The playcalling sucked for the most part.
Ah, thank you for pointing this out!
During the game I was complaining about the playcalling, and told my teammates (who I watched the game with) that I couldn't understand what they were doing. Also, it seemed the Patriots were very predictable on offense. I believe ten times during that game I said (verbally to those watching with me) the fallowing prior to the snap:
1) They're going to run it!
2) They're going to fake the run.
And EVERY time I was correct. Granted I've played the game for awhile, but if I'm watching the game at home and know what they are about to do, then the Colts D had to have also known.
McDaniels was using the run on the wrong down, or in the wrong situations, and again it was becoming predictable. During a previous drive the Pats had thrown the ball on first down, and ran it with Maroney on second. This would have been fine (if the plays chosen were better), but McDaniels chose two plays back-to-back that didn't seem likely to work. Then, when this next drive begins I said "Watch, McDaniels is going to throw it on first, then run Maroney on second" and sure enough that's what happened.
Prior to the half when NE tried to get all the coverage going Moss' direction then went deep to Stallworth.....it was a bad call, and a bad pass by Tom. This playcall in that situation brought confusion to those of us watching. three of us said the fallowing:
1) You've got Randy Moss, one of the best deep ball WR's in NFL history, if you're going to go deep throw it to MOSS!!
2) Why during this part of the game did the Patriots try that play?
3) Why is Brady throwing that pass? Stallworth wasn't open, and he's NOT Randy Moss!
4) Brady underthrew it.
When it comes to Kyle Brady's role. He was in the game, and he was running routes, so why didn't NE keep him in for Pass pro? Kyle is essentially another LT on the field, that's how good of a blocker he is. Also, nobody is going to confuse Kyle Brady with a good receiving TE, so why not use him for what he does best?
Let's be honest and say that wasn't NE's A game at all, and let's also be honest and say that the officiating contributed to NE's problems. That being said, McDaniels' playcalling left something to be desired.