As exciting as the snowy blowout versus the Titans was, the blowout versus the Bucs was equally as boring.
If Commissioner Goodell wanted to showcase the sport to the United Kingdom, he should have pitted Manchester United versus the Patriots. They probably would have put up a better fight than the lowly Tampa Bay Bucs.
The Bucs are a far cry from the team that won the Super Bowl back in 2002. These are not your father’s Buccaneers that is for sure.
However, the 84,000 fans at Wembley stadium didn’t seem to care.
Tom Brady wasn’t as sharp as he was the previous week as he torched Tennessee. He forced passes and was picked off twice. However, he still finished the game with good numbers.
Brady connected with Wes Welker, Sam Aiken, and Ben Watson for touchdowns. He posted 308 yards on 23 completions.
Laurence Maroney looked like the Maroney of old. He did more dancing than a contestant on Dancing with the Stars. The Patriots running back scored one touchdown, but that was the lone highlight of his day. Maroney averaged only 3 yards a carry for 43 total rushing yards in the game.
The Patriots defense beat and battered the Bucs inept offense. Brandon Meriweather set the tone by returning one of his two interceptions for a touchdown on the Tampa’s opening possession. This was the team’s first defensive score since the perfect season of 2007.
New England totaled 3 sacks and 3 interceptions (one for a touchdown). It didn’t matter what Josh (Freeman or Johnson) the Buccaneers put behind the center. They could have put actor, Josh Brolin back there and had the same putrid results.
The Patriots only let up a late second half touchdown pass by Johnson which broke the streak of 80 unanswered points. Last team to accomplish such a feat was the 1985 Chicago Bears.
The Patriots showed the fans of London that good teams bludgeon bad ones (just ask the Eagles).
New England treated this trip to Britain as a business trip.
No sight seeing.
No drinking warm beer.
Just beating a lesser opponent and heading home with a 5-2 record.
The Pats will be embracing the time off on their bye.
They will need it.
The Dolphins, Colts, Jets, and Saints await.
Joe Gill is a featured blogger for Boston Sports Then and Now, Rootzoo.com and Trufan.com
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