Patriots Fall to Seattle 31-24 in Super Bowl Rematch at Gillette Stadium
Monday, November 14, 2016
In the best game of the season, the New England Patriots lost to the Seattle Seahawks 31-24 on Sunday Night Football at Gillette Stadium.
"We had our chances, we just didn’t make enough plays," said quarterback Tom Brady after the game.
The loss drops the Patriots to 7-2 on the season, while Seattle improves to 6-2-1 overall. The Patriots are now 12-5 under head coach Bill Belichick after a bye week.
GET THE LATEST BREAKING NEWS HERE -- SIGN UP FOR GOLOCAL FREE DAILY EBLASTIn a role reversal from Super Bowl 49, the Patriots who trailed 31-24 had the ball on the goal line with a chance to tie the game, but it was Seattle who made the goal line stand.
On first down from the Seattle two yard line Brady called his own number and gained a yard on the QB sneak. On second down, Brady handed the ball to running back Legarrette Blount, but his dive over the top of the pile came up just short.
On third down, Brady called his own number again, this time fumbling the snap, which he recovered on the two yard line.
"That was just my fault on the ball handling, I was going left, David thought I was going straight, my mistake," said Brady after the game.
On the Patriots final offensive play of the game, Brady threw to the left to Rob Gronkowski but the pass fell incomplete, effectively ending the game.
Patriots get second and goal from the 1. QB sneak, QB sneak, fade pass. Just give it to Blount
— Ben Volin (@BenVolin) November 14, 2016
Seahawks Take Control
Seattle took a commanding 31-24 lead after Julian Edelman fumbled the ball.
The Patriots trailed 25-24 midway through the fourth quarter when Edelman fumbled after catching a five yard pass from Brady.
The fumble was recovered by Seattle's Richard Sherman, who returned it to the Patriots 48 yard line before he was brought down.
Eight plays later, Seattle quarterback Russell Wilson found Doug Baldwin in the end zone for a touchdown, giving the Seahawks a 31-24 lead with 4:24 left to play. The touchdown was Baldwin's third of the game. The Seahawks failed to convert the two point conversion leaving their lead at just seven points.
Defense Gets Shredded
In their first game since the trade of Jamie Collins, the Patriots defense gave up more than 400 yards of offense and only forced two Seahawks punts the entire game. Seattle scored points on every other possession. Russell Wilson had a passer rating of 124.6 in the game.
The Patriots, who gave away one of their best defensive players for a bag of deflated footballs, have given up 406 yards to Seattle.
— Jason McIntyre (@jasonrmcintyre) November 14, 2016
Huh
In the first half, following Blount's second touchdown run of the game which gave the Patriots a 14-12 lead, but the Patriots defense would not be able to make it stand up.
Wilson and the Seahawks offense took over with 1:05 left in the half and drove 75 yards on seven plays finding, concluding with a Wilson to Baldwin 18 yard touchdown pass.
Patriots rushed just 3 on TD pass. Dropped 8 into coverage. To have WR flash so open reflects major breakdown in secondary.
— Mike Reiss (@MikeReiss) November 14, 2016
In the first half, the Seahawks offense scored points on every drive except one with Wilson throwing for 197 yards and two touchdowns.
Injury Scare for Gronkowski
During the Patriots final drive of the first half, Gronkowski took a big hit to the chest from Seattle's Earl Thomas.
"It was probably one of the hardest hits I have taken in my career, for sure. It was a good clean hit, just got the wind knocked out of me for a minute or two," said Gronkowski after the game.
#Seahawks Earl Thomas crushes Rob Gronkowski on this play! #12thMan #seahawknation #seattle #LegionofBoom pic.twitter.com/21Y6dlaE0l
— Jason Lynch (@206Lynch) November 14, 2016
Gronkowski was slow to get up and officials stopped play and the Patriots medical personnel was called onto the field. After a brief conversation on the field, Gronkowski left the game and sat on the bench. He would miss five plays before returning.
Rob Gronkowski puts his helmet on and appears ready to re-enter the game. Was off for the last 5 plays.
— Mike Reiss (@MikeReiss) November 14, 2016
The Stats
Brady went 23 fo 32 for 316 yards and an interception in the game. The first Patriots interception of the season.
Blount had 21 carries for 69 yards and three touchdowns, while Martellus Bennett hauled in seven catches for 102 yards.
Next up
The Patriots return to action on Sunday, November 20 when they travel west to San Francisco to take on the 49ers.
Kick off is set for 4:25 p.m.
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