex Anzalone (47) in the first half of an NFL football game in New Orleans, Sunday, Sept. 17, 2017. (AP Photo/Butch Dill)
New England Patriots running back James White (28) carries against New Orleans Saints cornerback Sterling Moore (24) in the first half of an NFL football game in New Orleans, Sunday, Sept. 17, 2017. (AP Photo/Butch Dill)
New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady (12) passes under pressure from New Orleans Saints defensive end Alex Okafor (57) in the first half of an NFL football game in New Orleans, Sunday, Sept. 17, 2017. (AP Photo/Bill Feig)
New England Patriots wide receiver Chris Hogan (15) celebrates his touchdown with strong safety Patrick Chung (23) and quarterback Tom Brady (12) in the first half of an NFL football game against the New Orleans Saints in New Orleans, Sunday, Sept. 17, 2017. (AP Photo/Butch Dill)
New England Patriots head coach Bill Belichick reacts to a flag in the first half of an NFL football game against the New Orleans Saints in New Orleans, Sunday, Sept. 17, 2017. (AP Photo/Butch Dill)
New England Patriots cornerback Jonathan Jones (31) breaks up a pass in the end zone intended for New Orleans Saints wide receiver Ted Ginn in the first half of an NFL football game in New Orleans, Sunday, Sept. 17, 2017. (AP Photo/Bill Feig)
New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady (12) hands off in the first half of an NFL football game against the New Orleans Saints in New Orleans, Sunday, Sept. 17, 2017. (AP Photo/Bill Feig)
New Orleans Saints quarterback Drew Brees (9) is sacked by New England Patriots defensive end Deatrich Wise as defensive tackle Adam Butler (70) closes in, in the second half of an NFL football game in New Orleans, Sunday, Sept. 17, 2017. (AP Photo/Bill Feig)
New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady (12) calls out to an official on the field in the second half of an NFL football game against the New Orleans Saintsin New Orleans, Sunday, Sept. 17, 2017. (AP Photo/Butch Dill)
New England Patriots defensive end Cassius Marsh (55) talks on the sideline in the second half of an NFL football game against the New Orleans Saints in New Orleans, Sunday, Sept. 17, 2017. (AP Photo/Butch Dill)
New England Patriots head coach Bill Belichick talks to free safety Duron Harmon (30) in the first half of an NFL football game against the New Orleans Saints in New Orleans, Sunday, Sept. 17, 2017. (AP Photo/Bill Feig)
New England Patriots running back James White (28) lines up on the line of scrimmage against New Orleans Saints strong safety Vonn Bell (48) in the first half of an NFL football game in New Orleans, Sunday, Sept. 17, 2017. (AP Photo/Butch Dill)
New Orleans Saints and the New England Patriots line up at the line of scrimmage in the first half of an NFL football game in New Orleans, Sunday, Sept. 17, 2017. (AP Photo/Butch Dill)
New England Patriots head coach Bill Belichick walks off the field after an NFL football game against the New Orleans Saints in New Orleans, Sunday, Sept. 17, 2017. The Patriots won 36-20. (AP Photo/Bill Feig)
New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady greets New Orleans Saints quarterback Drew Brees (9) after an NFL football game in New Orleans, Sunday, Sept. 17, 2017. The Patriots won 36-20. (AP Photo/Bill Feig)
New Orleans Saints and New England Patriots players form a prayer circle after an NFL football game in New Orleans, Sunday, Sept. 17, 2017. The Patriots won 36-20. (AP Photo/Bill Feig)
Esta tarde los Patriots lograron su primera victoria de la temporada al vencer 36-20 a los Saints de New Orleans.
Un triunfo reconfortante, no solo porque el equipo evita un record de 0-2, sino por la forma en que los jugadores desarrollaron su juego de principio a fin.
"Estoy orgulloso por la manera en que el grupo de jugadores y entrenadores trabajaron durante la semana…Creo que el equipo respondió bien", dijo Belichick después del juego.
El ataque
Volvió el Brady que conocemos
Un inicio demoledor de Brady y compañía puso adelante al equipo por 20-3 después de 3 pases de touchdowns lanzados por Brady (Burkhead, Gronkowski y Hogan). Un gran inicio que mostró claramente, la mentalidad con la que este equipo venía a enfrentar este compromiso.
