Atlanta's Defense

[PATSYLICIOUS]

Iirc, After the pick 6 we had 7 real drives (not gonna count the final play of regulation).

6 drives ended in scores. The other drive would have if not for drops by hogan and edelman. So really we shouldve scored 7 drives in a row unless im forgetting a drive. Ill give it to atl that the drives were mostly not as easy as i envisioned going into the game, but thats very poor defense regardless of what they did our first few drives.

 

[Brit patriot]

What we are missing is the fact that we play in a way that makes defenses tired in the fourth quarter. We did the same to the LOB, that wasn't the same defense as we usually see because they were knackered.

Atlanta were tough, and when you turn the ball over twice in their half, don't be surprised when you are way down. We were always going to get to them at the end, but the points we had left on the board meant that the difference was just too much (or so we thought)

Atlanta did as well as an average defence could have done playing at 100%, but by playing that tempo and so much man to man, they were always going to gas

 

[Nikolai]

A football game is 60 minutes, sometimes a little bit more. Atlantas d over 60 minutes was bad. They allowed over 500 yards and 34 points despite 2 red zone (or close) takeaways.

I'd say over 500 yards and 34 points indicates a mismatch.

Looking back on it, some of us predicted we'd abuse that defense (I predicted 532 yards and 37 points). It just took a while for the train to get started, but once it did, there was no stopping it.

 

[IllegalContact]

Falcons defense sucks.......their hope was to punch as hard as they can for as long as they can while their offense piled up the points......the offense did not pile up the points (21 for the game) and after 50-55 plays, their defense was useless

this game was the epitome of death by a million paper cuts

37 first downs
29 of them were gained on 1st or 2nd down

in the end, the falcons were the ones who were too slow

 

[Froob]

Reminds me a lot of the Colts defense from around 2005-2009. Very fast.

 

[mosi]

Reminds me a lot of the Colts defense from around 2005-2009. Very fast.

Also, very grabby. The DB were holding and grabbing on almost every play and hoping they would not get called. For the most part, they got away with it. By the 4th qrter, they were gassed and could not keep up. But the last PI on Bennet was so obvious, they had to call it.

 

[gatsby47]

It is not very often where a team deciding to go for 2 point conversions can get them. But the Patriots did it twice and the ot touchdown by White looked exactly the same, with Atlanta unable to defend their goal line. It seemed to me to be the example of the failings of their defense. It showed that Belichick understood that those 2 point conversions could be made. It was one of the things as they rallied that stood out in my mind.

 

[Ring 6]

Looking back on it, some of us predicted we'd abuse that defense (I predicted 532 yards and 37 points). It just took a while for the train to get started, but once it did, there was no stopping it.

I called it one of the greatest mismatches in SB history, Tom Brady O vs the Atlanta D, and it turned out to be correct as the Patriots scored 4 TDs and a FG in their last 5 drives. This was 48 plays, 325 yards, 31 points, Brady was 26/33/284/2/0. We had 24 first downs on those 5 drives, we faced only 6 3rd downs on those 5 drives, including on 1 on the game tying 91 yard drive and not a single one on the game winning 75 yard drive.
Turned out I was right, and it only took abut 27 1/2 minutes to roll all that up.

I predicted 41, 5 TDs and 2 FGs, and as it turns out, I think the only thing that stopped that from being correct is one of the 2 uncharacteristic turnover while driving. Prior to the fumble at the ATL 33, we had driven 53 yards in 5 plays, and prior to the pick we had driven 52 yards to the 23, with 5 first downs.

 

[Ring 6]

It is not very often where a team deciding to go for 2 point conversions can get them. But the Patriots did it twice and the ot touchdown by White looked exactly the same, with Atlanta unable to defend their goal line. It seemed to me to be the example of the failings of their defense. It showed that Belichick understood that those 2 point conversions could be made. It was one of the things as they rallied that stood out in my mind.

I've been meaning to comment that Josh McDaniel should get HUGE credit for the 2pt conversion play designs and calls.

 

[Ring 6]

Looking back on it, some of us predicted we'd abuse that defense (I predicted 532 yards and 37 points). It just took a while for the train to get started, but once it did, there was no stopping it.

