FOXBORO, Mass. – On an afternoon when Matt Hasselbeck went home and eclipsed the 300-yard mark for the first time this season, a former University of Washington star stole the show.
New England Patriots running back Corey Dillon helped spoil Hasselbeck’s homecoming Sunday by running for 105 yards and two touchdowns in a 30-20 win over the Seattle Seahawks. Dillon is the first opposing back in nine games to eclipse the 100-yard mark against Seattle’s defense, dating back to Michael Bennett’s 103 yards for the Minnesota Vikings on Dec. 7, 2003.
“We knew he was a good back,” Seahawks defensive tackle Cedric Woodard said. “He made some nice runs, some cutbacks, and broke a few tackles.
“He’s just a good running back, and we need to do more next time.”
The root of Dillon’s success came from broken tackles. He had at least three runs where he broke free from three or more defenders.
But also at the heart of the performance was a game plan designed to take advantage of Seattle’s aggressive linebackers. Many of Dillon’s runs were on cutback plays, where the offensive line would block one direction, and the running back would cut the other.
“He’s a good cutback runner,” Seahawks linebacker Isaiah Kacyvenski said, “and he didn’t show that on film at all.”
No one – except Dillon himself – was certain if he’d even play in the game. He was listed as “questionable” on the injury report after not practicing all week due to a sore foot, yet Dillon had told local reporters that he expected to be available for the game.
Fortunately for the Patriots, Dillon was at his best Sunday.
“He just continues to play well,” Patriots quarterback Tom Brady said. “He is a very dependable player. You seem to get the ball to him, and he makes things happen.”
Dillon ran 23 times, including seven carries that went for 7 yards or more.
“I was just out there playing football,” he said, “and we did some good things.”
Hasselbeck, meanwhile, had decent stats despite a rough outing in the area where he spent most of his childhood. The Boston College graduate and former Patriots ball boy threw interceptions on each of Seattle’s first two drives, helping New England build up a 20-3 lead in the first half.
Hasselbeck finished with a season-high 349 passing yards on 27 of 50 passing, with the two interceptions and no touchdowns. The aggressive Patriots defense sacked him three times and pressured him on countless others.
“He made some nice plays,” New England linebacker Mike Vrabel said, “but for the most part, I thought we had some decent pressure.”
Hasselbeck’s parents, Don and Betsy, and youngest brother, Nathanael, were among the family and friends who watched his homecoming. Although he was glad to spend a few minutes with them after the game, his trip back to the Boston area was far from a perfect experience.
“It was weird,” he said. “It would feel a lot better if we’d won the game.
“… They’re a good football team. The people here are real passionate about their sports teams. Everybody was real friendly here. It’s just too bad that we couldn’t get the win.”
Too bad for the local kid, but not for the local fans.
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