The New England Patriots faced off against America’s Team the Dallas Cowboys and pulled it off in a rainy affair 13-9.
The offensive line improved dramatically while the run defense had problems. Here are your winners and loser of today’s game.
Winner: Sony Michel
The offensive line had by far its best game which opened up the holes for the Georgia alum.
Through the first quarter, Michel had 11 more yards (44) than he had in total against the Philadelphia Eagles (33) making it by far his most productive game of the season.
He finished the game with 89 yards and the winning first down run.
Winner: N’Keal Harry
Harry had a fantastic game starting with the first touchdown catch of his NFL career.
Harry showed his ability to go high and get the ball much like his time at Arizona State.
At 6-foot-4, Harry is the definition of a deep-threat and is the guy the Patriots will likely look to to replace Rob Gronkowski.
Harry had a key drop on the final drive of the first half but one can chalk that up to the conditions.
It can only get better for the rookie.
Loser: Nick Folk
Yeah it was not a good day for the former New York Jet. After making his field goal from 44-yards out, Folk missed two kicks that could have put the Patriots up by 10 points at the first half’s end.
Folk made a crucial 42-yard field goal in the fourth quarter to put the Patriots up by seven but that does not nullify the misses.
Winner: Offensive Line
Time and time again it has been said here, the offensive line and Sony Michel go hand and hand. Michel did well and 95 percent of that is the doing of the offensive line.
The return of Isaiah Wynn made this a formidable unit that had their way and gave Brady his most comfortable pocket of the season.
If the Georgia alum can stay healthy, the group can work with some interesting personnel packages like weak side stacking with both Newhouse and Wynn.
Loser: Run Defense
Ezekiel Elliott and Tony Pollard had their way for most of the first half with the league’s 10th ranked rushing defense.
In a game where running was in abundance, it was a huge opportunity for the run defense to put together an improved performance.
Elliot joins Nick Chubb and Mark Ingram with the running backs who were able to run all over the Patriots.
Winner: Matthew Slater
The best special teams player in the NFL will not go unnoticed this week. Matthew Slater had a punt block and a solid downed punt inside the 10.
Slater is a one of the great Patriots you never hear about on a weekly basis. But he is somebody you will hear about when it comes time to have Patriots Hall of Fame discussions.
Winner: Jakobi Meyers
The best receiver of the day for the Patriots was undrafted rookie Jakobi Meyers.
He was Brady’s bread and butter in tight situations week by week, he seems to be getting better. Getting in the good graces of Brady is what Meyers has done.
He may be supplanted by Phillip Dorsett II. and Mohamed Sanu when they return, but he is proving to be a reliable depth piece.