In fact my prediction was 41-20, which is only the difference between the pick 6 and Brady getting that one in the end zone off of the final score. (if the McClellin blocked PAT hadn't incorrectly been wiped out)

 

[Vindicate]

I think, as many are pointing out, that while that defense showed flashes, a lot of it was riding the wave of momentum. And uncharacteristically bad throws from Brady.

Edleman had various points of separation that would've, if thrown to or thrown to well, would've started the whole "death by a thousand paper cuts". Instead we waited until the end of the third quarter and jabbed a dagger into their ribs and continually pummeled their faces with a tightly clenched fist as they began to bleed out all over the field, and exhaustion got the best of their final wimpers, before dumping their bird carcass in the ocean in OT.

........Got too carried away there. Great game.

 

[Shockt327]

Patriots Final 5 Drives:

13 Plays, 75 yds, TD
12 Plays, 72 yds, FG
5 plays, 25 yds, TD
10 plays, 91 yds, TD
8 Plays, 75 yds, TD

Under no circumstances, and in no universe, is that "well enough to win", and I promise you, if the roles were reversed, and I tried to claim the Patriots defense played well enough to win? You'd rightfully rip me.

Just because the Patriots came back on O does not mean Atlanta sucked on D.

With that being said, those drives stats say far more about the tenacity of New England's offense than anything else. I re-watched the game last night on NFLN (and I'm looking at it now on youtube, too). Those first three scoring drives were like pulling teeth. New England was still trying to find out how to attack; and specifically in relation to what Atlanta was showing and understanding how they would react. It was pretty damn hard, too. It's like they'd take one step forward...only to run into a brick wall when doing it again. Just trying to figure out how Atlanta would react was tough. Really wasn't until the last two drives that McDaniels and Brady really picked up on ATL's tendencies and then you saw the Patriots get into a steady rhythm and take control of the game.

I'll really try my hardest to point to what I'm seeing with video later on...

But I'm looking at the drive to make it 28-9, and you could really tell McDaniel's was trying hard to figure out how clear out the underneath coverage to attack them with the in-route and the shallow cross on those first two plays. The first play to Lewis failed, so McD threw in a nice wrinkle on the next play with the in-route to a flexed-out White, and Atlanta's D quickly adjusted with their safeties tightly packed in the defensive formation on the next play. Same drive, McDaniel's was also attacking outside the numbers with the out-route (Amendola). But one play would work and then other would fail because Atlanta responded by showing zone and tee'd off on Amendola on the next play. Atlanta really kept adjusting in small ways; like they were one-step-ahead. Those first three scores were just a total pain. Really.

 

[Ring 6]

I think, as many are pointing out, that while that defense showed flashes, a lot of it was riding the wave of momentum. And uncharacteristically bad throws from Brady.

Edleman had various points of separation that would've, if thrown to or thrown to well, would've started the whole "death by a thousand paper cuts". Instead we waited until the end of the third quarter and jabbed a dagger into their ribs and continually pummeled their faces with a tightly clenched fist as they began to bleed out all over the field, and exhaustion got the best of their final wimpers, before dumping their bird carcass in the ocean in OT.

........Got too carried away there. Great game.

Brady didn't really make many bad throws. The pick of course, but everyone is railing on the pass where he missed Edelman on a crossing route. If you look back at that play, just as, or just after Brady releases the ball, and DB makes contact with Edelman, slowing him down, ever so much that the ball is just past his fingertips. I think if he was untouched he catches that ball in stride and has a lot of room to run.

 

[Ring 6]

Just because the Patriots came back on O does not mean Atlanta sucked on D.

With that being said, those drives stats say far more about the tenacity of New England's offense than anything else. I re-watched the game last night on NFLN (and I'm looking at it now on youtube, too). Those first three scoring drives were like pulling teeth. New England was still trying to find out how to attack; and specifically in relation to what Atlanta was showing and understanding how they would react. It was pretty damn hard, too. It's like they'd take one step forward...only to run into a brick wall when doing it again. Just trying to figure out how Atlanta would react was tough. Really wasn't until the last two drives that McDaniels and Brady really picked up on ATL's tendencies and then you saw the Patriots get into a steady rhythm and take control of the game.

