Each week we offer our take on the game handing out awards called Game
Balls (good things) and Goats (not good things).
Awards can be given for anything from players, coaches and officials to
the announcers or even the weather. Here are ours,
check the link below to voice yours or read what others are saying.
GAME BALLS
1) Kevin Faulk – An knee injury is a tough
injury to come back from, but Faulk put in the time to prove he could
be a contributor once again. The 35-year-old finished with a modest 6
carries for 32 yards (5.3 avg.) and 5 receptions for 20 yards.
2) Rob Gronkowski – The second year tight
end has been a Steelers killer, but for all the hype, Gronkowski barely
affected the outcome. What he does deserve is credit for
helping out in both the blocking and the safety vale outlet for
Brady. He did a solid job receiving to lead all Patriots
receivers with 7 catches for 94 yards.
3) Andre Carter – Carter is turning into a one-man
pressure system drawing attention of the protection time and again from
Pittsburgh. Although he didn’t get pressure on every series, Carter
dialed up the effort above and beyond his teammates on the defensive
line. Carter finished with a pair of sacks and a
forced fumble. He now has 4.5 sacks on the year, tied for most on the
team.
HONORABLE MENTIONS
Gary Guyton – Guyton intercepted a Roethlisberger pass deep in
Pittsburgh territory early in the game to give New England an
opportunity to get back into the game.
GOATS
1) Pass defense – whether it’s the scheme,
or the fact that only half of the secondary on the roster actually has
any experience in the Patriots system doesn’t matter. Giving up 365
yards and a pair of scores wasn’t the worst of it. The team allowed 23
of Pittsburgh’s 29 first downs to come via pass.
2) Special teams – a missed field goal, a botched
onside kick attempt put this group in a negative light after a
non-descript game.
3) Officials – Three obvious gaffes: The Rob
Gronkowski TD that wasn’t (Ruled down at the 1); Spotting the ball 5
yards short of the actual line of scrimmage (adjusted to 1 yard off
from mark) while teams in hurry up offense; Troy Polamalu’s punching
the ball into the end zone for a safety (illegal to advance the ball by
batting it forward)
DISHONORABLE MENTIONS
Sebastian Vollmer – Got beat by Woodley for one sack, blown up later
for another. Not a good day
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