Gold Stars, Penalty Flags: Amendola Picks Up Slack, Collins Continues Unbelievable Play
By Levan Reid, WBZ-TV Sports
BOSTON (CBS) -- I'm sure many people wanted a blowout but, in the end, the Patriots got the victory over the Colts on Sunday and a closer game may serve the team better. Not everything worked for the New England and the Colts were able to show them some resistance.
Overall it was a solid team win for the Patriots on Sunday. Here are your Gold Stars and Penalty Flags:
Gold Stars
- Chandler Jones gets a gold star. The bigger the game, Jones always seems to show up. On Sunday against the Colts he had 2.5 sacks and made a living by putting pressure on Andrew Luck. There are some games where Chandler looks unstoppable and this game was one of them. He seemed to ramp up his game for this one, especially when Jabaal Sheard went down.
- Jamie Collins gets a gold star. He's an athletic freak. His teammates have called him that for years but against the Colts, you got a chance to see it in prime time. He covered the field sideline to sideline and accounted for five tackles. But the play everyone is talking about is his "extra leap," blocking Adam Vinatieri's extra point on Indy's last touchdown. If Colts get the extra point on that play all they need is a touchdown and a PAT to win. Instead, Collins jumped the line without touching anybody and then jumps again to block the kick. It was perfectly timed and it showed why he such a freak. Just an unbelievable play.
- Tom Brady gets a gold star. I can't even imagine the emotions that Brady had for this game. I get the feeling he had to do his best to dial it down. He finished the evening with 312 yards and three touchdowns; maybe it didn't go as scripted but it went the way it was supposed to go. Now New England and Brady can move forward.
Brady took two footballs after the game and I will throw my hat into the speculation: I think he gave one to Mr. Kraft and the other to his dad. I'm not sure this is all behind him, but the victory eases some of the issue.
- Danny Amendola gets a gold star. Quietly, Amendola was Brady's go-to guy in this game with nine targets. He finished with seven catches for 105 yards and did his best during the game to move the chains. Julian Edelman had an off-game, so having Amendola to pick up the slack was just what the Pats needed.
Penalty Stars
- Scott Chandler gets a penalty flag. If teams are going to move their linebackers to the line to rough Gronk up and make sure he's slow off the line, then Chandler has to make them pay. Right now, he isn't doing that.
The Pats tried to get him the ball more against the Colts but when they needed the touchdown, he pushed off. He is a talented tight end, but the Pats need to see it because opponents are making Gronkowski their first priority. The game should start to open up for Scott Chandler.
- The Colts fake play gets a penalty flag AND a game misconduct. So they say they have been practicing that play for over a year. REALLY!!!!???? I understand that Chuck Pagano went into his bag of tricks, maybe to try and give his team an advantage. But doing so three times (going for it on 4th down, onside kick, fake punt) sends a clear message to your team that they are not good enough.
Back to the play: A safety and a wide receiver tried to orchestrate a play and the whole right side of the line was in illegal formation. That play was warm garbage, and if coach Pagano gets let go after this season, that play will be highlighted. What's even worse is the Pats snuffed it out and the players didn't have the common sense to take the delay of game. Indianapolis is just a poorly coached team and players who refuse to think.
Follow Levan Reid on Twitter @LevanReid.
