It was a 4th down play that was pretty clearly designed to do one thing. With a 38-0 lead, more than 10 yards to go, and BenJarvus Green-Ellis getting the handoff, either Bill Belichick or Bill O’Brien—maybe both—were looking to get the Patriots’ breakout running back his one thousandth yard of the season.
It’s the first time the Patriots have had a 1,000 yard rusher since Corey Dillon picked up over 1,600 in 2004, and it couldn’t have come from a much more surprising source. Not even a lock to make the team, Green-Ellis was thrust into the leading role by an injury to Fred Taylor and the Laurence Maroney trade. When you add in Danny Woodhead, it makes for one very surprising—and impressive—running back corps.