1. What changed for the Patriots' offense in the third quarter? There were two things that stood out from their opening drive (5 plays, 78 yards, in just 2:19). They went empty on the first play with two receivers, one tight end, one fullback and one running back, spreading out the Texans' base defense. That simplified the picture for quarterback Tom Brady in terms of what the Texans were doing defensively (Danny Amendola for 16 yards was easy pickings with linebacker Darryl Sharpton in coverage). Then, on the next three plays, they tilted the field by aligning multiple receivers to one side while attacking the opposite side in the passing game with either tight end Rob Gronkowski or running back Shane Vereen. This, from our viewpoint, allowed them to exploit the Texans' linebackers and safeties in coverage with two of their best players -- Gronkowski and Vereen.
2. That theme continued on the next drive. There were multiple empty formations out of two-back sets to exploit the Texans' base defense and make them cover the width of the field. Then, on Vereen's 9-yard touchdown catch, the Patriots tilted the field to the right side with receiver Julian Edelman, tight end Matthew Mulligan and Amendola, and brought Gronkowski up the seam off the left side of the line on the "open" side of the field. That drew significant attention from the Texans' defense in the end zone (3 players), leaving Vereen unaccounted for in the left flat for the catch and easy walk-in for the score.
3. Those looked like two of the Patriots' main halftime adjustments -- empty formations out of two-back sets and creating more of an "open" side of the field and attacking it.
6. Bill Belichick called an uncharacteristic early-in-the-half timeout when the Texans' offense faced a third-and-1 with 12 minutes remaining in the quarter. The Patriots had sent in their short-yardage defense, with linebackers Dane Fletcher and Jamie Collins replacing defensive backs Logan Ryan and Duron Harmon, but there was one problem -- the Texans had a three-receiver set on the field. Perhaps sensing they were vulnerable to the big play with just two players in the secondary, Belichick must have felt it was important to get the right personnel on the field. But after the timeout, the Texans went with a two-receiver package, and so the Patriots countered in their base 3-4 and defensive end Joe Vellano made an excellent play to drive right tackle Derek Newton into the backfield and stop Ben Tate for no gain to force the punt. That was one of the "game within the game" type situations.
3. Why don't cornerbacks turn back for the ball? We've heard that question asked often in recent years and one reason why was illustrated on DeAndre Hopkins' 66-yard catch against cornerback Kyle Arrington (13:09 remaining). Arrington looked back, lost track of Hopkins, and was beaten for the big play. Arrington had been called upon in place of Logan Ryan as the cornerback opposite Aqib Talib for that drive, but didn't play again on the final two drives as he was replaced by Marquice Cole. Arrington has been playing through a groin injury.
