FOXBOROUGH, Mass. — Right or wrong, good call or bad, Logan Ryan didn’t have time to worry about it.

Ryan, the second-year defensive back of the New England Patriots, was called for pass interference against Andre Holmes late in Sunday’s game against Oakland. The two jostled on a deep pass, and the resulting penalty gave the Raiders a first down at the New England 6, trailing by seven with 62 seconds remaining.

Ryan returned to the huddle.

“I knew how much time was left, how important it was,” Ryan said.

“Whether the call was a good call or a bad call, it wasn’t going to matter there. I needed to finish the game and help the team get a win.”

And that’s what he did. Following a holding penalty against Oakland that moved the ball back to the 12, Ryan closed in on Denarius Moore. The ball deflected first off Moore’s hands, then off Ryan to Vince Wilfork, who held on for the interception to secure New England’s 16-9 win at Gillette Stadium.

Advertisement

“We were in zone coverage, which was a great call,” said Ryan. “They had been running short (pass routes), high-percentage shots. So I had zone vision. I tried to make a play on the receiver, (the ball) kind of bounced off his hands and ricocheted off me even before I noticed it.”

Devin McCourty said Ryan’s attitude was exactly what was needed at the time.

“Any penalties that happen, you’ve got to switch to next situation,” said McCourty.

“Keep them out of the end zone. That’s the focus, that’s the same focus we have when we stepped on the field. That’s how you’ve got to do it. Move on to the next play and try to keep them out of the end zone.”

The Patriots kept Oakland out of the end zone all game, giving up just three field goals.

Ryan was asked if he thought it the interference penalty was the correct call.

Advertisement

“The refs called what they called,” he said, “so it’s pass interference.”

RAIDERS COACH Dennis Allen didn’t hold back on his opinion of the holding penalty that cost his team a possible tying touchdown. With Oakland trailing 16-9, Darren McFadden ran in from 6 yards out with 59 seconds left, and it seemed the Raiders were a Sebastian Janikowski PAT kick away from a tie.

But Raiders guard Gabe Jackson was called for a holding penalty at the 2, negating the touchdown.

One play later, Wilfork intercepted a deflected pass to seal the win for the Patriots.

Asked if he thought it was a penalty against Jackson, Allen said, “I did not.”

Asked if he had a chance to look at the play, he said, “I saw it up on the big screen and in my opinion it was not a hold.”

Advertisement

MUCH WAS made this week of the need to get more balance into the passing game. Tom Brady had focused on Julian Edelman and Rob Gronkowski for much of the first two games. Against the Raiders, the Patriots didn’t throw to either of them on the first two series – and had two punts to show for it.

It wasn’t until the third drive, which began with a 12-yard pass to Edelman, that the Patriots’ offense started to move. In the end, Edelman was targeted 13 times and made 10 catches for 84 yards.

Brandon LaFell was targeted eight times, with four catches for 46 yards, while Shane Vereen and Gronkowski were targeted six times each. Vereen ended up with four catches for 17 yards, and Gronkowski had three for 44 yards and a touchdown.

IT WAS the ninth consecutive game in which Edelman has caught at least six passes, and the fourth time in his career with at least 10 catches.

Despite his good game, Edelman said the offense has a long way to go.

“Everyone has to get better,” he said “There were a couple of plays where we weren’t on the same page, and we have to have better chemistry.”

Mike Lowe can be contacted at 791-6422 or at:

mlowe@pressherald.com

Twitter: MikeLowePPH


Only subscribers are eligible to post comments. Please subscribe or login first for digital access. Here’s why.

Use the form below to reset your password. When you've submitted your account email, we will send an email with a reset code.