The Patriots are headed to the Super Bowl…let that one sink in for a second. Yes, for the 12th time in their history, the Patriots are headed for the Super Bowl. Mike Vrabel has put together a very good top-to-bottom roster and coaching staff, and they have overachieved in his first season at the helm.
In Denver, the Patriots washed away a lot of postseason frustration in the swirling snow that grew heavier and heavier in the second half, where any attempt to throw the ball turned into an adventure.
But the Patriots’ defense was once again outstanding, and once again, barely acknowledged by the majority of the national media and other fan bases, who reacted to the Patriots’ win in hilarious fashion.
Was it the way they drew it up? Nope. Did it lack enough “style points” for the gamblers who live and die by fantasy football numbers? Oh yes. And the Patriots couldn’t care less… they’re headed to Santa Clara to face the Seattle Seahawks. But first…
As we always do, let’s break it down by position
Quarterback: C
Drake Maye statistically had a poor game throwing the football: 10-21 for 86 yards, 0 TDs, and 0 INTs, for a passer rating of 58.8. He missed receivers, especially Kayshon Boutte, three times.
Give Denver’s secondary credit; they were sticking like glue to the Patriots’ receivers. But Maye missed a TD to Rhamondre Stevenson, and a pass to Pop Douglas that he usually makes.
However, Maye won the game with his legs. He scored the Patriots’ only touchdown on a QB draw and carried 7 times for 68 yards until his kneeldowns to end the game. His improvisation at the end of the game and running a bootleg to his left sealed the deal. And he didn’t turn the ball over or fumble.
They need him to play better in the Super Bowl, but for the past two weeks, the weather has sucked. It should be better in Santa Clara.
Running Backs: C+
Rhamondre Stevenson was a one-man show on Sunday. TreVeyon Henderson only played four snaps. With the weather taking a proverbial dump on the proceedings, Stevenson had the coaching staff’s absolute trust.
Stevenson had 71 yards on 25 carries, but 59 of those came after contact. His pass protection was excellent, and he had a key block on the 31-yard flea flicker. Henderson had three carries for just five yards.
Wide Receivers: C-
Mack Hollins returned to the lineup after being on IR for four weeks and led the team in receiving with 51 yards on two catches. He had the 31-yard flea-flicker catch, where he got open going from right to left down the field. His run blocking was very good as usual.
Overall, however, the wide receivers struggled to get separation against the Broncos’ secondary. Boutte had just one catch for six yards, but Maye missed him a few times, and he was blanketed by Patrick Surtain. Stefon Diggs caught five passes but for just 17 yards.
Pop Douglas (one target) and Kyle Williams (0 targets) didn’t catch a pass.
Tight Ends: C-
Hunter Henry and Austin Hooper were primarily used as blockers against Denver, with mixed results. In a bit of a surprise, they weren’t a big part of the passing game plans.
Henry had two catches for just 12 yards and had a key drop. Hooper wasn’t even targeted.
Offensive Line: C
After re-watching the game, Denver’s five sacks were mostly coverage sacks, where Maye had nowhere to go with the ball and, rather than putting it in harm’s way, ate it and took the sack.
Denver got pressure…to be sure, but the sacks weren’t the result of getting overwhelmed at the snap (see the Patriots D’Line). Will Campbell had a good game going against Nik Bonitto after a bit of a slow start.
Bonitto’s stat line: 0 sacks, 0 tackles, 0 QB hits, two pressures. So, let’s put a slow roll on the handwringing about moving Campbell to guard. Plus the fact that the kid just turned 22 years old three weeks ago, for heaven’s sake. He’s not even finished growing yet.
The rest of the offensive line had its moments. The run blocking was a mixed bag, but at the end of the day, they ran for 141 yards and did what they had to do in pretty crappy elements.
Defensive Line: A
The defensive line owned the line of scrimmage on Sunday. And that was going against what was billed as the best offensive line in the league with two All-Pros. Milton Williams, Christian Barmore, Khyiris Tonga, and Cory Durden were dominant.
