Week Nine Live Blog: Patriots vs. Packers

Welcome to Week Nine of the 2018 NFL Regular Season! We have maybe the most anticipated matchup on the schedule this year as Aaron Rodgers and the Packers travel to Foxboro to take on Tom Brady and the Patriots. This game is likely to come down to the last play, and any small mistakes could be the tipping point for the victor…or loser. Here are the inactive players for tonight’s game:

Patriots

RB Sony Michel, TE Rob Gronkowski, LB Nicholas Grigsby, G Shaq Mason, TE Jacob Hollister, OL Cole Croston and OL Brian Schwenke

Packers

QB Tim Boyle, P Drew Kaser, CB Tony Brown, LB Korey Toomer, OL Justin McCray, OL Alex Light, WR Geronimo Allison

FIRST QUARTER

15:00- James White runs for five on 1st down, then five more with the no huddle, then they went deep to Josh Gordon, which was incomplete. 2nd & 10 from the Packers 49…

13:59- White with the catch and run for 15 yards…1st & 10…

13:37- Gain of six, we are flying here…white for 10 more; 1st & 10, Patriots in the no huddle…

12:56- Dorsett gains seven on the screen, White gains two more, and the Patriots are facing 3rd & 1…

12:16- Brady sneaks for the 1st down…1st & Goal from the eight…

11:40- TOUCHDOWN, PATRIOTS!! Fake jet sweep and a toss back weak-side to James White for the touchdown run, and Gostkowski connects on the extra point. That was warp speed, like I could barely keep up. If the Packers have to deal with that all night. they are not going to stop New England. Patriots 7, Packers 0

9:31- Jones runs for a gain of three, and the Packers are facing 3rd & 7 from the Patriots 48. Big play here….bogus neutral zone called, 3rd & 2…

8:17- Jones picks up four on the catch on the illegal pick play, which the Patriots do too. 1st & 10…

7:39- Rodgers makes an amazing play as he is getting sacked and the Packers pick up 10 more; 1st & 10…

7:15- Jones runs for six more; 2nd & 4…

6:31- Cobb picks up seven on the bubble screen, and the Packers are in business. 1st & 10 from the Patriots 15…

5:56- Pass was incomplete, but the Patriots were called for holding’ automatic five yards and a first down.

5:51- Good coverage, and Rodgers is forced to throw it away. The Patriots are tough to score on in the red zone. 2nd & Goal…

5:46- Gilmore breaks up the pass intended for Adams, the Packers best receiver. 3rd & Goal…

5:13- The defense steps up and doesn’t allow the touchdown (field goal was good), a staple of this bend-but-down’t-break defense. Rodgers made some great throws, but I’m not sure he has the weapons he has had in the past. Either way, he will get his stats; the question is- will his defense ever stop Brady? Patriots 7, Packers 3

5:05- Edelman gains 15 on the play action pass, 1st & 10, no-huddle again…

4:36- White runs for three; 2nd & 7…

4:16- Edelman with a drop that just can’t happen; 3rd & 7…

3:42- Brady reads the blitz wrong, takes the sack, and the Patriots are forced to punt. Edelman makes that catch and the patriots are driving; you just can’t leave those plays on the field against teams led by Aaron Rodgers.

3:09- Adams for five; 2nd & 5…

2:55- Jamal Williams runs for eight to pick up the 1st down…

2:16- The Patriots are getting killed on cutbacks right now; 2nd & 5…

1:51- Great pressure by Flowers forces Rodgers to whip a pass at an unsuspecting receiver…3rd & 5…

1:41- Rodgers finds another open receiver for another 1st down; shocking.

1:08- Good coverage by Jason McCourty on the deep pass down the right sideline; 2nd & 10…

1:04- St. Brown picks up four on the catch; 3rd & 6…

:20- McCourty comes free on the safety blitz, and Rodgers had to throw it way earlier than he wanted. The Patriots defense finally makes a stop on 3rd down, which is no small feat against Rodgers. Patriots 7, Packers 3

:09- Holding on the Packers gives the Patriots the automatic 1st down; there were holds all over the field.

:00- Patterson runs for 11 on the toss left, and the Patriots will have a first down to start the second quarter. Patriots 7, Packers 3

SECOND QUARTER

15:00- Josh Gordon goes to the highest point and makes the catch for a gain of 30; 1st & 10…

14:20- Fleaflicker for 33 to Edelman, and the Patriots are in the red zone again; 1st & 10…

13:58- White runs for no gain; 2nd & Goal…

13:32- Ugly three-and-out after the two big plays, and they’ll be forced to attempt the field goal.

