Man, I’m still trying to get my heart rate down from Saturday night, or at least it feels that way. What a game. Not one that I predicted correctly by any means — Bobby Petrino and the UNC offense came to play in a big way — but just good enough nonetheless.

There was plenty of good and plenty of bad from the game, and I’m pretty sure I know where the PFF grades will be good and bad on this one. As usual, minimum of 20 snaps. Let’s get into it.

3) Samson Okunlola – 76.5

5) Mark Fletcher, Jr. – 74.9

Mensah and Toney were outstanding as usual. Mensah engineered five touchdowns and a field goal on six of seven drives before kneeling it out, going 22/29, 274, 3 TDs/0 INTs. Toney was quiet in the middle quarters as he drew extra attention from Bill Belichick’s defense, but he started and finished with a bang at 7/75/2 TDs. He also got noticed on the broadcast on a perimeter run for his blocking that allowed for additional yardage. What can you say? This team goes as they go, and they went.

Fletcher was an engine on Saturday across four quarters. Tough yards. Three touchdowns, including a 31-yard catch and run. No major mistakes to my eye. Deserving.

Pass protection seemed better on Saturday than we saw in previous weeks to my eye/memory, and 11 QB pressures allowed isn’t bad, and one sack allowed is very good. The tackles did their job there, and they also drew very high marks in run blocking (Okunlola 85.2; McCoy 81.5)

2) Zechariah Poyser – 45.0

No surprises with the majority in the defense, and in particular, the secondary, with four defensive backs on the list here. PFF has Dunnigan with six catches allowed on seven targets for 70 yards and a score and four missed tackles. The missed tackles were obviously a massive problem on the night for the defense, particularly towards the sideline. Poyser (2) and Lucas (1) both also had missed tackles. Poyser was credited with two touchdowns allowed. Mack was beaten on the final 15-yard touchdown.

I will say I don’t feel like the rush was getting home nearly enough to disrupt the UNC passing game, and that put the secondary in a tough spot at times. But still, the missed tackling and being out of position or just getting beat are still assignment failures that can’t be overlooked.

I didn’t notice Mueller as a liability in the run blocking game, but that’s seemed to be what dragged his grade down. 18 of his 32 snaps were runs, and his 50.2 run blocking grade was the lowest categorical grade for him.