Battle of the Goats

The much-anticipated, rare showdown between the 12s – Brady and Rodgers – certainly didn’t lack for drama that matched the hype. But it was Edelman’s 37-yard completion to James White off a double pass with the game tied early in the fourth quarter that sent the Patriots on their way to a 31-17 victory against the Packers.

The razzle-dazzle connection – Brady threw a long lateral to Edelman, who found his target streaking down the left sideline on the other side of the field — gave New England (7-2) a huge jolt of momentum and set up White’s 1-yard scoring plunge two plays later.

“I didn’t see the throw,” said Edelman, flattened by a defender after releasing the pass.

Surely, it had to remind him of his days as a quarterback at Kent State, before he converted to receiver in the NFL.

“It was a good throw?” he asked.

Told that it was a strike, he added, “James made a good play.”

Brady later connected with Josh Gordon for a 55-yard touchdown that padded the lead.

It was New England’s sixth consecutive victory and 10th in a row at home. But even with Brady passing for 294 yards and a TD, it was hardly ordinary as the Patriots sought creative measures – such as the surprise call for a former college quarterback to heave the football deep – to account for the absence of injured tight end Rob Gronkowski and rookie running back Sony Michel.

Edelman had 136 total yards, including his pass. White had 103 yards from scrimmage. Cordarrelle Patterson led the team in rushing, finishing with 61 yards on the ground and a score.

Simply put, the Patriots find a way.

Yet for all of the wrinkles on offense, New England’s defense may have produced its best game of the season when considering the quality of competition. In addition to creating a huge turnover to open the fourth quarter (Lawrence Guy forced the Aaron Jones fumble that Stephon Gilmore recovered), the Patriots held Rodgers to a season-low 259 yards passing while keeping him under constant duress.

According to ESPN Stats and Information, Rodgers (sacked just once) was pressured or hit (19 times) more than in any game this season.

So, for all of the anticipation, both of the marquee quarterbacks were upstaged.

“Good,” said Brady, tipping his hat to the Patriots defense. “The defense played spectacular, and (allowing) 17 points against that offense is great … It looked like they had to work for every yard, and I know when they’re working for every yard, it’s a good night for our defense.”

Rodgers threw for two TDs and, as usual, improvised to make some incredible throws. But he left the place knowing the Packers needed a bit more. For the second consecutive week, Green Bay (3-4-1) came up short on the road against one of the better teams in the NFL. A week earlier, the Packers fell 29-27 against the then-unbeaten Los Angeles Rams.

“Yes, it’s frustrating,” Rodgers said, recalling the 27-26 lead in the fourth quarter that slipped away at L.A., and the fumble on Sunday night that killed a drive that had already reached field goal range with the game tied.

“I say it all the time, every year you have to learn how to win again and we have to learn now to win on the road.”