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  4. title => "Energized Patriots defense forces 'critical swings' with turnovers"
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  6. article_body => "<p>\u201cWe\u2019re a blue-collar team\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Devin McCourty didn\u2019t hesitate when asked about the Patriots\u2019 identity. Moments prior, McCourty and his teammates had just stomped the Oakland Raiders in Mexico City, 33-8, to run their win streak to a half-dozen games. The Pats are tied for the best record in the AFC with the Steelers<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWe played at a high level,\u201d said McCourty. \u201cThey made some plays, but I thought we executed our game plan and did exactly what we wanted to do today.\u201d<\/p>\n<p><strong>MORE:<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><strong><a href=\"http:\/\/www.nbcsports.com\/boston\/patriots\/currans-patriots-raiders-previewreview?int\">Curran's Patriots-Raiders preview\/review<\/a><\/strong><\/li>\n<li><strong><a href=\"http:\/\/www.nbcsports.com\/boston\/patriots\/charlie-weis-shares-text-he-sent-tom-brady-during-game?int\">Charlie Weis shares text he sent to Brady during game<\/a><\/strong><\/li>\n<li><strong><a href=\"http:\/\/www.nbcsports.com\/boston\/patriots\/game-notes-new-england-patriots-tie-cleveland-browns-second-longest-streak-500-or-better-seasons?int\">Game notes: Patriots tie Browns for second-longest streak<\/a><\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>After surrendering a 100-points per game through the first month (ok, it was only 32), the Pats defense has flexed their muscle during this stretch, allowing 12.5 points per game, which would be the best in the NFL were this a season-long thing. We\u2019re not looking at the same unit even though the personnel is largely the same. If anything, from a talent-level, this defense has less skill than it did when the season started. Their best player, Dont'a Hightower, is out for the year, lost during the first win of this 6-game streak. They\u2019ve also survived three-game absences from $31-million cornerback Stephon Gilmore and their most consistent interior defender, tackle Malcom Brown. Yet&nbsp;the defense keeps showing up, keeps improving and its confidence is growing by leaps and bounds.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWe\u2019re just playing together\u2026we\u2019re kind of figuring that out,\u201d said McCourty. \u201cWe\u2019re understanding how we need to prepare, how we need to practice, whether it\u2019s a hard, full-padded practice, whether it\u2019s a walkthrough, we know what we need to do on each of those days and when we do that, we give ourselves a chance. You\u2019re seeing that on Sundays. Everyone running around, everyone knows their job and it\u2019s all about execution.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI thought our players gave a great effort tonight,\u201d said Bill Belichick. \u201cWe came out and performed well early, throughout the game and played really good situational football.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>The Pats were opportunistic, forcing three turnovers, including one in a huge spot, when Marquis Flowers stripped the ball from wideout Seth Roberts as the Raiders were knocking on the door. It was 14-0 at the time, and Oakland had life. Second-year cornerback Jon Jones battled Roberts, Flowers popped the ball free and safety Pat Chung pounced on it. Instead of milking the clock and heading into halftime up two scores, the Pats turned that fumble into points, driving to midfield before Steven Gostkowski kicked a career-long 62 yarder. That further energized a Pats team that was already surging.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cIt\u2019s something we talk about every week,\u201d said McCourty. \u201cWe\u2019re playing solid defense, executing the game plan, but changing the game with turnovers - you know, even Duron\u2019s interception was a third down so it was kind of like a punt. The energy that brings - when the offense takes the field after we get a turnover - that\u2019s huge. And then with them driving again in the red area before the half is what we talked about, getting that stop.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWe had some real critical swings with those turnovers,\u201d admired Tom Brady, a chief beneficiary of those change in possessions.<\/p>\n<p>Earlier this week, I asked McCourty if he got a sense that the team was coming together at the tail end of their stay in Colorado Springs. He smiled and joked initially, but you could sense the veteran safety can see and feel what the rest of the league is now a witness to.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI hope so. I mean, it\u2019d probably be terrible if I say yeah and then we go on a five-game losing streak. I can see the headline: \u2018McCourty was wrong.\u2019 So, no, I think we understand how the season starts to pick up. You know, each game means more. We understand that seven wins (now 8) doesn\u2019t mean anything. We have to continue to get better. So, I think why we end up usually improving is because it\u2019s the understanding of there\u2019s no tomorrow.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>The defense ordered that Code Red after losing to Carolina in Week 4, and since then, they have worked harder, worked longer and cleaned up so many of the issues that ailed them that opening month. It\u2019s a credit to the players, \u201cthey won\u2019 the game tonight,\u201d said Belichick, and the coaching staff as well. if you\u2019ve followed this team over the years, you know even now, they\u2019re not satisfied. There are \u201cthings to work on\u201d added Belichick and they\u2019ll start that work on the flight home from Mexico City to Foxboro.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><div class=\"field-item even\" style=\"max-width: 753px; width: 100%;\">\r\n <h3 class=\"media-card__title\" style=\"width:100%; max-width:753px;\">NBC SPORTS BOSTON SCHEDULE<\/h3>\r\n <div class=\"stanzacal\" data-width=\"100%\" data-height=\"250px\"><\/div>\r\n <script src=\"https:\/\/dff2h0hbfv6w4.cloudfront.net\/scripts\/embed-stanzacal-v1.js\" type=\"text\/javascript\"><\/script>\r\n <\/div><\/p>\n"
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Patriots

