Taking a 30-7 halftime lead over the New York Giants on Monday Night Football, the New England Patriots were able to take their foot off the gas a bit in the second half. This, in turn, allowed for the team’s depth players to see some increased opportunities particularly on the defensive side of the ball.

One of the beneficiaries was Elijah Ponder.

Serving as the Patriots’ third outside linebacker behind Harold Landry and K’Lavon Chaisson against the Giants, the undrafted free agent out of Cal Poly played a career-high 29 defensive snaps for a playing time share of 53%. He registered two tackles as well as his third sack of the season. In addition, Ponder also was on the field for 16 special teams snaps (62%) and recovered a fumble in the second quarter.

After entering the season as little more than a rotational depth piece, he steadily increased his role following the trade that sent fellow edge Keion White to San Francisco. Over the five games since White left, Ponder has played 29% of defensive snaps compared to 13% over the previous six weeks.

The arrow is pointing up, something echoed by his position coach last week.

“He’s just getting better every week,” said Mike Smith. “There are still a handful of things he’s got to work on and always got to work on, but he’s just a kid. We’re lucky to get him. He was a great find. He’s a great one.”

Here is our full snap count report from the Patriots’ 33-15 win at Gillette Stadium.

Total snaps: 65 | Time on the field: 32:33 | *denotes starter

QB Drake Maye* (65; 100%), LT Vederian Lowe* (65; 100%), LG Ben Brown* (65; 100%), C Garrett Bradbury* (65; 100%), RG Mike Onwenu* (65; 100%), RT Morgan Moses* (65; 100%), WR Kayshon Boutte* (49; 75%), WR Mack Hollins* (49; 75%), TE Hunter Henry* (49; 75%), RB Rhamondre Stevenson* (38; 58%), RB TreVeyon Henderson (32; 49%), WR Stefon Diggs* (31; 48%), TE Austin Hooper (25; 38%), WR DeMario Douglas (22; 34%), WR Kyle Williams (14; 22%), FB/TE Jack Westover (8; 12%), OT/TE Thayer Munford Jr. (6; 9%), WR Efton Chism III (2; 3%)

Following the injuries suffered by Will Campbell and Jared Wilson, the Patriots introduced a new left side of the offensive lines. Vederian Lowe started at tackle, with Ben Brown flanking him at guard. The pair, just like the rest of the offensive line, went wire-to-wire and generally looked good against a talented Giants front.

New England, of course, made sure not to put them in potentially dangerous situations as well. The team used its running backs to chip the edges on occasion, while the tight ends — including fullback Jack Westover and backup tackle Thayer Munford Jr. — both saw regular snaps next to Lowe. It was a good plan well executed by the players on the field.

Elsewhere on offense, the Patriots did not make any major changes compared to past weeks. The most notable was Rhamondre Stevenson upping his workload in his second game back from toe injury. After playing 31% of snaps last week against Cincinnati, he played 58% versus New York. Meanwhile, TreVeyon Henderson dropped below 50% again for the first time since Week 8.

Total snaps: 55 | Time on the field: 25:08 | *denotes starter

CB Christian Gonzalez* (55; 100%), CB Carlton Davis III* (55; 100%), S Jaylinn Hawkins* (55; 100%), S Craig Woodson* (52; 95%), DT Christian Barmore* (42; 76%), CB Marcus Jones* (42; 76%), ED K’Lavon Chaisson* (38; 69%), LB Robert Spillane* (38; 69%), LB Christian Elliss* (35; 64%), ED Harold Landry III* (31; 56%), ED Elijah Ponder (29; 53%), LB Jack Gibbens (28; 51%), ED Anfernee Jennings (24; 44%), DT Cory Durden* (23; 42%), DT Eric Gregory (21; 38%), DT Joshua Farmer (15; 27%), LB Jahlani Tavai (8; 15%), DT Jeremiah Pharms Jr. (7; 13%), LB Marte Mapu (4; 7%), S Dell Pettus (3; 5%)

As noted above, the Patriots were able to use more of a rotation on defense thanks to the lopsided nature of their win. Two players in particular were part of it: Robert Spillane and Harold Landry, who played significantly fewer snaps than usually. Spillane was on the field for 69% after averaging 97% of snaps up until Week 13; Landry played 56% after previously averaging 78%.