13:28- Field goal is good from 28 yards out, and the Patriots extend their lead back to seven. They need to spread out the Packers in the red zone and not even bother to run, unless it is a jet sweep. Patriots 10, Packers 3

12:43- The Patriots defense steps up and forces a three-and-out, a rare occurrence. Edelman with the fair catch at the 27, and the Patriots offense will try to generate another scoring drive. Patriots 10, Packers 3

11:53- Gordon appeared to make a great catch, but he couldn’t get both feet down. On the next play, Brady couldn’t find anyone besides the checkdown, whick was also incomplete. I still think Gordon had his toe down, but it is what it is. The Packers offense will try to improve upon their last ugly series.

11:26- Jones runs for five; 2nd & 5…

11:01- Jones runs for 10 more on the power sweep left; 1st & 10…

10:24- Butler finally makes the tackle after Jones battles for two; 2nd & 8…

9:33- Rodgers appeared to be sacked, but he escaped (of course) and found Williams for the 10-yard gain; 1st & 10…

8:55- Adams gains nine on the reception; 2nd & 1…

8:18- Williams runs for four more; 1st & 10 from the Patriots 31…

7:34- Williams runs for two yards; 2nd & 8 from the Patriots 29…

7:06- Rodgers threw it deep for Kendricks, which was broken up, but the Patriots had 12 men on the field, which is an automatic 1st down.

6:16- Somehow the Packers weren’t called for holding, and Rodgers escapes for a gain of two; 2nd & 8…

5:42- Jones runs for 12, and the packer now have 1st & Goal from the two-yard line…

5:00- fade to Graham is incomplete; 2nd & Goal from the two…

4:54- Another throw, and this time the Patriots have it covered everywhere; 3rd & Goal…

4:49- Touchdown, Packers. Rodgers finds Adams for the score, and the Packers have tied this game up. Patriots 10, Packers 10

4:31- Barner runs for four; 2nd & 6…

4:08-Edelman gains five on the catch; 3rd & 1…

3:41- White gets the 1st down, but he limped off; that is not good.

3:15- Patterson running very tough, ripping through the defender as he tore his undershirt off. Patterson runs as hard as any receiver I’ve ever seen. The Packers were called for unsportsmanlike, and Whitehead was ejected.

2:53- Patterson runs for 17 behind a Develin block; 1st & 10 from the Green Bay 13…

2:19- Patterson for eight more; 2nd & 2…we have reached the two minute warning.

2:00- TOUCHDOWN, PATRIOTS!! Patterson takes it in from six yards out, and he looked awesome on that entire drive. he looks a lot more comfortable than he did last week, which isn’t s surprise considering how good an athlete he is. Patriots 17, Packers 10

1:15- Incomplete pass; 2nd &10, good pressure by Flowers…

1:07- Rodgers runs for four, but there were offsetting penalties, so the down will be repeated. 2nd & 10…

1:02- Cobb gains nine, but Jones tackles him inbounds and forces a Packers timeout. 3rd & 2…

:55- Rodgers tried to run for it, but he couldn’t get there. he fumbled it, but it went out of bounds. The Patriots force the punt which is fair caught at the New England 21. The Patriots will most likely take a knee.

:00- That is the end of the first half, and the Patriots have a one-touchdown lead halfway through this game.

NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS 17, GREEN BAY PACKERS 10

HALFTIME

THIRD QUARTER

15:00- The Packers return it to the 24; here comes Rodgers…

14:52- Missed tackle, Jones runs for four; 2nd & 6…

14:12- Adams with a nice catch on a low throw, and the Patriots will challenge it.

14:08- 52-yard gain on the throw by Rodgers; Jason McCourty got beat; 1st & 10…

13:20- Jones runs for nine more; 2nd & 1…

12:38- Jones runs for six more; 1st & Goal…

11:55- Toss to Jones goes for nothing, and the Packers are called for holding, which is a huge penalty. 1st & Goal from the Patriots 15…

11:24-  Touchdown, Packers. Jimmy Graham with the 15-yard touchdown catch; no pressure at all, and this game is tied up. If they are going to give Rodgers time to throw, he will tear them apart. Patriots 17, Packers 17

11:18- Patterson runs for a four-yard gain; 2nd & 6…

10:33- Gordon picks up 18 on the catch; 1st & 10, and Gordon was shaken up on the play.

9:53- Edelman gains two; 2nd & 8…

9:31- Gordon picks up 16 more; 1st & 10, no huddle…

9:06- Seven for Edelman; 2nd & 3…

8:45- Allen picks up 20 more, and the Patriots have a 1st & Goal from the nine…

8:12- Edelman with the drop at the four; 3rd & Goal…

8:04- Interference called on the Packers in the end zone, and the Patriots will have 1st & Goal from the one…

7:59- Nothing on the run by White; that had no chance. 2nd & Goal…

7:06- Patriots run some foolish rollout play; that was a waste; 4th & Goal…timeout.

