3:29 2nd Qtr
KO: Faulk from the NE 7, 23 yd return.
-- After the opening KO, Buffalo kicked away from Maroney the rest of the night.
-- Wendell and Watson were the wedge this time. They did a fair job, Watson's initial block allowed Faulk to scoot past, but Watson's man (Buffalo's top ST's Ace LB Jon Corto #57 [in case BB steals him some day]) ran him down from behind.
-- Maroney was leading up the sideline, but Faulk turned on his PR mode and went 'heh diddle diddle, straight up the middle,' which given the speed difference between himself and Maroney was a reasonable choice.
-- Good blocks: Wendell, Aiken, McGowan, Baker, Alexander, Chung & TBC (those two were literally sitting on #38 RB Corey McIntyre) were those I could see on camera or read their numbers. One of the LBs Woods or Ninkovich, made a nice block - I couldn't read a number, but both TEs who played where accounted for and this guy was in that size range.
3:25 2nd Qtr
1st and 10 NE 30: NE: 4-wide, 3 R, shotgun
-- Buf: 4-2 Nickel
-- Buf showing blitz from both LBs and SS. 6-man rush with both LBs, Maroney's man slipped off the block and hit Brady as he threw, but he connected with Welker along the right sideline, who juked his defender to gain the first down. 14 yds.
1st and 10 NE 44: NE 2-wide L, 2-TE R
-- Buf: 4-3
-- Inside zone L, it was designed for a cutback since Kaczur pulled and led through the middle stoning the MLB as Koppen released off a combo block to block the WLB outside. Baker and Neal had the DL on that side stacked and screened, and Watson came around and drove the SLB L to give Maroney a nice lane up the middle where the SS made the tackle. 7 yds.
2:00 minute warning
2nd and 3 Buf 49: NE 4-wide 2x2, shotgun
-- Buf: 4-2 Nickel, press-man, LBs showing blitz.
-- 4-man rush, but Buf ran a twist stunt on the Def-R where Mankins was beaten outside by the DT to pressure Brady and he threw the ball away oob. Incomplete.
3rd and 3: NE 4-wide, 2x2, shotgun
-- Buf: 4-2 Nickel, press-man
-- 4-man rush, nice pocket, Watson beat his man and Tommy hit him for a first down. 14 yds.
1st and 10 Buf 35: NE 4-wide, 2x2, shotgun
-- Buf: 4-2 Nickel
-- Buffalo showed blitz and spooked Koppen.
-- Penalty, snap infraction, -5 yds.
1st and 15 Buf 40: NE 4-wide, 2x2, shotgun
-- Buf: 4-2 Nickel, showing blitz LBs and SS.
-- Buffalo starts 6, but the RLB was chipped by Faulk and trailed him in coverage. Watson cleared out the middle for Moss coming underneath for a quick throw from 3 steps back, Moss juked his man and took off to the sideline for 31 yds, stopping the clock by stepping oob.
1st and goal Buf 9: NE 4-wide, 2x2, Brady motions Welker in from wide L to a bunch duo.
-- Buf: 4-2 Nickel
-- Nice pocket. Brady hits Watson in the R flat for 6 yds.
2nd and goal Buf 3: NE 4-wide, 2x2, shotgun
-- Buf: 4-2 Nickel
-- Brady has to step up to avoid a sack, but he's able to slide out the L side and throws a backshoulder toss to Galloway crossing the back of the end zone working against the FS. Incomplete.
-- This is a simple 'what would Brady do' read for Galloway which he'll pick up from the game film and meeting with Tommy, not a mistake, just inexperience with his QB.
0:26 2nd Qtr, injury timeout (DE Kelsey bruised a knee and was out for the night after Denney got around Light, missed Brady, and provided a helmet to knee hit on Kelsey.)
3rd and goal Buf 3: NE 3-wide, 2 L, TE R, shotgun
-- Buf: 4-2 Nickel
-- Brady motions Welker into a bunch duo from wide L.
-- Buf slot CB showing blitz.
-- Draw, Inside zone which closed quickly forcing Faulk to bounce outside where he was tackled short of the goal. 1 yd.
NE Timeout, 0:05 in 2nd Qtr
4th and goal Buf 2: Gostkowski FG attempt, 20 yds, converted.
End of the 1st Half, NE 10 Buf 14