WHICH PHASE OF THE GAME IS SUDDENLY A STRUGGLE FOR THE PATRIOTS?

During their incredible run for the last decade, the Patriots have typically had the best special teams unit.  While they may not have had an explosive return man, when you looked at the big picture of special teams they were at the top of their class.  Halfway through the 2018 regular season, the Patriots are not their dominant selves in this phase of the game.

Before getting into how the Patriots have looked at special teams this year, it is important to remember that the NFL made more changes to the kickoff.  While it seems like they only made changes to the cover team, there has also been changes to the return team.  If you want a good rundown on the rule change and don't belong to one of the subscription only websites, click here.   In previous years it has appeared that the Patriots have always been one of the first teams to adjust to a new rule.  This year, they have yet to show that during a game.  Does Belichick have some kickoff masterplan up his sleeve to be released in January or February?  I for one wouldn't be the least bit surprised.    

GAME 1 VS TEXANS - Slight Edge to Texans

• both teams were perfect with field goals and extra points
• both teams pinned their opponents deep a time or two
• both had kickoff returns which were pretty basic
• McCarron muffing the punt was the tie-breaker

GAME 2 AT JAGUARS - Slight Edge to Jaguars

• Gostkowski started the game with a missed 54 yard field goal
• Jacksonville pinned the Patriots back more often
• Late in the game the Jaguars pinned the Patriots back and had a solid punt return of their own

GAME 3 AT LIONS - Slight Edge to Lions

• Patriots had block in the back penalties on punts and kick returns
• both teams were perfect with field goals and extra points
• Allen had a short punt sail out of bounds at the Lions' 40
• Michel briefly muffed a kickoff before returning it to the 25

GAME 4 VS. MIAMI - Even

• both teams were perfect with field goals and extra points
• while NE had 5 extra points, they are still a gimmee
• both teams returned punts and kickoffs to midfield

GAME 5 VS. COLTS - Slight Edge to Patriots

• Vinatieri hit the uprights on one field goal, yet nailed a 45 yarder later in the game
• Patriots recovered an attempted onside kick by the Colts
• Patriots had the best return of the day- Edelman brought a punt to the Colts' 49
• JC Jackson had a penalty wipe out another good Edelman return
• both punters had some good punts, but Allen had a crappy one that sailed out of bounds at the Indy 40

GAME 6 VS. CHIEFS - Advantage Chiefs

• KC returned kicks to both the 45 and Patriots' 3 yard line
• Patriots almost turned over a punt when players collided after Edelman had called for a fair catch
• both kickers were perfect with field goals and extra points

GAME 7 AT BEARS - Advantage Patriots

• Patterson fumbled a kickoff return and ran another one back for a touchdown.
• Patterson also ran a ball back to the 41 late in the game
• Kyle Van Noy with the blocked punt return for a touchdown
• Edelman muff and recover punt return
• Ebner got called for a facemask on a punt return
• Crossen gave the Bears some free yards on a punt return by staying out of bounds and getting an unsportsmanlike penalty

GAME 8 AT BILLS - Even

• Overall Allen had a better game than his summer competition, Corey Bojorquez. Bojorquez kicked way too many into the endzone.
• Hauschka hit some big field goals (47 & 51), while Gostkowski missed a 50 yarder heading into halftime
• both teams had penalties to undo good special teams plays
• NE failed at a 2 point conversion
• Bills had a bad snap on a punt

GAME 9 VS. PACKERS - Advantage Patriots

• The game started with a Patterson kick return to the 38 with an add on penalty from Green Bay
• Ryan Allen had two long out of bounds punts (13 and 21 yard lines) and one that was downed on the GB 7. Conversely Green Bay had only one good punt.

GAME 10 AT TITANS - Big Advantage Titans

• ​Game started with a Titan 58 yard kickoff return.
• Missed 52 yarder for Gostkowski (was iffy on the previous PAT)
• Slater was duped on a fair catch letting a punt bounce into the endzone
• On a muffed punt return from Tennessee there was no reaction from the Patriots.

GAME 11 AT JETS - Advantage Jets

• ​Myers edged out Gostkowski by making a 55 yarder at the end of the first half
• Edwards with a slight edge over Allen with punting. Both had one roll into the end zone to hurt their team and both knocked some out of bounds inside their opponents 20.
• Coaching edge goes to Jets. They went for it before the half. The Patriots punting from the Jets 40, isn’t a call I want to see them make very often. ​ ​

GAME 12 VS. VIKINGS - Slight Advantage Patriots

• Both kickers badly missed 48 yard field goal attempts while making easier ones and all point afters
• Ryan Allen did slightly better than Wile with pinning the Vikings inside the 10
• Edelman gave the Patriots the advantage with his penalty-less 23 yard punt return.

GAME 13 AT DOLPHINS- Equal

• Two blocked punts by the Patriots
• A missed extra point and field goal by Gostkowski
• Punting advantage slight for the Patriots
• Kickoffs equal

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GAME 14 AT STEELERS- Even

• ​Both teams had punts inside the 20, the Patriots had more only because they punted more
• With few points scored, there were few kickoffs
• The Steelers missed a field goal attempt and made one

GAME 15 VS. BILLS - Advantage Patriots

• Edelman had a solid punt return in the second half after his boneheaded play from earlier
• Slater downed two punts in style by catching them deep in Bills’ territory
• Slater with the blocked punt
• Both teams making bad decisions with trying to take it out of the endzone, Michel with a good correction after muffing it to the 1 foot mark
• Hauschka with a field goal attempt that needed about one more inch to be good

GAME 16 VS. JETS - Slight Edge Patriots

• ​Both teams made their field goal attempts
  
• Gostkowski had solid kickoffs mixing in directional ones with touchbacks
  
• Allen pinned Jets inside 20 twice.
  
• The Jets got called for holding on a fair catch, giving them the ball on their 7
  
• Edelman was once again scary as a punt returner as he didn’t call for a fair catch when he probably should have resulting in a 2 yard loss.
  
• Jules later had punt returns of 10 and 12 yards to go along with a fair catch at the Patriots 10.
  

Special Teams Advantage 2018
Patriots: 6
Opponent: 6
Tie: 4

Article was originally written 11/3/18. To be updated weekly