Patriots players react to game-winning two-minute drive
FOXBOROUGH, Mass – While it hasn't been the case all season, the New England Patriots were finally able to execute an impressive two minute drive that resulted in a game winning touchdown. The drive began after Mac Jones sent a short pass to Rhamondre Stevenson who ran it for a 34-yard gain. Hunter Henry hauled […]
FOXBOROUGH, Mass – While it hasn't been the case all season, the New England Patriots were finally able to execute an impressive two minute drive that resulted in a game winning touchdown.
The drive began after Mac Jones sent a short pass to Rhamondre Stevenson who ran it for a 34-yard gain. Hunter Henry hauled in a 14-yard catch for another first down, and Stevenson followed it up with a 10 yard run. The Buffalo Bills were flagged for defensive pass interference with 23 seconds remaining, putting New England in even better field position.
With 15 seconds on the clock, Mac Jones found Mike Gesicki in the back of the end zone for a one-yard touchdown, which was the perfect way to end the game on National Tight End Day.
And Gesicki's griddy celebration was one to remember.
The Bills were left with seconds on the clock and on their final play of the game, quarterback Josh Allen fumbled the ball with Brendan Schooler recovering. This solidified the win for the Patriots.
With the excitement of their first home win of the season, many players commented on the impact of the final two-minute drive.
Here is what they said:
Mike Gesicki
“We were in two-minute the whole way down, so I was just kind of on the sideline just watching everybody make plays, and it was awesome to watch our offense do that. Once the offense was on the one-yard line, and Coach (Bill) O’Brien called that specific personnel to get me on the field, I kind of had a feeling that he was putting me out there for a reason and I was going to have the chance to make a play to hopefully win the game. When I was standing on the sideline that whole two-minute drive, I was just telling myself ‘stay ready, stay ready, stay ready.’ Ultimately, that was the play call and I had a chance to go up and make a play to put us ahead with 15, or whatever, seconds left and it was a lot of fun.
Jabrill Peppers
“We watch those guys take ownership in practice. They had a great week of preparation. Mac [Jones] had a great week, the tight ends, the receivers, and it showed tonight. They picked us up. So, it felt good watching those guys, and I know they felt that they could win the game for us when it mattered. I’m happy for Mac; he fought through adversity, came out, had a brilliant game, controlled the ball well. We’re just going to keep trying to play hard for those guys and leave it all out there.”
Davon Godchaux
“Big time. It was big, big time. Those guys, Buffalo got up late in the second half, and the offense bailed us out. Great catch by Mike Gesicki. My guy Pop [Demario Douglas] played unbelievable. Offensive line played unbelievable, shoutout to the offense, I don’t think we give them enough credit. Defense, we started fast. We always want to start fast. I think that’s credit to us for starting fast. Towards the end, we kind of gave up a little bit, but shoutout to the offense. They were unbelievable.”
Kendrick Bourne
“A lot of composure, just very calm. Rhamondre [Stevenson] made a great play to start the drive. The penalty was on the ground, that was scary, but we were just locked in. Pharaoh [Brown]’s play was big too. That is how we have to play with four minutes. Four-minute, and then we were in two-minute, we practice that all the time. I feel like we did a great job in four-minute, just penalties we have to avoid. Our two-minute drive was to win and it usually comes down to that.”
Pharaoh Brown
“It’s more than perfect that [Gesicki] scored it. We need to have National Tight Ends Day every day, you know what I mean? It’s kind of like Father’s Day or something, let’s just add more Father’s Days, more Christmases, more birthdays, more National Tight Ends Days every day.”
Jonathan Jones
"The offense had the ball in their hands at the end and people say they can’t score in two minutes, but they proved everybody wrong today.”
Here is what players said about Mac Jones' leadership on that drive:
Demario Douglas
“He was positive," he said on Mac Jones' attitude on the final drive. “They all like, ‘we got this.’ And then you can see it in their eyes, confidence. I feel like that’s what helped me. They gave me that confidence too and they believe in me.”
And Douglas also highlighted the exact moment he knew they had it.
“When we first started, Just the energy that we all had. When we got in that huddle, Mac’s like ‘We got this.’”
Rhamondre Stevenson
“Just poised. Didn’t waiver at all, got the play calls in, made the right reads, just a leader.”
Jahlani Tavai
“We expect that out of him. We know the type of player that he’s capable of being. Whether he has a good or bad game, on defense we’re going to make sure we have his back.”
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Didn’t miss a beat.
