How important is momentum in a Professional football game?
Josh McDaniels apparently didn't get it.
The Patriots don't need to use trick plays. With the offensive fire power that the Patriots possess, they have the ability to line up and take it to any defense in the league, yet they continue to try them - and they play themselves right out of drives with them.
With just under 8 minutes left in the 1st half and the Patriots driving, they tried a reverse with Edelman, losing 13 yards and,more importantly, all of their momentum. The Ravens drove the ball right down the field after the ensuing punt and took the lead. In fact, the Ravens scored Touchdowns on three consecutive drives.
Fortunately for New England, their dormant offense showed up in Baltimore just in time and matched the Ravens score for score - and then, finally, using the no huddle (and more traditional play calling), the Patriots regained the momentum midway through the 3rd quarter and were able to hang 30 points on the proud Ravens' defense.
But ultimately it wasn't enough as the Ravens kicked a last second field goal to score a wild 31-30 victory to improve to 2-1 on the season.
New England fell to 1-2, the first time that they've been under .500 in almost a decade.
Brady was fantastic, finding Brandon Lloyd and Wes Welker seemingly at will in one of the most curiously officiated games in recent memory, even given the fact that we've seen 3 weeks of replacement officiating.
But in the end, the Patriots' defense couldn't hold the suddenly potent Baltimore offense.
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