All-22 Film Shows Mostly Good In Blowout Win
Reviewing the game film from Saturday’s win over the Jets would have even Bill Belichick scurrying for negative plays to hammer home teaching points. Of course, there were, however, for much of this game, the Patriots were rolling and executing their game plan very well.
The Jets? Well other than a few young players that are fighting for jobs and a couple of vets who played hard regardless of the score or their record, they checked out early. Todd Bowles probably wished he had stayed in the hospital where he was being treated for kidney and gallstones prior to the game.
The game plan this week was to finish, something they failed to do last year in the same situation with the Jets. With the #1 seed in the AFC on the line, they did exactly what they set out to do, and failed in the Meadowlands last year. And this time around they did it convincingly.
This one was a blowout by halftime with the Patriots up by 27 points. They would eventually win by 38. At halftime, the Patriots had more points than the Jets had net passing yards (26).
The offense was moving the ball and very efficient at scoring points. The defense was giving up very little in terms of yardage and no points until the score was 41-0 and then the Jets opted for a field goal, rather than go for a touchdown on fourth down deep in the Patriots end of the field.
Tom Brady was in control of this one from the opening drive and completed 17 of 27 for 214 yards and three touchdowns. Arguably, his best throw of the day ended up as a 47-yard penalty. His bomb to Malcolm Mitchell was right on the money and the rookie WR may have gone all the way, had he not been interfered with. Brady really completed his work by halftime going 13-21 for 171 with three scores in the first 30 minutes.
But we’ll start with one of his few mistakes on the day.
Incomplete Pass on Third Down: On the Patriots opening drive, Brady moved them right down the field where they faced a 3rd down and 7 from the Jets 11-yard line. The Patriots aligned with three receivers on the left side with the TE Bennett inline on the right. The Jets rushed three and dropped eight into coverage.
Chris Hogan ran a crossing route and was covered. Bennett ran a crossing route underneath and had coverage underneath and over the top. James White flared out of the backfield and was well covered. Malcolm Mitchell ran a slant, and was the primary target and had three Jets defenders blanketing him.
Julian Edelman lined up wide left, ran a fade into the back corner of the end zone and was uncovered. The Jets had blown the coverage, having all gone to Mitchell. Edelman waved his arms for the ball, but Brady missed him. Darrelle Revis recognized that Edelman was alone and rushed over to cover. Brady had to throw it away and settle for a chip shot field goal.
Bennett 5 Yard TD Pass: On the Patriots’ next drive, Brady would make sure they didn’t settle for three. On 3rd and goal from the 5-yard line, the Patriots had three wide receivers and the tight end, Bennett, lined up inline on the left.
At the snap, Brady was going to Bennett all the way. He faked going to the outside and ran a slant to the back of the end zone. His fake got him separation from strong safety Rontez Miles and ILB Darron Lee was slow to react.
Brady delivered the ball easily to Bennett, right on target and the Bennett leaped up and high-pointed the ball for a nice touchdown reception. That made the score 10-0 and the Patriots offense was rolling at this point.
Malcolm Butler Fumble recovery: Butler had a fantastic day with a pair of interceptions and a fumble recovery. The Jets tried a running play with Khiry Robinson getting his first carry of the season. Robinson was lined up behind QB Bryce Petty in the backfield and moves forward to take the ball on what looked like a run behind the right tackle.
The Patriots are in good shape, the defensive line is stout at the point of attack and there’s nowhere for Robinson to go. But LB Elandon Roberts makes the big play here. He identifies the run and seeing an opening, flies up into the gap and collides with Robinson with a big collision. His helmet hits right on the ball which pops loose.
Butler comes up in run support and scoops up the fumble. Petty makes the tackle to stop a touchdown going the other way but in going to the ground, injured his left, non-throwing shoulder and was lost for the game.
Edelman 35-yard reception: Edelman had a couple of big receptions in this game, a 28-yarder where he and Brady worked in perfect concert together and this play which happened to be his longest reception of the season.
The Patriots are on their own 46-yard line facing a 2nd and 11 with just over four minutes to go in the half and leading 13-0. They spread the field with one tight end, two wide receivers (Edelman and Mitchell) to the right and Dion Lewis split wide left, with fullback James Develin in the slot to the right.
The Jets blow the coverage and Edelman ends up isolated on a linebacker, Freddie Bishop. He runs a deep route and cuts to the outside where he’s ridiculously wide open. Brady’s pass was a bit short where he had to slow down and get it. But he still manages to grab it and add another 10 yards after the catch.
Lengel 18-yard Touchdown: Patriots backup tight end Matt Lengel got his first NFL catch and his first NFL touchdown on the same play. With just over two minutes remaining in the half, the Patriots are facing a 2nd and 8 at the 18-yard line of the Jets. They line up with two tight ends, two WRs and a running back, Dion Lewis.
Edelman comes in motion from right to left, Mitchell lined up wide right runs a crossing route short, across the middle. Lengel is aligned to the left and runs a deep post route. He gets position to the inside and although everyone was open on this one, Brady fires a nice pass where Lengel is the only player that can catch it. The touchdown put the Pats up 20-0.
James White 25-yard Touchdown: Right at the end of the half, the Jets made the curious and not-so-smart decision of calling timeout with 46 seconds remaining and the Patriots facing a 3rd down and four from the 19-yard line. Down 20-0, their offense had done nothing all half and they were seeing the Patriots were content to run out the clock. But they called the timeout and it would come back to haunt them.
Brady hit Julian Edelman for a nine-yard completion for the first down and the Pats called timeout. Then Brady uncorked a beauty deep down the middle to Mitchell who was gaining separation from two Jets defenders. Doug Middleton saved a touchdown (albeit briefly) by interfering with Mitchell that set up the Patriots with a first down at the Jets 25 with just 31 seconds left.
The Patriots go with three wide receivers, Bennett is in line left and stays in to block. White is in the backfield to Brady’s right. At the snap, the wide receivers clear out the defenders. White runs straight up the seam, and blows past linebacker David Harris and runs a route to the corner for the end zone.
Brady delivers the ball perfectly and White has an easy touchdown. That put the Patriots up 27-0 at the half and this one was already over.
Follow me on Twitter @SteveB7SFG or email me at [email protected]
Listen to our Patriots 4th and 2 podcasts on blog talk radio as the writers Russ Goldman, Derek Havens and I from PatsFans.com discuss the latest Patriots news Wednesdays at 12 noon.
Support Steve and buy him a coffee.
Support Us: Help Us Compete Against The Corporate Media Giants
We need your help. If you enjoy our content, please help us beat Google's Corporate algorithm by adding us as a preferred source on Google News.
Click the button below and check the box next to "PatsFans.com"
Add as a preferred source on Google News
A former US Army Special Forces NCO and Officer, Steve has been following the Patriots since their days at Fenway Park. Steve has worked in the film industry and wrote as an Military Editor at SpecialOperations.com, 1945.com as a reporter for the Millbury Daily Voice, Millbury-Sutton Chronicle, and the Grafton News. He's also a member of the Pro Football Writers of America (PFWA)
