Someday after they trotted into the locker room with a halftime lead Sunday, the Patriots determined to ditch their run game.
That they had averaged 3.3 yards per carry towards the Raiders, who stuffed two third-and-1 runs inside the ultimate 5 minutes of the half. It was time, they figured, to place the sport in Drake Maye’s fingers.
Bombs away.
The Raiders had been already there. That they had logged a 74% move price within the first half, after they fizzled quick beneath the Foxboro rain. After Geno Smith hit a landing move on his opening drive, he took three sacks, threw a choose and went scoreless via the remainder of the half.
However later, Las Vegas loved the candy luxurious of working the ball with a lead, and spent many of the fourth quarter killing clock. What occurred between the Raiders getting clobbered and hitting cruise management is what permits middling groups like them — and the Patriots — to ascend mediocrity.
Better coaching, sharper quarterback play and fewer errors.
The Patriots believed a blitz-heavy plan would unsettle Smith after he’d tossed the second-most interceptions within the NFL final 12 months. For a time, they had been proper. The Pats allowed 10 whole yards on eight first-half blitzes. However after halftime, the pressure flipped.
The Raiders’ changes yielded a number of explosive performs and a 77% offensive success price towards additional rushers. Smith’s 36-yard prayer that transformed third-and-20 within the closing minutes might have been the dagger Sunday, however his completions of 30, 38 and 28 yards on prior scoring drives pulled Las Vegas into the lead.
In the meantime, Maye slipped beneath the waves of Raiders strain that grew greater as the sport wore on. Underneath duress, he went 4-of-8 for 41 yards and an interception round three sacks within the second half. But the Patriots’ issues ran deeper than Maye.
Their fundamentals cracked. From 9 penalties (flagged by a ticky-tack officiating crew) to 11 missed tackles and missed stunts alongside their offensive line, Mike Vrabel had loads of dangerous tape to choose via Monday. All fixable issues, however issues nonetheless.
How briskly the Patriots can patch these cracks will decide whether or not they win the subsequent toss-up video games on their schedule: at Miami, versus Pittsburgh and residential towards Carolina. There’s time — loads of time — however the regular-season clock is now formally ticking.
Right here’s what else the movie revealed concerning the Patriots’ loss:
Drake Maye
30-of-46 for 287 yards, TD, INT
Correct throw proportion: 72.1%
Underneath strain: 4-of-11 for 41 yards, INT, 4 sacks
In opposition to the blitz: 8-of-14 for 70 yards, TD
Behind the road: 10-of-10 for 32 yards
0-9 yards downfield: 8-of-13 for 58 yards, TD
10-19 yards downfield: 10-of-15 for 153 yards, INT
20+ yards downfield: 2-of-5 for 46 yards
Notes: Setting apart his shaky play beneath strain — as massive an issue because the Patriots had within the second half — Maye should defend himself higher than he did Sunday.
He took far too many out-of-pocket dangers, scrambling for the rewards of 1 yard, none and even a brief loss. Throw the ball away, and dwell to see one other day.
In all, Maye took 11 QB hits, together with the 4 sacks. His pocket motion was answerable for three pressures, a sack, a further hit and one hurry. It’s too early to fret deeply about Maye’s habits beneath strain, however taking part in a 3rd straight season behind a porous offensive line (together with his final collegiate season) is undeniably hazardous to a younger quarterback’s growth, not to mention well being. One thing to watch.
Mike Vrabel, Patriots to ‘evaluate’ Drake Maye’s responsibilites
On to the great.
Maye thrived on intermediate throws, which is strictly the place Josh McDaniels’ offense will information him, significantly on play-action ideas. He additionally ripped a number of sideline sideline completions to Kayshon Boutte, and saved Boutte from bother with a back-shoulder placement on a deep in-cut within the first half. In opposition to the blitz, Maye made checks and located sufficient solutions, together with his 2-yard landing to DeMario Douglas.
Within the second half, Maye’s lone first-down completion versus the blitz was a slant throw to Stefon Diggs, with whom he ought to develop extra chemistry that might offset some safety points. Hitting Diggs for six completions on seven targets is a superb signal for a quarterback and receiver who have not spent a lot time collectively. And if McDaniels continues to lean into extra possibility runs, which Maye ran flawlessly Sunday, the child can have a shot to start realizing all of his immense abilities on this offense.
