How Wes Welker Saved the Patriots

Welker had 5 catches for 64 yards on a drive that sparked the Patriots

Admittedly, this post comes way later than it deserves.  However, if you were watching the Patriots’ game against the Carolina Panthers this past Sunday, you may have seen one of the most remarkable solo performances in New England Patriots history.

The score, knotted at seven.  The time, halfway through the third quarter.  The ball, at New England’s own four yard line.  The play, a quick pass to Wes Welker who gets absolutely drilled by Carolina defensive back Charles Godfrey.

By this point, the Patriots were playing flat as they ever have under Bill Belichick.  Following an extrememely lackluster performance against the Dolphins, the Patriots came out and had shown absolutely no swagger against the 5-7 Carolina Panthers (minus a few moments on defense).  The Patriots were backed up and on the verge of taking a major hit in the field position battle.  And now one of the team’s best players was on the ground after taking a serious shot.

But as he had so many times before, Patriots receiver Wes Welker, in visible pain, popped right back up and joined his teammates in the huddle.  The next play? 3rd and two.  Brady finds Welker who ran a beautiful slant-n-drag to get open.  13 yards, Patriots first down.  Three plays later, Welker gets open again, for 13 yards and another first down off of a short out and in from the left slot, splitting another two defenders.  In another three plays, the Patriots called Welkers number again.  This time on a quick swing out of the slot for nine yards.  Then one play after that, Welker came up big again.  Off of the play action, he just found a way to sneak behind three Carolina Panthers into the middle of the field.  He caught the ball and turned it into a 23 yard gain, setting the Patriots up with a first and goal.  The Patriots would go in to score the touchdown and take the lead 14-7.

But the play by play can only take you so deep into what happened.  After Wes Welker’s second catch, the crowd finally, after more than 38 minutes of football, got going.  After his third, his fourth, his fifth of the drive, everything was okay again.  Wes Welker, through grittiness, toughness, and pure scrappiness found a way to bring energy back to the Patriots.  In just one drive, he became a legend on the field, displaying everything you could possibly ever want out of a football player.  If it hadn’t been for Welker’s spark, the Patriots might not have won that game, and may have had a month on the couches come January.

But that’s not what happened.  Wes Welker happened, and the Patriots are still in the driver’s seat in the AFC east and in the Wild Card race.

There’s no question, in my mind at least, that Wes Welker is the MVP of this Patriots team thus far.  He’s on track for nearly 130 catches, and that’s after missing two games earlier this season.  There is no question that he is the key to making this offense go in New England, and I believe that he deserves to be in the NFL MVP talk as well.  Wes is virtually uncoverable, and he is making defenses pay week after week.

Look, Wes might not have the unique skillset of your Larry Fitzgerald, Andre Johnson, Randy Moss, or one of your typical #1 vertical/jump-ball receiver types, but there is no denying production.  And with production, quickness, and fundamentals in mind, there is no denying that Wes Welker deserves talk as one of the best, if not the best, receiver in the NFL.

If the Patriots can right this ship and make a playoff run this January, they’ll owe a good chunk of that success to Wes Welker.