Patriots

“We’re a blue-collar team…”

Devin McCourty didn’t hesitate when asked about the Patriots’ identity. Moments prior, McCourty and his teammates had just stomped the Oakland Raiders in Mexico City, 33-8, to run their win streak to a half-dozen games. The Pats are tied for the best record in the AFC with the Steelers

“We played at a high level,” said McCourty. “They made some plays, but I thought we executed our game plan and did exactly what we wanted to do today.”

MORE:

After surrendering a 100-points per game through the first month (ok, it was only 32), the Pats defense has flexed their muscle during this stretch, allowing 12.5 points per game, which would be the best in the NFL were this a season-long thing. We’re not looking at the same unit even though the personnel is largely the same. If anything, from a talent-level, this defense has less skill than it did when the season started. Their best player, Dont'a Hightower, is out for the year, lost during the first win of this 6-game streak. They’ve also survived three-game absences from $31-million cornerback Stephon Gilmore and their most consistent interior defender, tackle Malcom Brown. Yet the defense keeps showing up, keeps improving and its confidence is growing by leaps and bounds.

“We’re just playing together…we’re kind of figuring that out,” said McCourty. “We’re understanding how we need to prepare, how we need to practice, whether it’s a hard, full-padded practice, whether it’s a walkthrough, we know what we need to do on each of those days and when we do that, we give ourselves a chance. You’re seeing that on Sundays. Everyone running around, everyone knows their job and it’s all about execution.”

 

“I thought our players gave a great effort tonight,” said Bill Belichick. “We came out and performed well early, throughout the game and played really good situational football.”

The Pats were opportunistic, forcing three turnovers, including one in a huge spot, when Marquis Flowers stripped the ball from wideout Seth Roberts as the Raiders were knocking on the door. It was 14-0 at the time, and Oakland had life. Second-year cornerback Jon Jones battled Roberts, Flowers popped the ball free and safety Pat Chung pounced on it. Instead of milking the clock and heading into halftime up two scores, the Pats turned that fumble into points, driving to midfield before Steven Gostkowski kicked a career-long 62 yarder. That further energized a Pats team that was already surging.

“It’s something we talk about every week,” said McCourty. “We’re playing solid defense, executing the game plan, but changing the game with turnovers - you know, even Duron’s interception was a third down so it was kind of like a punt. The energy that brings - when the offense takes the field after we get a turnover - that’s huge. And then with them driving again in the red area before the half is what we talked about, getting that stop.”

“We had some real critical swings with those turnovers,” admired Tom Brady, a chief beneficiary of those change in possessions.

Earlier this week, I asked McCourty if he got a sense that the team was coming together at the tail end of their stay in Colorado Springs. He smiled and joked initially, but you could sense the veteran safety can see and feel what the rest of the league is now a witness to.

“I hope so. I mean, it’d probably be terrible if I say yeah and then we go on a five-game losing streak. I can see the headline: ‘McCourty was wrong.’ So, no, I think we understand how the season starts to pick up. You know, each game means more. We understand that seven wins (now 8) doesn’t mean anything. We have to continue to get better. So, I think why we end up usually improving is because it’s the understanding of there’s no tomorrow.”

The defense ordered that Code Red after losing to Carolina in Week 4, and since then, they have worked harder, worked longer and cleaned up so many of the issues that ailed them that opening month. It’s a credit to the players, “they won’ the game tonight,” said Belichick, and the coaching staff as well. if you’ve followed this team over the years, you know even now, they’re not satisfied. There are “things to work on” added Belichick and they’ll start that work on the flight home from Mexico City to Foxboro. 

 

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