Arizona Cardinals

Digging Deep: ThreeÂ Keys in the New England Patriots Win 23-21 Over Arizona Cardinals

Published Jun. 30, 2017 6:28 p.m. ET

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New England Patriots quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo played a key role in the New England win on Sunday night. Mandatory Credit: Matt Kartozian-USA TODAY Sports

Let’s dig a little deeper into the numbers of the New England Patriots Week 1 win.

The New England Patriots watched Arizona Cardinals kicker Chandler Catanzaro’s 47 yard field goal sail wide left in large part due to a poor snap and left University of Phoenix Stadium with a hard-fought 23-21 victory in quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo’s first career start. Throughout the game there were numerous big plays, strong performances, and exciting action.

However, going back and digging deep into the statistics and game tape there were a number of hidden keys to the New England prime-time road win. Here are three examples as we close the door on Arizona and week one:

I Get No Respect

This was supposed to be the “Chandler Jones Revenge Game” after Bill Belichick shockingly trading the young defensive end to the Cardinals for guard Jonathan Cooper and a second round draft pick (predictably traded away for multiple picks by Belichick). With starting tackles Sebastian Vollmer (PUP list) and Nate Solder (left in New England with hamstring injury) it seemed that Jones would be in position to have a huge game.

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Unfortunately for Jones, his disappearing act in big games which wore thin in New England reared it’s ugly head again against the Patriots. Yes, Jones recovered a fumble (he didn’t cause it) and had a late sack rushing against Marcus Cannon, but otherwise he was a non-factor against a patchwork offensive line.

Jones did draw a holding penalty when he was matched-up one-on-one with tight end Martellus Bennett. Of course, it may have been a pity flag as Jones was tossed around by the tight end better known for his receiving ability rather than his blocking prowess. When Cris Collinsworth and Al Michaels comment that it was a bad call (and Bennett just beat Jones so badly that the official likely assumed it had to be holding) you know that Jones was beaten badly.

The Patriots ran at Jones often with tight end Bennett often setting the edge and beating Jones one-on-one. Cannon gave up the one sack, but for the most part kept Jones in check. When Jones took on former practice squad tackle Cameron Fleming it was more of the same.

For Belichick, there was absolutely no thought given to double-teaming or even paying more than cursory attention to Chandler Jones. The Patriots brought extra blockers over to slow down Calais Campbell rather than Jones. Jones even added a stupid Unsportsmanlike Penalty for Dancing after the play when he recovered a fumble.

It was not a revenge game for Chandler Jones: it was another example of Bill Belichick unloading a player with a gaudy price-tag who was not going to live up to his paycheck and turning it into assets.

Where does he get those wonderful toys?

Every season Bill Belichick the general manager finds Bill Belichick the head coach a number of wonderful toys to add to the offense and defense. Chris Long gets plucked off the scrapheap and goes out and has four quarterback pressures with a sack, quarterback hit, and two hurries. Anthony Johnson was found in the junk pile below the scrap heap (sorry, running out of creative analogies here) and added some strong pass rush inside and picked up a hurry in limited action (per NESN.com).

Youngsters Trey Flowers (two hurries) and Vincent Valentine (a sack and a hurry and strong play inside in the running game) both played well against a solid Cardinals offensive line. Speaking of the offensive line, rookie third round draft pick Joe Thuney was impressive in his first game. Cameron Fleming went from bouncing back and forth from the practice squad to starting at left tackle. David Andrews was solid at center (only marred by a tripping penalty). Rookie Ted Karras was a surprise starter at right guard.

On offense, it was quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo stepping in for a suspended Tom Brady and passing for 264 yards completing 24 of 33 passes and a touchdown for a 106.1 quarterback rating (from Pro-Football-Reference.com). This was against Arizona’s top-five defense on the road, by the way. His touchdown pass went to free agent acquisition wide receiver Chris Hogan who Buffalo was more than willing to let walk away as a restricted free agent.

With no Rob Gronkowski at tight end, Chicago Bears cast-off Martellus Bennett had only three catches but was lights-out as a blocker taking on Chandler Jones in the running and passing game and coming out on top.

Every year the Patriots lose players who seem irreplaceable and each and every year the Patriots plug in an unheralded player and keep chugging along. Credit the system that is always looking for better, cheaper, and more productive with competition and depth at every position. As 9.5 point underdogs on the road, that philosophy paid off again with 23-21 win.

Stats are for losers

C’mon Bill, cut yourself some slack. There were some great stats in the win on Sunday night that stood out:

1 reception for 8 yards: This was the line for speedy Arizona wide receiver John Brown. Brown was covered much of the game by the much-maligned Justin Coleman. Coleman had a rough preseason getting beat fairly regularly and many wondered if he would make the cut. Coleman looked like a star as Brown was 0-3 with Coleman breaking up two passes his way Sunday night (per NESN.com). Brown was a big-play machine last year and he was a non-factor due in large part to cornerback Justin Coleman.

106.1: Yes, this stat was thrown out earlier in the article, but Jimmy Garoppolo’s performance was so good his quarterback rating needs some extra attention. After his rough preseason performance in game three against Carolina, there were very few fans and media members who expected Garoppolo to come out this strong and win against a strong NFC West playoff team.

22 rushes for 70 yards: Not a marquee line by running back LeGarrette Blount, but his grinding runs helped keep the Arizona defense honest and keep pressure off Jimmy Garoppolo. His third quarter eight yard touchdown run was pure power and drive. Yes, he had a couple of good runs wiped out by holding/tripping penalties and he did have a costly fumble, but those 70 yards were hard-earned and appreciated by the offensive coaches and Garoppolo.

47, 53, and 32 yards: Those were the three field goals by New England kicker Stephen Gostkowski. Gostkowski continued to be automatic in New England with three field goals and two extra points. He has become so overlooked and expected to make every kick that when he misses it seems like big news. He added two touchbacks and his other four kickoffs all had Arizona pinned down inside their own twenty yard line. His ability to calmly nail a 53 yard field goal was further driven home by Arizona kicker Chandler Catanzaro’s inability to connect from 47 yards when it mattered most.

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