"Estar [con un record de] 0-1 con 10 días de descaso se siente como un año. Pero fue bueno salir y obtener la victoria…Para ganar tienes que salir a competir y hacerlo tan duro como puedas en cada jugada, hicimos un buen trabajo con eso el día de hoy y estoy contento que resultó en una gran victoria para nuestro equipo", dijo Brady.
Pocos receptores, muchas recepciones
El QB de New England terminó su actuación completando 30 de 39 pases para 447 yardas y 3 TDs. Números llamativos que sorprenden aún más si consideramos que el QB solo contó con los receptores Chris Hogan (5 de 6 pases, 78 yd, 1 TD), Brandin Cooks (2 de 4 pases, 22 yd) y el WR más nuevo del equipo, Phillip Dorsett (3 de 3 pases, 68 yd).
El ala cerrada Rob Gronkowski fue una de las figuras del partido con 6 de 9 pases completados para 116 yardas y 1 TD. El popular Gronk vio su actuación finalizada antes de tiempo cuando en el tercer cuarto de juego, tras completar un pase de 21 yardas, sufre una lesión a la ingle.
Para completar su gran actuación, Brady contó en el juego aéreo con la colaboración de los corredores/receptores James White (8 de 8 pases, 85 yd), Rex Burkhead (3 de 4 pases, 41 yd, 1 TD) y Dion Lewis (1 de 1 pase, 11 yd)
Un juego terrestre que cumplió
Los Patriots complementaron el gran ataque aéreo de Brady con un juego terrestre liderado por Mike Gillislee (18 corridas, 69 yd, 1 TD) y Dion Lewis (4 corridas, 14 yd). En total, el juego de carrera sumó 31 corridas, 119 yardas y 1 TD).
La defensa
Aunque lejos de jugar perfecto, la defensa cumplió un acertado papel limitando los touchdowns del siempre letal juego aéreo del QB de los Saints, Drew Brees (27 de 45 pases completados, 356 yardas, 2 TDs).
CB Butler en la banca
En la defensa contra el juego aéreo los Patriots sorprendieron al no enviar de titular al CB Malcolm Butler, por momentos el esquinero cumplió la función de quinto 'defensive back'. En su reemplazo Belichick optó por iniciar el partido con Eric Rowe.
Otro esquinero que tuvo buena participación y que logró dos grandes jugadas defensivas, fue Jonathan Jones. Sus 2 pases rotos negaron un TD y un pase largo de los Saints.
Un novato que sorprende
El juego de pass rushing hizo su parte, particularmente y aunque solo logró una captura (DE Deatrich Wise), el QB de los Saints sintió la presencia de este novato quien acabó la tarde con 5 golpes al QB. El también novato Adam Butler sorprendió gratamente cuando formó parte del equipo titular. La versatilidad de Butler para jugar a lo largo de la línea es destacable y apreciada por el equipo.
Una defensa contra la carrera que hizo su trabajo
La defensa contra el juego de carrera también resaltó, Elandon Roberts (8 tackles), Kyle Van Voy (4 tackles) estuvieron a cargo de la parte interior de la segunda línea de defensa.
Los Saints nunca pudieron imponer su juego terrestre, en parte por su necesidad de remontar la extensa ventaja que gozaron los Patriots durante buena parte del juego.
Al final de la tarde el temido grupo de corredores de los Saints corrieron en 17 ocasiones para 81 yardas y 0 touchdowns.
La nota negativa
A pesar de su decisiva y clara victoria, no todo fue positivo para los Patriots. A lo largo del juego varios de sus jugadores sufrieron lesiones: Rob Gronkowski (ingle), Rex Burkhead (costilla), WR Phillip Dorsett (rodilla) abandonaron el juego antes de tiempo mientras que Chris Hogan (rodilla) y Eric Rowe dijeron encontrarse bien (después del partido).
Resumen
Se logró lo que se buscaba, regresar con una victoria y sobretodo jugar bien. Ofensivamente el equipo estuvo excelente, defensivamente aún hay ajustes por realizar. Ahora regresamos al Gillette, y ya con la calma y tranquilidad que acompaña a una victoria, se pueda intentar corregir los errores y sobretodo, ver el regreso de los lesionados.
Veremos qué nos trae la semana. Los mantendremos informados.
