The New England Patriots take on the Cincinnati Bengals in a regular season game at Gillette Stadium on Sunday, October 16, 2016.
New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady gets fired up as he takes the field for warm-ups before an NFL football game against the Cincinnati Bengals, Sunday, Oct. 16, 2016, in Foxborough, Mass. (AP Photo/Elise Amendola)
New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady gets fired up as he takes the field for warm-ups before an NFL football game against the Cincinnati Bengals, Sunday, Oct. 16, 2016, in Foxborough, Mass. (AP Photo/Elise Amendola)
The goal post cushion is draped in pink to mark breast cancer awareness month before an NFL football game between the New England Patriots and the Cincinnati Bengals, Sunday, Oct. 16, 2016, in Foxborough, Mass. (AP Photo/Elise Amendola)
New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady (12) leads the team onto the field for an NFL football game against the Cincinnati Bengals, Sunday, Oct. 16, 2016, in Foxborough, Mass. (AP Photo/Elise Amendola)
New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady (12) scrambles away from Cincinnati Bengals defensive end Michael Johnson (90) during the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Oct. 16, 2016, in Foxborough, Mass. (AP Photo/Steven Senne)
New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady (12) scrambles against the Cincinnati Bengals during the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Oct. 16, 2016, in Foxborough, Mass. (AP Photo/Elise Amendola)
New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady (12) calls signals in the huddle during the first half of an NFL football game against the Cincinnati Bengals, Sunday, Oct. 16, 2016, in Foxborough, Mass. (AP Photo/Steven Senne)
New England Patriots tight end Rob Gronkowski (87) runs from Cincinnati Bengals linebacker Karlos Dansby (56) after catching a pass during the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Oct. 16, 2016, in Foxborough, Mass. (AP Photo/Elise Amendola)
New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady looks for a receiver as Cincinnati Bengals defensive end Michael Johnson (90) pursues during the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Oct. 16, 2016, in Foxborough, Mass. (AP Photo/Steven Senne)
New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady passes against the Cincinnati Bengals during the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Oct. 16, 2016, in Foxborough, Mass. (AP Photo/Steven Senne)
New England Patriots defensive end Rob Ninkovich (50) tackles Cincinnati Bengals tight end Tyler Kroft (81) after Kroft caught a pass during the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Oct. 16, 2016, in Foxborough, Mass. (AP Photo/Elise Amendola)
Cincinnati Bengals running back Giovani Bernard (25) funs from New England Patriots defenders Chris Long (95) and Malcom Brown (90) during the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Oct. 16, 2016, in Foxborough, Mass. (AP Photo/Steven Senne)
New England Patriots running back James White (28) celebrates his touchdown against the Cincinnati Bengals during the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Oct. 16, 2016, in Foxborough, Mass. (AP Photo/Elise Amendola)
New England Patriots running back James White (28) celebrates his touchdown with quarterback Tom Brady, right, during the first half of an NFL football game against the Cincinnati Bengals, Sunday, Oct. 16, 2016, in Foxborough, Mass. (AP Photo/Elise Amendola)
New England Patriots running back James White (28) scores a touchdown past Cincinnati Bengals linebacker Karlos Dansby (56) during the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Oct. 16, 2016, in Foxborough, Mass. (AP Photo/Elise Amendola)
New England Patriots running back James White (28) scores a touchdown past Cincinnati Bengals linebacker Karlos Dansby (56) during the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Oct. 16, 2016, in Foxborough, Mass. (AP Photo/Elise Amendola)
New England Patriots running back James White, left, scores a touchdown past Cincinnati Bengals linebacker Karlos Dansby (56) during the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Oct. 16, 2016, in Foxborough, Mass. (AP Photo/Steven Senne)
New England Patriots linebacker Dont'a Hightower (54) sacks Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Andy Dalton for a safety during the second half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Oct. 16, 2016, in Foxborough, Mass. (AP Photo/Elise Amendola)
