By Danny Picard
CSNNE.com Staff ReporterFollow @dannypicard
FOXBORO --Moving the chains is the name of the game. And BenJarvusGreen-Ellis doesnt get the credit he deserves in that regard.
The Patriots running back had his first 1,000-yard rushingseason last year. And with his 136-yard rushing performance on Sunday night,hes once again on pace for a 1,000-yard season, as hes now rushed for 333 yardsthrough five weeks.
His 136 yards in Sundays 30-21 win over the New York Jetswere a single-game career high for Green-Ellis. It also marks the mostsingle-game rushing yards for a Patriots player since Sammy Morris ran for 138yards in October of 2008.
Green-Ellis credited the career-day to a great week ofpractice.
With the new rules, and only one padded practice a week,its kind of important that we get those things taken care of when we do havethose pads on, said Green-Ellis after the win. We take pride in those things,and to be able to compliment the passing game. Obviously our passing game hasdone well, so we want to be an offense that can kind of do whatever we want todo. Run, pass, or compliment our defense. Those things help when you can keepthe other teams offense off the field.
Green-Ellis helped do just that in the final drive ofSundays win, as he had 9 of his 27 carries in that final drive, helpingmove the chains and keep possession for 6:12, forcing the Jets to use all oftheir timeouts.
The drive resulted in a field goal, and gave the Patriots a30-21 lead, putting it out of reach for a Jets team that only had one minute and no timeoutsto make two scores.
New England Patriots
Thats always nice, you want to end the game that way,said Patriots offensive lineman Logan Mankins. We would have liked to have gotthat last first down and just killed it that way. But we got down and kickedanother field goal to make it a nine-point game. So thats always nice tofinish the game that way.
He ran great, he always does, said Tom Brady. Hes atough runner. Hes a real smart runner. Hes patient. He sees the holes. Thatwas a big part of the win.
I thought we were balanced, ran the clock out at the end,added Brady. That was important. We needed that win. When we call upon him, weneed him and he makes the plays. That was great.
Green-Ellis now has five rushing touchdowns on the season,and has 18 rushing touchdowns since the beginning of 2010, giving him the mostrushing touchdowns in the NFL, during that span.
Benny, hes a great guy to block for, said Mankins. Hesgoing to read the play out. Hes going to find the right hole. Hes not goingto fumble. Hes going to do the right things. And hes going to give youeverything hes got, so hes a great guy to block for.
Danny Picard is on twitter at http:twitter.comDannyPicard.