A Jolly Ole Time

The biggest battle the Patriots had on Sunday was figuring out how they would get home from London to avoid Hurricane Sandy. The Patriots finally rounded into form with a dominating performance, defeating the Rams 45-7.

Well, maybe not start, just under three minutes into the game, Sam Bradford found Chris Givens for a 50-yard bomb and much of New England said, “here we go again.”

But that was all the Rams would get. The defense picked it up, picking off Bradford and Kellen Clemens once each and allowed just 326 yards, the fewest since Week 2. 

Tom Brady led a near perfect offensive day for the Patriots, in which they scored a touchdown on their first six possessions. Brady threw for 304 yards and four touchdowns on 23-of-35 passing. Two of those touchdown passes went to Rob Gronkowski (who had two of the best touchdown celebrations in history) and the other two went to Brandon Lloyd.

Stevan Ridley rushed for 127 yards and a touchdown on 15 rushes, good for an average of 8.5 yards a carry.

The Patriots started their big day on their first possession. After the Rams had made it, 7-0, Brady led the offense 77 yards in just eight plays, finding Brandon Lloyd for a score that tied the game. The score extended Brady’s streak of consecutive games with at least one touchdown pass to 40 games.

Shane Vereen extended the Patriots lead to, 14-7, on their next drive with a one-yard score. 

On the next New England possession, Brady found Gronkowski (8 receptions, 146 yards) four times for 56 yards, including on a 7-yard strike that put the Pats up, 21-7. The score allowed for Gronk’s patented spike and one of his best touchdown celebrations yet. He mimicked the march of guards outside of Buckingham Palace or as Gronk called them, “the little nutcracker dude that stand outside the house.”

Following a botched field goal attempt by the RamsThe Pats added one more score before the end of the first half, taking a 28-7 lead into the break. Two pass-interference call on Bradley Fletcher helped set up the Patriots at the one, where Ridley ran it in for a score.

On the first drive of the second half, Brady found Lloyd for a score, their second connection of the day. Stephen Gostkowski then added a field goal on the Patriots next possession, making it 35-7.

Early in the fourth quarter, the Pats put a bow on their victory when Brady found Gronkowski again for a 14-yard score. Gronk had another memorable celebration, this time, going with some sort of intense hip-rotation dance.

Ryan Mallett took over for Brady later in the quarter and completed his first career pass.

The Patriots have hit the halfway point of the season and will enter their bye week with a 5-3 record, first place in the AFC East. They’ll get back at it November 11th against Buffalo. 

NOTES: Wes Welker had six catches for 48 yards...Danny Woodhead caught five balls for 56 yards...Alfonso Dennard and Tavon Wilson each had an interception...The Pats were without Logan Mankins, Aaron Hernandez, and Patrick Chung.