I'll really try my hardest to point to what I'm seeing with video later on...

But I'm looking at the drive to make it 28-9, and you could really tell McDaniel's was trying hard to figure out how clear out the underneath coverage to attack them with the in-route and the shallow cross on those first two plays. The first play to Lewis failed, so McD threw in a nice wrinkle on the next play with the in-route to a flexed-out White, and Atlanta's D quickly adjusted with their safeties tightly packed in the defensive formation on the next play. Same drive, McDaniel's was also attacking outside the numbers with the out-route (Amendola). But one play would work and then other would fail because Atlanta responded by showing zone and tee'd off on Amendola on the next play. Atlanta really kept adjusting in small ways; like they were one-step-ahead. Those first three scores were just a total pain. Really.

I'll leave this here.

I called it one of the greatest mismatches in SB history, Tom Brady O vs the Atlanta D, and it turned out to be correct as the Patriots scored 4 TDs and a FG in their last 5 drives. This was 48 plays, 325 yards, 31 points, Brady was 26/33/284/2/0. We had 24 first downs on those 5 drives, we faced only 6 3rd downs on those 5 drives, including on 1 on the game tying 91 yard drive and not a single one on the game winning 75 yard drive.

I'll disagree that allowing a TD drive is good defense if you keep the offense guessing.
That was 27 1/2 minutes of brutally bad defense.

 

[SVN]

Brady didn't really make many bad throws. The pick of course, but everyone is railing on the pass where he missed Edelman on a crossing route. If you look back at that play, just as, or just after Brady releases the ball, and DB makes contact with Edelman, slowing him down, ever so much that the ball is just past his fingertips. I think if he was untouched he catches that ball in stride and has a lot of room to run.

Maybe but his first 2 passes in the game tying drive weren't great or great decisions. Even the edelman miracle catch couldve been picked and he was throwing toa bracketed edelman. His pass to bennett in overtime was another dangerous throw which couldve been picked.For every bad throw he made , he countered with some unreal plays down the stretch.

 

[SVN]

Atlanta played good defense but they arent getting enough blame for the loss IMO.The reason atlanta offense couldnt stay on the field was because their defense couldnt get off the field on 3rd down and even 4th down.

 

[Ring 6]

Maybe but his first 2 passes in the game tying drive weren't great or great decisions. Even the edelman miracle catch couldve been picked and he was throwing toa bracketed edelman. His pass to bennett in overtime was another dangerous throw which couldve been picked.For every bad throw he made , he countered with some unreal plays down the stretch.

He completed the first 2 passes on that drive.
Edelman's catch wasn't a great throw, but last night when asked what he was thinking during that play he said 'that I should have run my route better' .
The throw to Bennett was against a beaten defender with his back to the QB who had to interfere to prevent a TD.

 

[neuronet]

Falcons defense sucks.......their hope was to punch as hard as they can for as long as they can while their offense piled up the points......the offense did not pile up the points (21 for the game) and after 50-55 plays, their defense was useless

Still having trouble seeing how people think this. Were you were thinking this halfway through the third quarter....when we had 3 points on the board, their defense had scored six points, strip-sacked Blount, and had sacked Brady so many times?

Let me put it another way. From reading your post I see: their defense sucks, they did exactly what their coach asked them to do, perfectly, but their offense could not pile up the points to implement their usual gameplan.

So how exactly is their defense the one that sucks? I'm not being a jerk here, but it seems like they pretty much did what they were asked to do, and their offense let them down in the last 3/8 of the game.

The difference is we were one of the few teams with a good enough offense to dig ourselves out of the hole that we got ourselves in, once they implemented their "pile on early" approach.

I don't think their defense sucks. I think our offense and quarterback are just that damned good.

 

[neuronet]

I'll disagree that allowing a TD drive is good defense if you keep the offense guessing.
That was 27 1/2 minutes of brutally bad defense.

Or of brutally amazing lights out kick ass offense that had made all the necessary adjustments to a defense that had been kicking our ass for half a game, and finally was running out of steam?

You guys crack me up.

 

[sambam94]

strange game really...5 sacks, they had pressure more often than not..and it's not like the Pats receivers were running free, usually pretty good coverage. Brady was just too good..that's what it came down to.