Gold Stars, Penalty Flags: LaFell Comes Up Big While Patriots' Secondary Struggles
BOSTON (CBS) -- The Patriots played in what many people have called the best game of the season Sunday in Green Bay. The loss against the Packers had a little but everything, except for a win for New England.
Here are your gold stars and penalty flags:
The Gold Stars
- Brandon LaFell gets a gold star. The Pats have been waiting for a receiver like LaFell and they finally have one. He's a big receiver with strong hands and understands how to work. His five catches for 38 yards don't jump off the page, but it was when they happened. Two were touchdown grabs that help the Patriots cut the Packers' lead to two points. One of them was a back shoulder grab that was just a solid catch all the way around. LaFell is making his mark on this team.
- LeGarrette Blount gets a gold star. The big back had 58 yards on 10 carries, and they were tough, hard-fought yards. You have to wonder why the Pats did not run the ball more because they were getting the yards on the ground and it seemed like it would have been a solid game plan. They may have given up on Blount and the running game too soon.
The Penalty Flags
- The Patriots secondary gets a penalty flag. They did a great job of making the Packers struggle in the red zone, but with that said, Green Bay was hitting on almost every big play they tried. In the first half alone they hit on eight plays of 24 yards or more. The touchdown to Jordy Nelson with seconds left in the first half is something that cannot happen. Logan Ryan could not hang with Davante Adams (six catches, 121 yards) and then he could not stay with Andrew Quarless. It was just a rough afternoon for the Pats secondary as a whole.
- Aaron Dobson gets a huge penalty flag. This was his first time in a game in six weeks all he did was get hurt again. Somebody needs to lock him in a room with Julian Edelman and they can watch film. Maybe that will give him an understanding of what is means to play. He does not seem to fight hard enough to stay out on the field, and sometimes its seems that he doesn't want to. The 2013 second-round pick has been a big bust so far.
Follow Levan Reid on Twitter @LevanReid.
MORE PATRIOTS COVERAGE FROM CBS BOSTON
