McDaniels clearly didn't have any appetite to throw against the Denver secondary. The game plan was apparently to run into the pass rush, and that worked enough to maintain control of the ball and kill the clock especially in the second half, even if it didn't lead to a lot of points.
McD focused on exploiting Develin against the inside linebackers, Mason and Thuney against the defensive tackles. The idea of featuring Lewis over Blount was unexpected and rather effective. The improved O-Line really makes everything possible for the 2016 Patriots. The 2015 Pats would not have been able to execute this game plan.
The game plan also didn't play to Brady's strengths, which are to read the coverage, put the team into the right play, and throw into the weak spots of the D. Taken out of his strike zone, Brady did not have the fantasy numbers. Maybe it was PSTD, as some are saying, but I just think Denver deserves credit for having an exceptional secondary. I think rather than forcing it in there, the choice was to preserve Brady's incredible INT / TD ratio, and try to win in a different way.
The Offense played within itself and was able to nurse a lead-- which I think was entirely the point. Nothing explosive, nothing over the top of the D. Inside running and short passes to convert third down. Thank god for the early turnovers, because I saw no sign that the Pats were ready to come from behind against the Denver D.
This game, to me, was really all about the Pats Defense. Any time a playoff caliber team manages only 3 points, you know it was a stellar defensive game with plenty of useful turnovers.
Flowers has been a revelation, Butler and McCourty were clutch. Ryan was the player of the game for me, with a textbook and important INT that really won the day. Malcolm Brown's cleanup sack after Flowers moved Siemian off the spot made me smile, because that's the kind of play the 2003 Patriots were able to make seemingly at will. Please, more like that.
I have to watch the game film again, but my first take is that the D wasn't playing in it's normal Big Nickel look, with Harmon in centerfield and Chung in the box on the strong side to take the TE. I think Patricia had the team more in a Tampa-2 with McCourty and Chung playing deep to take away Sanders and Thomas, three corners, and a four man rush. Explains how Hightower had a quiet game.
Where and how did BB find Kyle Van Noy?! I had to look it up: Pats agreed to swap our 6th round pick for the Detroit 7th rounder to get the guy. Highway robbery.
Final thought: AJ Derby sure looked like a promising young TE.
