Busters
LB Robert Spillane
Last week’s hero with two interceptions didn’t have a great encore performance. The Patriots’ first scoring drive happened when he gave up a catch and missed the tackle to allow a 36-yard gain.
The Patriots hadn’t been in the red zone in 28 straight possessions and hadn’t scored a TD for 38 straight. Both ended with the first drive of the third quarter of this game. That drive began with Spillane getting blocked on a 15-yard run. And it ended with Spillane getting driven into the end zone from two yards out for the touchdown.
Not only did the Patriots break their futility streak in this game, but they did it again in the fourth quarter. Early in that drive, Spillane gave up an eight-yard catch. Then in the red zone, he thought he would get another interception only to have it go right through his hands for a catch to put the Pats in first and goal at the eight. Then he gave up a four-yard run. A few plays later the Patriots made it a two-point game at 19-17.
T Thayer Munford, G Dylan Parham
Things looked promising on the Raiders’ first drive. They moved to first down at the 22-yard-line off a successful QB keeper. Then Parham gave up a pressure that led to a run stuff at the line. Two plays later, on third and one from the 13, Parham was flagged for holding.
The Raiders would settle for a field goal, but get a new set of downs on a New England personal foul penalty. That only served to make for a shorter field goal as Munford gave up a run stuff.
Come the third quarter, the Raiders were on the move again. They once again got in the red zone. From the 11-yard-line, Munford was flagged for holding taking them back out of the red zone. They were unable to make it back up and settled for their third field goal of the day.
After the Patriots pulled to within two at 19-17 with 3:33 left, the Raiders offense needed to get something going to hold them off. A couple first downs should do it. they got one on a hold. But they wouldn’t get another because on third and two, Munford was late to his block causing a tackle for loss on a run. From there it was up to the defense to once again save the day.
CB Amik Robertson
Another hero from last week who came to earth this week. That same touchdown drive to start the third quarter where Spillane went from hero to zero, Robertson was similarly brought down. He missed a tackle to give up a 15-yard catch, gave up a five-yard catch, and missed another tackle on a seven-yard run that put the Patriots in the red zone for the first time in 28 drives.
The Patriots’ final touchdown drive shouldn’t have happened. Maxx Crosby got pressure on third down that should have ended the drive, but Robertson was flagged for holding to keep the drive alive and put the Pats in scoring range.
WR DeAndre Carter
Carter got one target. And he dropped it. It happens. But this one came on third and 11 from the New England 23 and Carter had plenty of open space in front of him. It almost certainly would have been a first down and may have been more. Instead it was a field goal.