As the saying goes on The 6 Rings Postgame Show here on WEEI, “Whether we celebrate or commiserate, we do it together.” And while another Moral Victory Monday isn’t exactly every Pats fan’s first choice on the menu, it is what it is and here we are.
6 Rings Postgame Show breaks down Patriots' loss to Eagles
So, with a whole lot of season to go, and improvement seemingly at hand team-wide, we’re choosing to focus on one of the unheralded upbeat takeaways from each and every game. Call it “Pats Positives” – a little something to bring up conversationally with a fellow Pats pal who’s still bummed about your favorite team coming so close to an opening win, yet spitting the bit again in the face of victory.
Yes, there were plenty of positives to take away from Sunday’s heartbreaker at The Razor…and we’re talking about more than just seeing Tom Brady back in a 12 home Pats jersey running down to the sideline for an end-zone fist-pump once again. From rookie cornerback Christian Gonzalez looking like the real deal to receiver Kendrick Bourne re-emerging as a redzone threat, the offense finding form after a sluggish start to the defense bringing the hammer to the Eagles time and again, several players and units showed off the fruits of an offseason of effort and energy.
But perhaps the most maligned unit on the team all spring and summer long stepped up with a stunning, capable and competent effort against one of the better defensive lines in football: The Patriots offensive line held their own against the Eagles.
For the better part of six months, the Pats O-line has been worry No. 1 for media and fans alike. Questions abounded all summer long and right up to kickoff against Philadelphia. Can they get healthy enough for the grind of a season? Did they do enough in the draft to develop depth? Will their offseason free agents be able to contribute from Week 1? And will Adrian Klemm be able to right the ship after last season’s offensive play-calling and O-line coaching debacles?
The answer to most of these questions was yes.
The O-Line had three new pieces in place against the team that led the NFL in sacks last season, a potentially terrifying scenario before the home opener. Both guard Cole Strange and guard Mike Onwenu were ruled out 90 minutes before the game, forcing rookies Sidy Sow (fourth round) and Atonio Mafi (fifth round) into action in their first game. They joined right tackle Calvin Anderson, less than two weeks removed from the non-football injury list with a mystery illness himself, as the starting five, alongside left tackle Trent Brown and center David Andrews.
And while this had the potential for an outright disaster or a house of cards scenario in the rain in Foxboro, the unit acquitted themselves pretty well, giving hope for not only a more cohesive and functional line all season, but also showcasing that depth may not be such a dire concern and Adrian Klemm might be a significant coaching addition alongside offensive coordinator Bill O’Brien.
Take note, it was far from a perfect effort across the starting five, but we have to remember they had a new starter and two sudden starters with the rookies. And yes, David Andrews and Trent Brown grading out highly should come as no surprise, and Sow, Mafi and Anderson struggling at times is less of a surprise.
On the day, they gave up two sacks, which came late in the game on crucial drives as Mac Jones tried to lead the team to a comeback win. And the holding call on Calvin Anderson on Mac’s two-point conversion run was a bit of a backbreaker. Had the conversion been successful, then perhaps the Pats are playing for at least a game-tying field goal in the final moments, not looking for a touchdown that eluded them with less than 30 seconds remaining.
The running game was far from dominant against that ferocious Eagles front, and while vaunted rookie Jalen Carter was a problem when he rushed, Jones was kept much cleaner and had more time to throw than most expected. Credit goes to his line, O-line coach Klemm and the play designs to get the ball out quickly from Bill O’Brien.
No way was it perfect, and we’re not trumpeting false hope in the face of defeat. Reality is a factor here for sure. After the game, center and team captain David Andrews said, “There are no moral victories,” something you’d expect from a veteran gamer who’s competed and excelled at the highest level. But if we’re looking for building blocks, positives to not just hang a hat on but to really pin hopes to with a team that’s developing while competing, then the line play is one of them.
Seeing the offensive line with two rookie backups not collapse but rather hold up in the face of an elite rush and defensive front, giving the team enough of a chance to execute and steal a win? That’s a Pats Positive.