How will New England's offense fare without Hunter Henry?
New England Patriots tight end Hunter Henry and interior defensive lineman Davon Godchaux both suffered rib injuries in the team's win over Buffalo and are expected to be out for the next month with their respective injuries.
Godchaux had just returned from a hip injury after missing all but nineteen snaps this season against Chicago in the season opener and played just one snap against Buffalo before leaving the game. The 27-year old defensive lineman is the 10th highest paid Patriot this season, netting $10.3 million in the final year of his deal but with his recent string of injuries, he might not get the opportunity to earn a similar extension.
Henry, the team's highest paid offensive player, hadn't missed a game with New England after dealing with injuries during the end of his time with the Chargers. In seventeen games last season, he had his best year with 64 receptions for 813 yards and eight touchdowns.
While an important member of the offense, New England is uniquely positioned to lose their top tight end given that another one of their highest paid players is Jonnu Smith, the team's versatile move tight end that they signed in the same off-season with Henry.
Smith has almost matched his numbers from last season, needing just 78 more yards to match his receiving yards total of 388 yards last season with 19 receptions for 310 yards and two touchdowns on the season. Along with Kendrick Bourne (18.3 yards per reception), Smith has been one of the team's down the field threat, averaging 16.3 yards per reception. He also leads the team in snaps played among skill position players, surpassing Henry during last week's game.
It remains to be seen if during Henry's absence the team will opt to go with more 11 personnel with Bourne coming along recently while Charleston Rambo has been a pleasant surprise and Jakobi Meyers has established himself as a top receiver this season. The option is to remain two-tight end friendly and bring Dalton Keene along for the ride.
Keene was a top performer in the preseason and caught his first catch of the season last week for a touchdown.
Injuries
MIN DT Dalvin Tomlinson (ankle)
MIN C Garrett Bradbury (knee)
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NE TE Hunter Henry (ribs)
NE DT Davon Godchaux (ribs)
NE CB Roger McCreary (hip)
The Minnesota Miracle II? Jones, Meyers connect for 55-yard GW touchdown with seventeen seconds left
The Minnesota Vikings seemingly stumbled their way to a one-point lead with 6:50 left and after Quinn Nordin's 40-yard field goal hit the left upright and the Vikings were able to pick up two first downs and use all of New England's timeout, it seemed a forgone conclusion that they would win.
Hunter Duplesss missed a 55-yard field goal with 21 seconds left in the game, giving New England the ball back on their 45-yard line where Mac Jones would find Jakobi Meyers for a one-play, 55-yard game winning drive to beat Minnesota 34-29.
New England kept their winning streak alive despite a less than impressive performance with Jones throwing for just 235 yards prior to the long touchdown and Damien Harris being held to 3.2 yards per carry.
Kirk Cousins had lit New England up, throwing for 365 yards and two touchdowns with Justin Jefferson being the game leader with five catches for 171 yards and a touchdown, several of them jump balls he won against All-Pro corner J.C. Jackson including perhaps a play that will be forgotten with the Vikings collapse.
Down five with 7:45 left in the game, Cousins threw it up for Jefferson on 3rd and 10 who was blanketed by Jackson. Jackson went for his second interception of the day with the ball bouncing off his finger tips and then off his helmet into the hands of Jefferson at the 29-yard line who turned up field before being tackled at the one-yard line. Two plays later, Dalvin Cook rushed it in for a touchdown.
Jones then led a ten-play drive converting a 2nd and 13 and a 3rd and 7 in the process before the offense stalled out at the Minnesota 23-yard line, leading to Nordin's missed kick.
---------------------------------------------------------------- Scoring Summary
Quarter 1
[NE] M. Judon, returned fumble 1 Yds (9:12)
[MIN] I. Smith Jr 6 Yd pass from K. Cousins (3:47)
[NE] J. Meyers 1 Yd pass from M. Jones (0:07)
Quarter 2
[MIN] H. Duplessis, 22 Yd FG (11:23)
[MIN] J. Jefferson 40 Yd pass from K. Cousins (7:31)
[NE] J. Meyers 3 Yd pass from M. Jones (0:37)
Quarter 3
[NE] D. Harris, 1 Yd run (10:01)
[MIN] A. Mattison, 6 Yd run -- 2pt failed (0:47)
Quarter 4
[MIN] D. Cook, 1 Yd run -- 2pt failed (6:50)
[NE] J. Meyers 55 Yd pass from M. Jones -- 2pt failed (0:09)
---------------------------------------------------------------- New England Patriots
QB Mac Jones: 25 of 32, 290 yards, 3 touchdowns, sacked 2 times.
HB Damien Harris: 14 carries, 46 yards, touchdown.
HB Rhamondre Stevenson: 9 carries, 16 yards.
WR Jakobi Meyers: 8 receptions, 98 yards, 3 touchdowns.
HB James White: 7 receptions, 64 yards.
TE Jonnu Smith: 3 receptions, 47 yards.
WR Kendrick Bourne: 2 receptions, 40 yads.
LT Wynn: 78.9 PFF grade | LG Onwenu: 90.0 PFF grade | C Andrews: 90.0 PFF grade | RG Mason: 67.1 PFF grade | RT Brown: 90.0 PFF grade
S Devin McCourty: 12 tackles (85.0 PFF grade)
S Kyle Dugger: 9 tackles, tackle for loss (72.8 PFF grade)
S Adrian Phillips: 7 tackles, tackle for loss (82.4 PFF grade)
IDL Christian Barmore: 5 tackles, 4 tackles for loss, sack (94.2 PFF grade)
CB J.C. Jackson: 4 tackles, interception (56.0 PFF grade)
Minnesota Vikings
QB Kirk Cousins: 15 of 30, 365 yards, 2 touchdowns, interception, sacked 3 times.
HB Dalvin Cook: 29 carries, 90 yards, touchdown, 2 receptions, 28 yards.
HB Alex Mattison: 2 carries, 13 yards, touchdown.
WR Justin Jefferson: 5 receptions , 171 yards, touchdown.
WR Adam Thielen: 2 receptions, 67 yards.
WR Olabisi Johnson: 2 receptions, 45 yards.
TE Irv Smith Jr: 2 receptions, 40 yards touchdown.
LB Anthony Barr: 12 tackles, 2 tackles for loss.
CB DeAndre Baker: 8 tackles, tackle for loss.
LB Eric Kendricks: 7 tackles, 3 tackles for loss.
Injuries
LAC LB Kyzir White (shoulder)
LAC T Terron Armstead (knee)
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NE TE Hunter Henry (ribs)
NE DT Davon Godchaux (ribs)
NE WR Kendrick Bourne (ankle)
NE EDGE DEAngelo Malone (chest)
