FOXBORO – It’s a brand new period in New England.
Need proof? Hours earlier than Sunday night time’s upset win over the beforehand undefeated Payments, one of many Patriots’ largest rivals from the dynasty period arrived throughout a morning staff assembly to supply some phrases of knowledge to a squad trying to show one thing on nationwide tv.
The speech from former Colts head coach Tony Dungy resonated with Patriots gamers.
“It was about all people proudly owning your position and realizing your position,” security Jaylinn Hawkins stated Sunday night time after the 23-20 win. “And all people doing their job, man, and simply believing. And taking that position so importantly that collective efforts will add up. They’ll accumulate. So we did that, and I’m completely satisfied, man, and all people owned their position in it.”
The Patriots got here into Highmark Stadium as vital underdogs. After main 6-3 at halftime, the Patriots overcame a 10-6 deficit within the second half, held on after main 20-10 and finally needed to mount a game-winning drive with below two minutes left within the sport to kick a discipline purpose to win 23-20 in opposition to a staff extensively thought-about the perfect within the NFL heading into Week 5.
Dungy watched Patriots observe with Pats legend Rodney Harrison, his NBC Sports activities colleague, on Friday.
“He’s an unbelievable human,” heart Garrett Bradbury stated of Dungy. “His teaching profession speaks for itself. So he gave us just some nuggets on qualities and traits of his championship groups and what he sees in groups, and what you should give attention to. And it’s not the X’s and O’s, it’s, it’s who you might be as a participant and the way you go about your small business.”
The win – that includes the primary game-winning drive of quarterback Drake Maye’s profession – got here with heroics from gamers who’ve struggled this season. Rookie kicker Andy Borregales, who missed two further factors within the Patriots’ Week 2 win, kicked a 52-yard game-winning discipline purpose.
Operating again Rhamondre Stevenson, who fumbled earlier within the sport in a key second when the Patriots had simply benefitted from their very own takeaway, scored two touchdowns. Broad receiver Kayshon Boutte, who was penalized twice within the sport, caught a 19-yard move to arrange the sector purpose.
“I feel it was large listening to it from a man who’s had a lot success on this league,” particular groups captain Brenden Schooler stated after the win. “He’s so well-respected. And he talked about it doesn’t matter what your position is on the staff, personal your position and do it to the perfect of your skill. As a result of if you journey, it’s solely 53 guys. Regardless of how huge – you’re the beginning quarterback, otherwise you simply go in on PAT (further factors) as a lineman, your job is super-important as a result of it’s only one play can change the momentum of the sport. So to have him say that, you realize, and type of echo what Coach (Mike) Vrabel at all times tells us, I feel it was it was large for everybody in that staff assembly room to listen to that.”
It wasn’t simply Dungy’s speech that impressed the Patriots on the finish of the sport.
Bradbury stated gamers have been joking after the win that the stadium shouldn’t have performed The Killers’ “Mr. Brightside” earlier than their closing drive.
“It’s an all-time music,” Bradbury stated. “That received us extra juiced up in all probability than the Payments’ protection. … There was only a bunch of confidence within the huddle, beginning with Drake on that final drive.”
Vrabel stated the staff had confidence coming into the sport, however they knew they have been enjoying a tricky opponent on the street in a hostile atmosphere.
For cornerback Carlton Davis III, beating the Payments wasn’t sufficient.
“We’ve been constructing all season,” Davis stated. “Every sport we took a step. In the long run, the principle level this week was take one other step. Beat a very good staff on the street. We got here in right here. We did that, and we took one other step. And we have to take one other step subsequent week to solidify our id.”
The Patriots have two extra street video games developing in opposition to the Saints and Titans. Then they host the Browns and the Falcons in two extra winnable video games.
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