Snaps played by offensive skill-position players in the New England Patriots’ 30-27 win over the New Orleans Saints, while analyzing what it means (as charted in press box, small margin for error):
QB Tom Brady – 88 of 88
WR Aaron Dobson – 80 of 88
TE Michael Hoomanawanui – 76 of 88
WR Kenbrell Thompkins – 59 of 88
WR Danny Amendola – 49 of 88
WR Julian Edelman – 43 of 88
RB Stevan Ridley – 38 of 88
RB Brandon Bolden – 34 o8f 88
FB James Develin – 22 of 88
RB LeGarrette Blount – 16 of 88
TE Matthew Mulligan – 13 of 88
WR Austin Collie – 9 of 88
OL Will Svitek – 1 of 88*
* Svitek gets credit for the snap as he entered the game, with left tackle Nate Solder reporting eligible.
(Penalties included.)
Analysis: The 88 snaps are the second-most this season, behind 94 in the season opener. The Patriots played with a fast tempo, which led to the higher snap total. … Dobson had his most extended workload of the season as he was part of more packages than the norm. His playing-time progression has been 0, 34, 55, 26, 39, 80. He took some of the snaps that had been going to Thompkins. … Edelman opened the game as the team’s No. 4 receiver and was also part of a two-receiver package. He ended up playing in three-receiver packages when Amendola sustained a head injury, but overall his workload was reduced compared to past weeks. … Collie had played one snap before staying on the field for the entire game-winning, eight-play touchdown drive. … Hoomanawanui continues to be an unsung performer as his 76 snaps were the second-highest among non-quarterback skill-position players, and his second-highest total of the season (80, vs. Buffalo). He’s averaging 59 snaps per game this season. … At running back, the Patriots rotated on a series by series basis early, giving Ridley the entire 10-play third series. Ridley played the most snaps among running backs, although Bolden’s snap total spiked late because he was utilized as the passing back in the team’s four-wide package.