Chase Winovich Hyped By Grandma’s Promise, Dominates Against Titans

Chase Winovich had a brilliant performance against the Tennessee Titans on Saturday night. One simple promise from his grandma helped him play that good.

“Ever since high school, my grandma has been promising me, if I played hard and I didn’t get hurt, she’s been promising me $5 and a chocolate bar, either Hershey’s or Sarris Candies,” the rookie told media members at Nissan Stadium. “So today was just another day where I just went out there and I said, ‘You know what, I’ve got to play hard. I need that $5, and I need the candy.’”

In one five-minute span in the second quarter of the game, the rookie turned in an incredible performance.

“Chase is a high-motor player,” Patriots head coach Bill Belichick told media members after the win. “He plays hard. He’s very good in pursuit. You see it in the kicking game, see it on defense.” 

On a third-and-20 late in the third quarter, Winovich separated himself from Wick, and ran across the formation to bring down Logan Woodside for a 1-yard score. On a first down early in the fourth, Winovich wrangled Akeem Hunt from behind 15 yards downfield.
“I really don’t know why I’m built like that. It might be a gift and a curse sometimes when it’s extremely hot and they’re just trying to run the ball away.

“I see the guy, and in my head, there’s a little part of me that’s like, ‘You’re probably not going to make this play. Maybe you should save it for the next one when it comes to you.’ But you’ll see me just sprinting and trying to hit somebody or hit something.”

The Patriots have enough depth at linebacker, and Winovich may be out of the starting lineup at the beginning of the regular season. But, Belichick will want him on the field after this performance.

“I’ve always got my start on special teams,” Winovich said. “I got it my freshman year of high school, I got it my sophomore year of college, and I assume here will be no different. I’ll probably get the majority of my early reps early on on special teams, and they’re crucial. Every time you’re out there, it’s an opportunity to learn and get better. … “Hopefully, if I can continue playing well and playing smart football, then I’ll have more opportunities ahead. That’s the goal.”