“Just playing everybody and where we are in the season,” said head coach Mike Vrabel on Tuesday. “We’ve got a lot of trust in everybody that’s here, and be ready to go and just try to get everybody ready for this next week.”

The Patriots also saw the return of linebacker Jahlani Tavai, who played 15% of snaps versus New York. At defensive tackle, meanwhile, Cory Durden, Eric Gregory and rookie Joshua Farmer — freshly back from being a healthy scratch — played the biggest roles next to Christian Barmore.

Total snaps: 26 | Time on the field: 2:19

LB Jack Gibbens (18; 69%), S Dell Pettus (18; 69%), ED Elijah Ponder (16; 62%), ED Caleb Murphy (16; 62%), LB/PP Marte Mapu (16; 62%), CB Charles Woods (15; 58%), K Andy Borregales (15; 58%), LB Jahlani Tavai (12; 46%), CB Miles Battle (11; 42%), DT Cory Durden (10; 38%), ED Anfernee Jennings (10; 38%), P/H Bryce Baringer (10; 38%), LS Julian Ashby (10; 38%), FB Jack Westover (9; 35%), LB Christian Elliss (9; 35%), TE Austin Hooper (8; 31%), OT Vederian Lowe (8; 31%), OT Thayer Munford Jr. (8; 31%), OL Ben Brown (8; 31%), OL Mike Onwenu (8; 31%), OL Caedan Wallace (8; 31%), OL Brenden Jaimes (8; 31%), RB/KR Terrell Jennings (6; 23%), S Jaylinn Hawkins (6; 23%), WR/KR Efton Chism III (5; 19%), CB/PR Marcus Jones (4; 15%), WR/KR Kyle Williams (3; 12%), S Craig Woodson (3; 12%), DT Christian Barmore (2; 8%), DT Jeremiah Pharms Jr. (2; 8%), ED K’Lavon Chaisson (2; 8%), LB Robert Spillane (2; 8%)

Besides missing All-Pro Brenden Schooler due to the ankle injury he sustained last week against Cincinnati, the Patriots also saw additional turnover in their special teams operation. The most prominent are the return of Jahlani Tavai and the inclusion of Miles Battle; both appeared on three of the four core units as well as the field goal block team.

The Patriots also reintroduced Efton Chism into the kickoff return mix. The undrafted rookie played five snaps, including two aligned as a return man. The other kickoff options used were Kyle Williams and Terrell Jennings.

Also, a note on the numbers listed here and in the defensive segment above. If you are wondering why they are different from, for example, Pro Football Focus’ it is due to the Giants’ ill-fated field goal attempt in the second quarter. We are listing it as a special teams play because of the personnel groupings used, whereas other sources are treating it as a defensive play for New England given that it was officially counted as a run for a 13-yard loss.

Even though the Patriots held a 30-7 lead entering the second half, Joshua Dobbs would not get an opportunity to take the field. Instead, for the 11th time in the first 13 weeks of the season, the veteran backup would have to watch the entire action from the sidelines.

QB3 Tommy DeVito, S Brenden Schooler, ED Bradyn Swinson, OT Marcus Bryant, LG Jared Wilson, TE C.J. Dippre, DT Khyiris Tonga

The Patriots entered Week 13 down multiple core players. Besides Will Campbell, who was placed on injured reserve leading up to the game, they also missed fellow offensive lineman Jared Wilson as well as defensive tackle Khyiris Tonga and special teams captain Brenden Schooler.

In addition, they made the somewhat surprising decision to declare rookie tackle Marcus Bryant a healthy scratch in favor of recently-signed Thayer Munford Jr. Bryant had been the fourth tackle up until this point, but apparently did not move up the depth chart even with Campbell out.