Can someone explain what that strange formation was?

[fnordcircle]

At some point in the second half the Patriots lined up with one player, #6 or something, about 12 yards behind the LoS and then had single players lined up on either side of the line. They ended up snapping it to that guy who was deep behind the line.

What the heck was that formation called?

 

[jman924]

At some point in the second half the Patriots lined up with one player, #6 or something, about 12 yards behind the LoS and then had single players lined up on either side of the line. They ended up snapping it to that guy who was deep behind the line.

What the heck was that formation called?

It's called the "mercy" formation.