New England Patriots linebacker Dont'a Hightower, left, celebrates after sacking Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Andy Dalton, right, for a safety during the second half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Oct. 16, 2016, in Foxborough, Mass. (AP Photo/Steven Senne)
New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady (12) celebrates his touchdown pass to tight end Rob Gronkowski (87) during the second half of an NFL football game against the Cincinnati Bengals, Sunday, Oct. 16, 2016, in Foxborough, Mass. (AP Photo/Elise Amendola)
New England Patriots running back James White (28) celebrates his touchdown with quarterback Tom Brady, right, during the first half of an NFL football game against the Cincinnati Bengals, Sunday, Oct. 16, 2016, in Foxborough, Mass. (AP Photo/Elise Amendola)
New England Patriots tight end Rob Gronkowski winds up to spike the ball after catching a touchdown pass against the Cincinnati Bengals during the second half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Oct. 16, 2016, in Foxborough, Mass. (AP Photo/Elise Amendola)
New England Patriots head coach Bill Belichick watches from the sideline during the first half of an NFL football game against the Cincinnati Bengals, Sunday, Oct. 16, 2016, in Foxborough, Mass. (AP Photo/Elise Amendola)
New England Patriots tight end Rob Gronkowski (87) catches a pass in front of Cincinnati Bengals linebacker Vontaze Burfict (55) during the second half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Oct. 16, 2016, in Foxborough, Mass. (AP Photo/Elise Amendola)
New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady signals touchdown as running back LeGarrette Blount scores during the second half of an NFL football game against the Cincinnati Bengals, Sunday, Oct. 16, 2016, in Foxborough, Mass. (AP Photo/Elise Amendola)
New England Patriots head coach Bill Belichick, left, talks to quarterback Tom Brady on the sideline during the first half of an NFL football game against the Cincinnati Bengals, Sunday, Oct. 16, 2016, in Foxborough, Mass. (AP Photo/Elise Amendola)
Cincinnati Bengals head coach Marvin Lewis, left, and New England Patriots head coach Bill Belichick speak at midfield after an NFL football game, Sunday, Oct. 16, 2016, in Foxborough, Mass. (AP Photo/Elise Amendola)
New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady signals after running back LeGarrette Blount scored a touchdown during the second half of an NFL football game against the Cincinnati Bengals, Sunday, Oct. 16, 2016, in Foxborough, Mass. (AP Photo/Elise Amendola)
Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Andy Dalton, left, and New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady speak at midfield after an NFL football game, Sunday, Oct. 16, 2016, in Foxborough, Mass. (AP Photo/Steven Senne)
Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Andy Dalton, left, and New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady speak at midfield after an NFL football game, Sunday, Oct. 16, 2016, in Foxborough, Mass. (AP Photo/Steven Senne)
New England Patriots tight end Rob Gronkowski (87) catches a pass between Cincinnati Bengals safety Derron Smith (31) and linebacker Vontaze Burfict (55) during the second half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Oct. 16, 2016, in Foxborough, Mass. (AP Photo/Elise Amendola)
New England Patriots tight end Rob Gronkowski speaks to the media following an NFL football game against the Cincinnati Bengals, Sunday, Oct. 16, 2016, in Foxborough, Mass. (AP Photo/Elise Amendola)
New England Patriots tight end Rob Gronkowski speaks to the media following an NFL football game against the Cincinnati Bengals, Sunday, Oct. 16, 2016, in Foxborough, Mass. (AP Photo/Elise Amendola)
New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady speaks to the media following an NFL football game against the Cincinnati Bengals, Sunday, Oct. 16, 2016, in Foxborough, Mass. (AP Photo/Elise Amendola)
New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady speaks to the media following an NFL football game against the Cincinnati Bengals, Sunday, Oct. 16, 2016, in Foxborough, Mass. (AP Photo/Elise Amendola)
New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady, left, shakes hands with head coach Bill Belichick as he arrives to speak to the media following an NFL football game against the Cincinnati Bengals, Sunday, Oct. 16, 2016, in Foxborough, Mass. (AP Photo/Elise Amendola)
No estaba supuesto a ser de otra manera.
Tom Brady debutaba en el Gillette este 2016 y los fans estaban listos para festejar el regreso de su ídolo con un triunfo, y así fue; los Patriots consiguieron una victoria de 35 -17 frente a los Bengals y en el camino mejoraron su récord a 5-1 esta temporada.
