Game Balls & Goats: Week 16 Dolphins

Each week we hand out our Game Balls (good things) and Goats (not good) awards for the week's game. The Patriots defeated the Dolphins 27-24. Who did well and who didn't? We hand out our awards.

Game Balls

1) Tom Brady --  Another 300 yard pasing performance after a slow start. Brady finished with 27 completions in 46 attempts doe 304 yards and 1 passing TD.  He also rished for a pair of touchdowns on QB sneaks at the goal line, both crucial scores in the second half.

2) Wes Welker – 12 catches for 138 yards shattered the team record for most yards in a season by a receiver (Randy Moss 2007, 1,493). With 116 receptions, Welker is seven catches away from breaking his own franchise record 123 catches in a season.  He lead the NFL with 104 catches headed into the season.

3)  Patriots second half defense – Held the Dolphins defense to just 7 points after giving up 17 points in the first half.  The team forced the Dolphins into desperation mode.

Honorable Mention:  
Rob Gronkoski  - Finished with seven catches for 78 yards to break Ben Coates franchise record of 1,174 yards.  Gronk has 1,219 with one game remaining.

GOATS
1) Patriots first half offense – Failing to score on five straight possessions is a franchise first in 2011.  The team could do nothing correct in the first half and looked listless on every drive.

2) Devin McCourty – As many good plays McCourty had on defense he had an equal number bof bad plays.  Giving up

3)  Rex Ryan --  The Jets fell to the New York Giants 29 – 14 to fall one game out of the hunt for a playoff spot.  The Jets, who claimed they were Super Bowl favorites headed in the season, are in serious danger of missing out on the postseason.

Dishonorable Mentions:
Offensive line -- with all the injuries the patritos were in danger of having a loss they couldn't afford. The line couldn't protect Brady or open holes for most of the game. until the team went hurry-up, New England had no rhythm.

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