The jeers from the Gillette Stadium crowd said it all.
Patriots wide receiver Joey Galloway hauled in an 8-yard reception in the third quarter of Sunday’s victory over the Falcons, and the hometown fans erupted in unison, sarcastically applauding Galloway’s first catch of the afternoon.
It’s been a rough season for Galloway, a 37-year-old who has been one of the league’s most productive receivers in recent years.
While he is on pace for 37 receptions and 357 yards — basically on par for the Patriots’ third receiver over the last two seasons — it’s easier to focus on the passes Galloway has not caught. He has pulled in just seven of the 19 passes thrown in his direction this season.
“In this league, you play against a different defense every single week, and there’s going to be weeks when things look good and there’s going to be weeks where things don’t look good,” said Galloway, who went to Ohio State. “And that doesn’t mean that a quarterback and a receiver are not in sync. It just means that sometimes, you’re going against a different look and a different scheme.”
It’s not Tom Brady getting hurt, but it hasn’t been an easy season based on AFC East injury reports.
The Dolphins have lost starting QB Chad Pennington for the season to a shoulder injury.
For the Patriots, LB Jerod Mayo is out for at least a few more games, DL Vince Wilfork has an ankle sprain, and CB Jonathan Wilhite might have pulled his groin running from a threatening pair of men outside his home.