"Pienso que tuvimos un sólido esfuerzo por parte de nuestro equipo hoy. No fue perfecto. Ellos vinieron listos para jugar pero hicimos suficientes jugadas en las 3 fases del juego para poder ganar y eso es bueno", dijo Belichick en su conferencia.
Una victoria que tomó su tiempo en construirse ya que Brady y el equipo en general no parecían encontrar el ritmo. Una presión ejercida en el QB durante la primera mitad (2 sacks) y penalidades (2 para 15 yardas), hicieron que los Patriots se fueran al descanso con una mínima ventaja de 10-7.
Una nada convincente actuación de New England que permitía que los visitantes controlen el tiempo y las acciones con drives de 60 y 80 yardas, permitiendo que el equipo de Cincinnati pase adelante 14-10 a mitad del tercer cuarto, dando la impresión que este partido sería reñido hasta el final.
"Cada vez que tienes penalidades, es difícil de superar, es así como matas los drives (marchas)", opinó Edelman.
Sin embargo las cosas tomaron un giro de 180 grados cuando faltando 7:11 en el tercero, el LB Dont'a Hightower realiza una gran jugada que derriba al QB Andy Dalton en la zona de anotación, logrando de esta manera un safety y acortando las distancias 14-12.
Una jugada que transformó a los locales ya que Brady ingresa y logra un TD tras un pase de 4 yardas completando una marcha de 68 yardas en solo 2:05.
"Jugamos mejor en la segunda mitad. Creo que mejoramos mucho nuestra ejecución. Nos tomó un poco de tiempo figurar cómo lograr que nuestros jugadores se desmarquen, y una vez que lo logramos fue bueno", explicó Brady.
El Tight end Rob Gronkowski se convirtió, junto a Brady, en la figura de la ofensiva al terminar con 7 de 9 recepciones para 162 yardas y 1 TD.
"Él hace grandes jugadas. Es un blanco de tiro grande y hace que cualquier quarterback luzca bien. Si no está cubierto, tú sabes que él va a 'atraparlo' y hubieron muchas oportunidades en las que él estaba sin cobertura el día de hoy", comentó Brady de su TE.
Gronk rompió su record personal de 160 yardas logrado el 11 de diciembre del 2011 frente a los Redskins.
"Es bueno cuando obtienes un record de carrera y todo eso, pero para mí más importante que eso es ganar, y esta fue una gran victoria sobre todo", expresó Gronkowski.
Brady también contó con la colaboración del WR James White en le juego aéreo (8 de 9, 47 yd., 2 TDs) y con su grupo de receptores que ayudaron para que el QB finalizara su jornada completando 29 de 35 pases para 376 yardas y 3 TDs).
En el juego terrestre el RB LeGarrette Blount contribuyó en los momentos propicios acarreando el balón en 13 oportunidades para 50 yardas y 1 TD.
Tal como lo mencionamos, la jugada del "safety", tras el sack de Dont'a Hightower fue el punto de quiebre tanto para la ofensiva como para la defensa. Después de aquella jugada los Bengals perdieron el control del partido.
Hightower terminó su magnífica actuación logrando 1.5 sacks y 13 tackles.
El CB Malcolm Butler también realizó un gran juego permitiendo solo 2 recepciones de 8 pases. Butler también casi logra una espectacular recepción. La marcación al WR A.J. Green estuvo a cargo de diferentes jugadores. Entre ellos Butler y por momentos del debutante del equipo, CB Eric Rowe.
El excelente WR Green, no fue un factor en el partido, logrando solamente 6 recepciones en 10 pases y sumando 88 yardas.
"A.J Green es un gran jugador. Fue un honor jugar contra él, solo salí a competir", dijo Butler.
Conclusión:
Un triunfo que tomó su tiempo en concretarse pero que el equipo logró a base de trabajo y mucha entrega. El rival no era fácil, un equipo que llegó con un plan de juego que le estuvo resultando y que finalmente los Pats lo descifraron.
Fue bueno ver a Brady en el Gillette frente a su propio público. Fue bueno ver a Gronkowski anotando y lanzando sus 'spikes', y también fue bueno ver a Hightower (saludable) causando estragos en la ofensiva rival. Al final un gran trabajo de todo el equipo que viene bien y que hará de esta dura semana que se avecina (para enfrentar a los Steelers) sea más animada y llevadera.
