There's no subtle way to run out the clock in the National Football League.
It's a dirty job, what with smacking folks in the mouth and tossing them aside like empty taco wrappers - and the Patriots' offensive line did quite a bit of tossing folks aside late in the afternoon on Sunday at Gillette Stadium, leaving the field littered with Buccaneers.
It was a powerful thing to witness.
Not just because it was old-school football, nor because it was the Patriots doing the bullying - no, it was because the Tampa Bay defense knew what was coming - hell, everyone in the building knew what was coming - but they were powerless to stop it.
Which was curious because up until the moment that the Patriots' took possession of the football with 7:38 to play from their own 29 yard line and with an insurmountable 23-3 lead, the three-headed running back approach of featured back Stevan Ridley, change up back LeGarrette Blount and passing back Brandon Bolden were pedestrian at best.
Of course, it's no shame to be limited by the best rushing defense in the league, particularly when the primary focus of that defense was to stop the Patriots' running game and make quarterback Tom Brady a stationary target in the pocket with only his much-maligned rookie receivers to throw the ball to...
...and it worked, initially, as the New England offense suffered through an ugly first quarter that saw three punts and just 31 yards of total offense - Brady becoming that stationary target and seeming to freeze in the face of a ferocious pass rush, sacked twice and nailed on many occasions, only Bolden taking his swing passes curling into the flat preventing the Tampa pass rush from pinning their ears back.
And that's important to remember. Were it not for Bolden's skill set possessing the hands and elusiveness to gain positive yardage on the screen and short flat route - he caught five balls for 49 yards - the Patriots offense would never have gotten going, because the Buccaneers' defense had pretty much shut down the running game and Brady was getting knocked on his can every time he dropped to pass.
And other than a 46 yard run by Bolden in the second quarter, the running game had produced just 56 yards in 24 touches for an abysmal 2.24 yards per carry before New England lined up for what they hoped to be the day's final drive...
...and in what was reminiscent of the Patriots championship teams of old, Blount rumbled for 56 yards in eight carries right into the teeth of the proud Buccaneers' run defense, the left side of the New England offensive line dominating and opening huge holes.
This is why LeGarrette Blount is in New England, why James Develin holds a roster spot as a true full back, why journeyman tight end Matthew Mulligan was recently brought aboard - and why Michael Hoomanawanui survived training camp. One 4:41 drive in the fourth quarter of the third game of the season justified roster spots for all.
Develin sealing off Buccaneers' linebacker Lavonte David to the outside in advance of Blount, who cut inside then floated outside for 23 yards - then to the right for a couple before Brady found first Julian Edelman then Aaron Dobson for short throws for yet another first down, causing the Bucs to burn their remaining time outs in the process...
...Blount left, stumbling after gaining seven of what could have been a dagger, left again for 16 as Mulligan, Hooman and left tackle Nate Solder physically shoved half of the Tampa pursuit to the sideline - Left, left, right - the Patriots run blocking smacking the now exhausted and off-balance Buccaneers' run stoppers right in the teeth.
Coach Bill Belichick electing to run the ball once more from the Buccaneers' 11 instead of kicking a meaningless field goal on 4th and six - Blount gouging to the right and nearly making the mark - and though the drive stalled out at the Buccaneers' six yard line, the damage was done. It's not as if the Buccaneers had any chance to score three touchdowns in the last quarter when they could only muster a field goal for the first three...
...but it's also not like the Patriots had their running game going at all until that moment, and for them to line up and go mano-a-mano with the Bucs and kill the clock as they did was perhaps the most impressive part of the Patriots total team victory
The last drive for the New England Patriots against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers personifies what old-school, smashmouth football is all about - when you have an opponent worn down, that's when you step on their throats - no mercy.
The New England Patriots' treated their guests from Tampa very badly on Sunday afternoon - what with pushing them around, stuffing footballs down their throats and sending them to their third consecutive loss to start the season.
Probably took their meal money too.
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