FOXBOROUGH, Mass. – A look at the snaps played by Patriots skill-position players in the team’s 59-24 win over the Colts, while analyzing what it means (small margin for error):
QB Tom Brady – 58 of 61
WR Wes Welker – 57 of 61
WR Julian Edelman – 52 of 61
TE Rob Gronkowski – 50 of 61
WR Brandon Lloyd – 34 of 61
RB Stevan Ridley – 32 of 61
TE Visanthe Shiancoe – 26 of 61
RB Shane Vereen – 19 of 61
TE Michael Hoomanawanui – 15 of 61
RB Danny Woodhead – 11 of 61
WR Greg Salas – 6 of 61
QB Ryan Mallett – 3 of 61
WR Matthew Slater – 3 of 61
(Penalties included.)
ANALYSIS: For the first time this season, Brandon Lloyd was No. 3 on the receiver depth chart in terms of snaps played. Julian Edelman was the primary beneficiary of this change, as his 52 snaps were his second highest total of the season (behind 75, vs. Cardinals on Sept. 16). Edelman and Wes Welker were the primary pairing in two-receiver sets, giving the Patriots a smaller, shiftier tandem. … At tight end, Rob Gronkowski was on for 50 of the first 53 snaps. The Patriots had started to cut back on his snaps on their final fourth-quarter touchdown drive (he played just 1 on the march) before coming back on for the extra point in which he broke his forearm. Gronkowski has played 93.1 percent of the snaps this season. … Visanthe Shiancoe was the No. 2 tight end, building on his 8-snap performance last week by logging 26 as Daniel Fells was a healthy scratch. … At running back, Danny Woodhead’s 11 snaps were his second lowest total of the season (10, vs. Buffalo, Sept. 30). He didn’t have a touch or a target in the game. … The 61 snaps were a season low, which was a trickle-down effect of having the defense return two interceptions for a touchdown, as well as Edelman returning a punt for a touchdown.