Essential areas
Turnovers: Patriots 1, Raiders 1
Explosive play price: Patriots 5.9%, Raiders 16.2%
Success price: Patriots 41%, Raiders 43%
Pink-zone effectivity: Patriots 1-3, Raiders 1-1
Defensive strain price: Patriots 37.5%, Raiders 33%
Offense
Sport plan
Personnel breakdown: 69% of snaps in 11 personnel, 22% snaps in 12 personnel, 1.5% snaps in 21 personnel, 6% snaps in 21H personnel, 1.5% snaps in 22 personnel.***
Personnel manufacturing: 34% success price in 11 personnel, 54% success price in 12 personnel, 0% success price in 21 personnel, 50% success price in 21H personnel, 100% success price in 22 personnel.
First-down down play-calls: 64% move (38% success price), 36% run (30% success price)
Play-action price: 20.8%
The Patriots generated most of their explosive performs on intermediate in-cuts and out of doors throws to Kayshon Boutte, although neither had been all the time out there. Their steadiest success got here from passing out of two-tight finish personnel, because of play-action completions of 10, 22 and 10 yards. McDaniels might bump his play-action price some, although a mark over 20% was a welcome sight after the Pats ranked near lifeless final in play-action a 12 months in the past.
McDaniels by no means discovered a rhythm together with his display screen sport (six screens known as in all) or the run sport. He even aligned Mack Hollins, a robust, 6-foot-4 receiver, as a pseudo fullback on a pair speeding snaps to try to loosen Las Vegas’ protection. No cube.
As soon as Las Vegas discovered it might deal with the Patriots’ run sport, it backed into two-high shells that eradicated a few of Maye’s most popular throwing lanes, and Maxx Crosby turned free to tear via McDaniels’ safety plan of fast passes, motion throws, working again chips and tight ends blocking.
The largest gripe right here is TreVeyon Henderson’s utilization. Henderson’s pace is understood properly sufficient now he ought to carry some gravity pre-snap for use as a decoy. Easy swing passes and screens weren’t sufficient. Rhamondre Stevenson additionally out-snapped the rookie 46 to 25 on offense, a ratio that must even out contemplating Henderson was the one one who broke a deal with between them.
Last notes: good contact on the tush push formation that arrange a shock pitch left to Henderson for 14 yards on third-and-1. And McDaniels’ first 13 play-calls from 11 personnel (three large receivers, one working again, one tight finish) had been all passes. All of them.
Participant stats
Damaged tackles: WR DeMario Douglas 2, WR Kayshon Boutte, RB TreVeyon Henderson
Strain allowed: RT Morgan Moses 4 (3 QB hits, hurry), LG Jared Wilson 4 (2 QB hits, 2 hurries), QB Drake Maye 3 (sack, QB hit, hurry), RG Mike Onwenu 2 (QB hit, hurry), LT Will Campbell (sack), Workforce 3 (2 sacks, QB hit)
Run stuffs allowed: C Garrett Bradbury, Moses, Workforce 2
Drops: Douglas
Notes
- Why could not the Patriots run the ball? They suffered myriad smaller errors, however the easiest reply is their offensive line did not transfer individuals. Too typically, Will Campbell and Co. had been stood up on the line of scrimmage, which made the offense one-dimensional.
- Unable to seek out common working lanes, Rhamondre Stevenson completed with 15 whole yards and 17 yards after contact, per Professional Soccer Focus. Antonio Gibson additionally had extra yards after contact than he did whole.
- As for Campbell, his late strip sack and two false begin penalties — together with a killer flag on fourth-and-5 — overshadowed what was in any other case a good day in move safety. Campbell’s power, mobility and restoration abilities had been throughout this tape.
- Campbell, in fact, cannot proceed to permit late sacks or take these penalties. But it surely’s value noting that rookie left guard Jared Wilson struggled greater than he did. Wilson’s errors merely weren’t as apparent.