7:02- Another horribly called/executed play by New England. Gordon slipped, but seriously, they were INSIDE THE ONE!!

6:59- Jones runs for three; 2nd & 7 from their own four…

6:10- Loss of one by Cobb on the catch; 3rd & 8 from their own three…

5:26- The throw to Cobb is overthrown, and the Packers are forced to punt. Good secondary play by New England on that series, and Edelman returns it to the 50. After the flag was assessed, the Patriots will be moved back to their own 40, which is still good field position.

5:14- Brady throws it away; Blake Martinez hurt his foot in a weird way, which has to hurt. 2nd & 10…

5:07- Incomplete to Edelman; 3rd & 10…

5:03- Brady misses the blitzer…again. Ugly series, and Allen will punt.

4:15- Roughing the punter on Green Bay on 4th & 21!! That is just….bad. Stay off the guy!

4:11- Patterson runs for no gain; 2nd & 10…

3:26- Patterson gains six through the air; 3rd & 3…

2:44- Brady is off tonight; he had Hogan open, although it is clear that Brady is struggling with the Green Bay coverages. 4th & 3…Allen will punt…

2:34- Great punt recovered by Slater at the seven-yard line; 1st & 10, Packers….

2:27- Lewis gains six on the play; 2nd & 4…

1:46- Williams runs for three; 3rd & 1…

:56- Gain of 23 on the amazing throw-and-catch; 1st & 10…

:13- Scantlling again, and the Packers are driving down the field at the end of the third quarter. Will Tom brady and the Patriots offense respond? Patriots 17, Packers 17

FOURTH QUARTER

15:00- FUMBLE!! Lawrence Guy forces the fumble, and the Patriots take over.

14:42- Patterson runs for nothing; 2nd & 10…

14:09- White runs for three; 3rd & 6…

13:24- Dorsett with the huge catch on 3rd down, and the Patriots finally pick up a 1st down.

12:45- White gains five on the catch; 2nd & 5…

12:23- Edelman with a gain of eight; 1st & 10…

12:00- White gains four on the catch; 2nd & 6…

11:32- THROWBACK!! Edelman with the throwback to White, whom takes it to the Packers two. 1st & Goal…

10:20- Two plays, two stops, but White FINALLY breaks through on 3rd & Goal. TOUCHDOWN, PATRIOTS!! White picks up another touchdown, and the lead is now seven. Green bay will have an answer,  but that was a huge drive after forcing the turnover. Patriots 24, Packers 17

10:02- Williams runs for four; 2nd & 6…

9:21- St. Brown couldn’t haul it in; 3rd & 6…

9:11- Rodgers sacked!! Flowers makes the play of the night for the defense, and the Patriots offense will have a chance to make this a two-score game. Edelman made the fair catch at the 28, and the offense will start from there. Patriots 24, Packers 17

8:30- Edelman gains 17 on the reverse; 1st & 10…

7:20- TOUCHDOWN, PATRIOTS!!! Gordon makes the catch and takes it 55 yards for the score! Great play design, and the Patriots extend the lead to two touchdowns. Patriots 31, Packers 17

7:10- Six yard gain through the air to Jones; 2nd & 6…

6:43- Van Noy snuffs out Jones, 3rd & 6…

6:26- Sack, but there is a flag down….12 men on the field for New England, 1st & 10…

6:05- Incomplete to Jones; 2nd & 10…this game is getting a little chippy (Adams and Gilmore)…

5:58- Van Noy blitzes, forcing Rodgers out of the pocket; 3rd & 8…

5:19- Adams picks up just enough…

4:50- Incomplete pass to St. Brown…the Packers got a gift on that last spot…

4:43- Rodgers scrambles for six; 3rd & 4…

3:52- Good coverage, and the pass is underthrown; 4th & 4, huge play coming up…timeout, Patriots.

3:48- INCOMPLETE!! The Patriots get strong pressure again, and Rodgers is forced into an overthrow. New England will take over, and they are a couple 1st downs away from winning this game. Patriots 31, Packers 17

3:42- Patterson runs for four, Packers call a timeout. 2nd & 6 from the Packers 49…

3:36- Slant to Gordon goes for 15 yards, and this game is getting close to being over. Gordon is starting to carve out a huge role in this offense. 1st & 10…

3:28- Patterson runs for one, and the Packers are out of timeouts. 2:43- End-around to Edelman goes for 10; 1st & 10 from the Packers 21. That will take it down to the two-minute warning, and with zero timeouts remaining, that will do it here from Foxborough.

2:00- The Patriots will down the ball three times, and this game will come to and end with them winning by two touchdowns. Thanks again for joining us, and don’t forget to join us again when the Patriots travel to Tennessee to face the Titans.

FINAL SCORE: NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS 31, GREEN BAY PACKERS 17

Have a great night, and stay safe!