Denver couldn’t run the ball (79 yards), and they were getting constant pressure on Jarrett Stidham. And no, Stiddy wasn’t ready. When the Patriots pressured Stidham, he was 1-10 for four yards with a fumble, an interception, and a passer rating of 0.0. So, the Kurt Warner stories that were already written will have to wait.
Barmore blew through Quinn Meinertz for a sack, and Williams completely blew up Denver’s 4th-and-1 play at the Patriots’ 14-yard line, where the play had no chance of working.
K’Lavon Chaisson was huge in this game. Although he had a few missed tackles, he was all over the field. I’ve been a big Anfernee Jennings supporter since the day they drafted him, and he’s been outstanding in the playoffs. He had another really strong game on the edge with Christian Ponder.
Ponder recovered a backwards pass/fumble that should have been a touchdown. But a quick whistle snuffed that out before he could reach the end zone.
Linebackers: A
Christian Elliss was outstanding and put the pressure on that led to the backward pass on Stidham, which Ponder recovered. The Patriots lost Robert Spillane early in the game with an ankle injury.
But Jack Gibbens took over with the communication and played a heckuva game. Watching the linebackers fill the gaps and take away the short passing game shows how prepared they were for Denver’s offense.
Denver averaged 2.8 yards per rush, with the #1 OL in the league…nuff said.
Secondary: A-
Cornerback Christian Gonzalez had his first interception of the season, but what a time for him to get one. He picked off Stidham’s deep ball to Marvin Mims with 2:11 left in the game to put the Patriots in the driver’s seat.
Gonzalez and Jaylinn Hawkins had a communication issue/busted coverage early in the game that resulted in a 52-yard completion. Two plays later, there was another issue where Courtland Sutton caught a TD. After that series, however, the Patriots’ secondary put both of them on a milk carton.
Carlton Davis and Marcus Jones were shutting down everything in their path. On the failed 4th-and-1 play Craig Woodson nearly picked it off.
Special Teams: B-
The Patriots’ and Broncos’ STs units were dealing with very difficult weather conditions. Andy Borregales was 1-3 on field goal attempts, although one of them was from 63 yards away. Denver’s Wil Lutz was 0-2, but his second attempt in the fourth quarter was blocked by Leonard Taylor, preserving the Patriots’ lead.
Bryce Barringer had a rough game, with his eight punts, averaging just 37.9 yards. The plan was to keep the ball away from Mims, and with the short punts, they did just that. The coverage units were very solid. D’Ernest Johnson had two KO returns for 59 yards while Marcus Jones had one punt return for two yards.
Coaches: B+
Mike Vrabel and the coaching staff deserve so much credit for this game and the season. There never is any panic in this team and no moment seems too big. It is a testament to the staff that the players are always so well prepared.
Kudos to Zak Kuhr, the Patriots’ acting Defensive Coordinator. It isn’t often that one gets the best of Sean Payton, but on the pivotal 4th-and-1 call, he did.
Seth Wickersham of ESPN wrote about the situation and how it played out.
“Then, Payton called a timeout. He wanted to think.
“Duo was Denver’s top fourth-and-short run; Slipper Naked, a bootleg to the right, was its top fourth-and-short pass. He went with the pass. But at the snap, the Patriots surprised Denver by playing Red 2, a zone defense, behind a six-man front. The play had no chance. Stidham threw into traffic, incomplete. Denver not only missed out on three points but also missed out on its last, best opportunity for easy points. The Broncos never got so close to the end zone the rest of the game.”
Kuhr has had the defense playing with their hair on fire all postseason. And no one is giving them credit for it. He’s done a fantastic job.
Denver gave the Patriots all they could handle, but the Patriots won the game and are moving on. The team is the first team in NFL history to go 9-0 on the road during a season.
We’re finished with the AFC folks, the Patriots are standing at the top of the heap. Much to the chagrin of the fans of other teams. Especially, northern New York, just go on Twitter.
We’re on to Seattle and the Super Bowl.
Follow me on Twitter @SteveB7SFG or email me at [email protected].
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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)
