The Stats Corner: Burkhead, Michel's numbers in Patriots win stand out

Share
7 photos
1/7
<p>With James White inactive for a second straight game following the tragic death of his father, Burkhead seized the opportunity as the Pats' pass-catching threat, rushing for two touchdowns and adding another through the air.</p>

<p>While it was the fourth multi-touchdown game of Burkhead's career and the second time he's had a receiving and rushing touchdown in the same game, it's the first time he's racked up three scores in the same game.</p>

<p>Burkhead, who tied a career high with seven receptions, is also the first Patriot to score three touchdowns since Sony Michel rushed for three scores in Week 7 last season against the Jets.</p>

With James White inactive for a second straight game following the tragic death of his father, Burkhead seized the opportunity as the Pats' pass-catching threat, rushing for two touchdowns and adding another through the air.

While it was the fourth multi-touchdown game of Burkhead's career and the second time he's had a receiving and rushing touchdown in the same game, it's the first time he's racked up three scores in the same game.

Burkhead, who tied a career high with seven receptions, is also the first Patriot to score three touchdowns since Sony Michel rushed for three scores in Week 7 last season against the Jets.

2/7
<p>Sony Michel had a less-than-inspiring start to Sunday's game, rushing for just four yards on a pair of carries over New England's first five possessions.</p>

<p>But he finally found some room on the last possession of the first half, gaining 30 yards on three straight plays -- two rushes and a reception.</p>

<p>In the second half, he broke free for rushes of 38 and 48 yards, the two longest runs of his three-year NFL career. He finished with 117 yards on nine carries, the fifth 100-yard game of his NFL career. </p>

<p>The Patriots are now 52-1 since 2001 when they have a 100-yard rusher.</p>

Sony Michel had a less-than-inspiring start to Sunday's game, rushing for just four yards on a pair of carries over New England's first five possessions.

But he finally found some room on the last possession of the first half, gaining 30 yards on three straight plays -- two rushes and a reception.

In the second half, he broke free for rushes of 38 and 48 yards, the two longest runs of his three-year NFL career. He finished with 117 yards on nine carries, the fifth 100-yard game of his NFL career. 

The Patriots are now 52-1 since 2001 when they have a 100-yard rusher.

3/7
<p>After rushing for 112 yards over his first two games, Cam Newton only added 27 rushing yards on Sunday against the Raiders, but it was still enough to move him into second place on the NFL's all-time QB rush list:</p>

<ol>
	<li>Michael Vick -- 6,109</li>
	<li>Cam Newton -- 4,955</li>
	<li>Randall Cunningham -- 4,928</li>
</ol>

After rushing for 112 yards over his first two games, Cam Newton only added 27 rushing yards on Sunday against the Raiders, but it was still enough to move him into second place on the NFL's all-time QB rush list:

  1. Michael Vick -- 6,109
  2. Cam Newton -- 4,955
  3. Randall Cunningham -- 4,928
4/7
<p>Joe Thuney had made 66 straight starts at left guard entering Sunday, but with David Andrews inactive, somebody needed to step up and play center -- and Thuney filled in more than capably.</p>

<p>The fifth-year pro played all 69 offensive snaps in his first action at center since a preseason game against the Giants in 2017.</p>

<p>It's no wonder that <a href="https://www.nbcsports.com/boston/patriots/patriots-praise-joe-thuneys-unbelievable-transition-center-week-3-win?b">his teammates called his play</a> "unbelievable," "outstanding" and "huge" in the aftermath of the victory.</p>

Joe Thuney had made 66 straight starts at left guard entering Sunday, but with David Andrews inactive, somebody needed to step up and play center -- and Thuney filled in more than capably.

The fifth-year pro played all 69 offensive snaps in his first action at center since a preseason game against the Giants in 2017.

It's no wonder that his teammates called his play "unbelievable," "outstanding" and "huge" in the aftermath of the victory.

5/7
<p>After a host of the Patriots' top defensive players opted out of the 2020 season, the team needed someone to step up -- and on Sunday, one of those players was Shilique Calhoun.</p>

<p>Calhoun forced a Josh Jacobs fumble in the first quarter and combined with Deatrich Wise on a strip sack of Derek Carr in the fourth quarter, leading to the Patriots' final touchdown of the game.</p>

<p>It's the 11th time in Patriots franchise history that a player has forced at least two fumbles in the same game.</p>

After a host of the Patriots' top defensive players opted out of the 2020 season, the team needed someone to step up -- and on Sunday, one of those players was Shilique Calhoun.

Calhoun forced a Josh Jacobs fumble in the first quarter and combined with Deatrich Wise on a strip sack of Derek Carr in the fourth quarter, leading to the Patriots' final touchdown of the game.

It's the 11th time in Patriots franchise history that a player has forced at least two fumbles in the same game.

6/7
<p>When Deatrich Wise fell on a loose ball after the strip sack of Derek Carr in the fourth quarter, it marked the second straight week that the Patriots scored a non-offensive touchdown (Devin McCourty had a pick-six against Russell Wilson last week).</p>

<p>Since the start of last season, New England has scored nine non-offensive touchdowns, the most in the NFL: four interception returns, three fumble returns, and two blocked punt returns.</p>

When Deatrich Wise fell on a loose ball after the strip sack of Derek Carr in the fourth quarter, it marked the second straight week that the Patriots scored a non-offensive touchdown (Devin McCourty had a pick-six against Russell Wilson last week).

Since the start of last season, New England has scored nine non-offensive touchdowns, the most in the NFL: four interception returns, three fumble returns, and two blocked punt returns.

7/7
<p>The Patriots didn't pull away until the second half, but for all intents and purposes, the game was basically over at halftime when New England headed to the locker room with a 13-10 lead.</p>

<p>The Pats are now 101-1 at Gillette Stadium when leading at halftime during the regular season. The only loss during that stretch was their season-opening loss to the Chiefs in 2017.</p>

The Patriots didn't pull away until the second half, but for all intents and purposes, the game was basically over at halftime when New England headed to the locker room with a 13-10 lead.

The Pats are now 101-1 at Gillette Stadium when leading at halftime during the regular season. The only loss during that stretch was their season-opening loss to the Chiefs in 2017.

Contact Us