Week 4: First Half Recap : Boston Score

Week 4: First Half Recap

Posted by Adam Hart October 4, 2009 at 3:10 pm

The Patriots built a 17-7 lead at the half against the Ravens. And it happened with Red Area scoring.

On the game’s opening kick, Eric Alexander stripped the returner and the ball was scooped up by Brandon McGowan. Starting at Baltimore’s 12, New England failed to get into the end zone, settling for a Stephen Gostkowski field goal. The Red Area struggles continued; Patriots 3 Baltimore 0.

Taking advantage of the Patriots Red Area ineptitude, Baltimore marched down the field on an 81-yard drive, capping it with a 20-yard touchdown pass from Joe Flacco to Derrick Mason. Mason caught six passes for 77 yards, essentially owning that scoring drive; Patriots 3 Baltimore 7.

Refusing to leave with just 3 points yet again, New England lined up to go for it on 4th & 1 from inside Baltimore’s 5 yard line. Running the same play as that 4th & inches from its own 24 in Week 3, Tom Brady handed the ball off to Sammy Morris, who was lined up as a fullback. Morris got the first downwith ease, but a false start on the ensuing play pushed New England back five yards. Brady then rushed for five on a bootleg, and punched it in on a quarterback sneak. The Red Area woes subsided; Patriots 10 Baltimore 7.

With the assistance of a roughing the passer penalty, the Patriots returned to the Red Area. On a more traditional handoff, Morris dodged Baltimore defenders on his way to a 12-yard touchdown run; Patriots 17 Baltimore 7.

Benefiting from the steadiest pass rush of the season, cornerback Leigh Bodden picked off a Flacco pass, showing fancy footwork along the sideline to touch one foot down in bounds and drag the other. A potential scoring drive was prevented, and the Patriots closed out the half by winding down the clock.

Thankfully, Ravens left tackle Jared Gaither was reported to have movement in all of his extremities after leaving the game on a stretcher.

FIRST HALF STATISTICS OF IMPORTANCE: