Inside linebacker Christian Elliss was impossible to miss, and other snap count observations from Patriots-Giants
After the game, Elliss said he understands why the Giants were upset with his hit on Dart, acknowledging the Patriots would have reacted similarly if a defender forcefully knocked Drake Maye out of bounds. But Elliss also noted he was cognizant of the situation and felt he had no choice once Dart elected to stay inbounds.
“I thought he was just going to go out of bounds, but then I saw him tiptoeing,” Elliss said. “When I saw he was going to stay inbounds, what am I supposed to do? We play hard on defense. We try to bring life to this team. That is all I was trying to do, was just do my job and hit anything in the white jerseys.”
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Elliss has had an up-and-down season, in which he’s been benched for Jack Gibbens and sidelined with a hip injury, but he certainly reestablished his presence Monday.
2. New England’s other starting inside linebacker, captain Robert Spillane, played a season-low 38 snaps, breaking his eight-game streak of being on the field for every defensive snap. Coach Mike Vrabel indicated Spillane’s usage was the result of where the Patriots are in the season, likely in an effort to preserve Spillane for their upcoming playoff push.
Edge rusher Harold Landry, who entered the game questionable with a knee injury and played a season-low 31 snaps, fell into the same category, according to Vrabel.
With Landry limited, undrafted rookie Elijah Ponder logged a season-high 29 defensive snaps. He finished with a sack and two other pressures, according to Pro Football Focus.
3. A week after rookie TreVeyon Henderson maintained his spot as the top running back, Rhamondre Stevenson outsnapped him, 38-32. Stevenson also registered one more carry (12 for 40 yards) than Henderson (11 for 67 yards).
The Giants have allowed the most rushing yards of any team this season, so perhaps the Patriots wanted to use the game as an opportunity to get Stevenson going. Last week in Cincinnati, after missing three games with a toe injury, Stevenson rushed for just 5 yards on six carries in his return.
4. Tackle Thayer Munford, signed to the 53-man roster eight days ago off of the Browns’ practice squad, made his Patriots debut with six snaps as the jumbo tight end.
Interior backup lineman Ben Brown typically takes on that role, but he started at left guard in place of the injured Jared Wilson. Nose tackle Khyiris Tonga also has lined up in that spot, but he was sidelined with a chest injury.
Vrabel gave Munford a shoutout.
“That’s kind of what you have to do at this time of the year or any time in the National Football League, is be ready to go,” Vrabel said.
If right tackle Morgan Moses or left tackle Vederian Lowe, starting in place of the injured Will Campbell, were to have suffered an injury, it appears Munford would have been the next man up.
Rookie swing tackle Marcus Bryant was a healthy scratch. That decision seemed odd, as Bryant was the first tackle off the bench in Week 12 to fill in for Moses. Given the injuries across the line, one would think the Patriots would want to maximize their depth options.
5. Rookie Kyle Williams finished with 14 snaps, but he made the most of them. After Kayshon Boutte banged up his quadriceps after making a catch in the second quarter, Williams came in on the next snap and hauled in a beautiful 33-yard touchdown pass.
“You never know when something is going to come,” Williams said. “You just always got to be ready. It’s a saying, ‘Stay ready so you don’t have to get ready.’ You don’t want to wait until it is the last day or the moment. Even if things are not going your way, stay on your routine.”
6. With Tonga and defensive tackle Milton Williams (ankle) injured, Cory Durden continued to operate in an elevated role. After averaging 14 snaps through the first nine games of the season, Durden has averaged 31 over the past four.
After Monday’s win, Vrabel revealed that this one may have had more significance for Durden because the Giants released him at the end of training camp.
“Cory Durden has been playing a lot for us,” Vrabel said. “That game meant a lot to him. They told him he wasn’t good enough to play for the Giants. We thought that he was good enough to play for the Patriots. So, I’m happy for him. He made some plays and continues to help us, but also help himself, and I love that.”
Nicole Yang can be reached at nicole.yang@globe.com. Follow her on X @nicolecyang.
