The Student of the GameGoing Beyond the Stats

I’ve seen the headlines of the ridiculous already referring to ‘Brady Magic’ (see NFL.com’s homepage within in 1 hour following the game in question), but to those of us who actually watched the game without falling for the flash emanating from New England Patriots QB Tom Brady’s Super Bowl Rings, his ‘Golden Boy’ persona, or the lights of the cameras tracking every moment of his return from injury, we would know that he wasn’t the true game changer in the 25-24 teeth-skinning victory past the Buffalo Bills.

Those who are patrons of the SoTG know for a fact that I’m not a Patriot sympathizer by any stretch of the imagination, but I admit looking at the stat sheet after the game that the numbers Brady posted were pretty solid for any QB, let alone one coming back from a debilitating injury the likes of which we haven’t seen to a QB since Carson Palmer a number of seasons back. 378 yards passing, 74% completion (39-53) and 2 TDs blemished only by an embarrassing INT by DE Aaron Schobel that was taken 26 yards back to the house.

Carrying the load where conventional running of the ball through hand-offs to RBs Lawernce Maroney (10 carries, 32 yards, 3.2 per carry) and former Jag Fred Taylor (9 carries, 25 yards, 2.7 per carry, TD) was struggling, Brady was the fulcrum that propelled the Pats running attack through quick short passes to multiple players that allowed for longer completions to the Pat’s WR Randy Moss (12 catches, 141 yards), WR Wes ‘The Weapon’ Welker (12 catches, 93 yards), RB Kevin Faulk (6 catches, 51 yards) and TE Ben Watson (6 catches, 77 yards, 2 TDs). I’m not going to tell you that New England’s signal caller was anything less than solid for the night, but for him to be the featured story just isn’t right.

With 15 minutes less in time of possession and fewer than half the attempts passing, Buffalo Bills QB Trent Edwards lead his team with greater purpose than Brady and his Pro Bowl roster offense – something you WOULDN’T see in his solid stat-line that recorded 60% completion (15-25), 212 yards, 2 TDs that was only marred by an errant pass that fell out of the hands of a Pat DB. And while 2 carries for 25 yards didn’t seem like much relative to typical running stats, Edwards collided with defenders both times fighting for each millimeter of turf he could to earn 1st downs; the later of those occasions on a 3rd and 8 during the Bills latest scoring drive that increased Buffalo’s lead to 24-13 with 5:38 left in the 4th Quarter. (The next play being a TD screen pass to RB Fred Jackson (15 carries for 57 yards, 5 catches for 83 yards).

With the inspiring performance that was Edwards leading his underdogs to a big lead late in the game and Brady’s impressive effort propelling Pro-Bowlers past the previously mentioned prowess, neither of these players were truly the ultimate game-changer. Contributors, perhaps -- but it was the kick-off after the Pats TD that made it 24-19 where the one implied revealed his identity. The Bills were lined right up in front all except their returner, Leodis McKelvin, to prepare for a possible on-side kick attempt with only around 2:00 of clock to kill to officially outlast their opponent.

When the ball was not kicked on-side, McKelvin made the questionable decision to run the ball out from about 6 yards deep in the end zone with a compromised formation that lessened the potential for good blocks to support such a return. The decision went from questionable to catastrophic as McKelvin was met with a crushing blow from New England DB Brandon Merriweather that caused a fumble which was recovered on Buffalo’s 31-yard-line. Your official game changer . . . CB Leodis McKelvin.

Perhaps it was the Patriots’ red throw-back jerseys in combination with the green turf in Gilette Stadium that inspires one to feel a premature spirit of Christmas, but the field position for the Patriots to complete the final score of the game was nothing short of a gift. But be not completely discouraged Bills fans, while this first Monday night you were grinched out of an important division victory, there’s one thing I know to be true if this performance continues . . . Yes, Buffalo – you HAVE a Quarterback!