Matthew Slater hyped Cordarrelle Patterson up right before he scored

Nam Y. Huh | AP Photo

Talk about an emotional roller coaster of a game, especially for New England Patriots kickoff returner Cordarrelle Patterson.

Earlier in the Patriots game against the Chicago Bears yesterday, the six-year veteran fumbled on a kickoff that turn into an easy score for Chicago. He tried to get his redemption shot on the next opportunity, but it wasn’t time yet, as he was tackled at the Patriots 18.

After the mishap, special teams captain Matthew Slater saw that Patterson was a little down on himself, when he decided to approach the kickoff returner.

“He said, ‘Listen, man. I believe in you. I believe you’re the best returner in the league. We all know that. You just keep doing what you do. Stuff in football happens,’ Patterson said. “That’s just how Matthew is. He’s that guy. I appreciate him every time. I appreciate him every chance I get, because he’s a motivator, man.”

With the Patriots down 17-7 early in the second quarter, Patterson had his chance. Moments later, he would be fielding a kick and taking it 95 yards down the field for a score.


“He’s the best kickoff returner in the league,” Slater said. “He just needed to hear that. He’s the best kickoff returner in the league. Someone needed to tell him we had his back, we had full confidence in him, and I just wanted to make sure he remembered that.”

“It helps a lot,” Patterson said. “Them guys believing in you, having confidence in you. That was a big fumble. They got it on the 24-yard line. They come down and score in three plays or whatever… Having confidence like that from the captain Matthew Slater, it just builds so much confidence in me, it makes me want to go out there and play for those guys.”

Patterson’s kickoff return for a touchdown helped swing the momentum back in the Patriots’ favor, en route to a 38-32 victory over the Chicago Bears.

Follow Megan on Twitter: @carnahanmegan

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