- Ex-Patriots defensive deal with Adam Butler had Wilson in a blender, recording a number of pressures and stonewalling him within the run sport. Too typically Wilson, heart Garrett Bradbury and proper guard Mike Onwenu additionally failed to succeed in the second degree to dam quick-triggering linebacker.
- Bradbury had the very best sport up entrance, and logged the one clear sheet in move safety. Subsequent up had been Onwenu, Campbell, Morgan Moses after which Wilson.
- Moses, predictably, had his fingers full with Maxx Crosby and allowed a number of pressures. The Patriots need to hope for higher performances from the 34-year-old arising. This week’s journey to Miami will probably be telling towards a proficient Dolphins entrance seven.
- A pair missed blocks from the tight ends might have sprung longer runs. As a pass-catcher, Hunter Henry continues to be a weapon up the seam and had the Patriots’ longest acquire, a 27-yard catch on a wheel route.
- Out large, Kayshon Boutte has earned the beginning ‘X’ receiver position. He noticed probably the most taking part in time of any wideout (82% of all offensive snaps). DeMario Douglas adopted him at 63%, then Mack Hollins (56%) and Stefon Diggs (41%).
- Diggs’ taking part in time ought to enhance quickly. He began the sport within the slot, then Douglas changed him on the Patriots’ preliminary third down. Maye’s belief in him is obvious.
- Third-round rookie Kyle Williams performed simply seven snaps whole, forward of solely Gibson and tight finish/fullback Jack Westover.
Protection
Sport plan
Personnel breakdown: 52% three-corner nickel package deal, 24% base protection, 11% three-safety nickel, 8% dime, 5% greenback.****
Protection breakdown: 59% zone, 41% man
Blitz price: 42.5%
Blitz efficacy: 53% offensive success price and 9.4 yards per play allowed
Reside by the blitz, die by the blitz.
The Pats’ 42.5% blitz price on dropbacks was extremely excessive, significantly for a defensive employees that posted one of many decrease blitz charges within the league with Tennessee from 2018-23.
Defensive coordinator Terrell Williams bought a little bit too cute on the opening sequence, dropping Milton Williams and Christian Barmore into protection on third-and-11, when Geno Smith ripped a 26-yard landing. On that very same play, security Jaylinn Hawkins trailed jitterbug receiver Tre Tucker in protection, a mismatch born from questionable scheme.
After that, although, Williams bought constant strain with five-man fronts and aggressive zone blitzes that often had simply 5 defenders in protection — two beneath and three deep. That plan lasted till the early third quarter, when Las Vegas discovered success blocking it up with larger offensive personnel. That put the Pats in a distinct pickle, even after star tight finish Brock Bowers — whom the Pats often double-teamed — left with a knee damage.
Within the fourth quarter, Las Vegas ran efficiently at their three-cornerback nickel package deal. Then, when the Patriots bulked up and performed base personnel (4 defensive backs), Smith threw it over their heads off play-action. He hit a 28-yard move to Tucker and a fourth-and-1 conversion on the sector aim drive that made it 20-10 Vegas, and gave the Raiders agency management of the sport.
Participant stats
Strain: OLB Harold Landry 5 (2.5 sacks, QB hit, hurry), DL Milton Williams 3 (2 QB hits, hurry), S Jaylinn Hawkins (sack), OLB Okay’Lavon Chaisson (0.5 sack), LB Robert Spillane (hurry), DL Joshua Farmer (hurry), Workforce (hurry)
Run stuffs: DL Christian Barmore, DL Khyris Tonga, Hawkins, Workforce 5
Cross deflections: CB Carlton Davis 2, CB Marcus Jones, CB Alex Austin, Hawkins
Missed tackles: Spillane 3, LB Christian Elliss 3, Hawkins 2, S Craig Woodson, Jones, Chaisson
Notes
- Holy cow did Harold Landry play like a person possessed on the sting. He earned 5 pressures on stunts, straight rushes and an effort play to shut a crowded pocket for a sack.
- If Landry continues to hurry like this, the Patriots must belief their four-man rush greater than we noticed Sunday. He ought to see loads of single blocks, with Christian Barmore and Milton Williams drawing additional consideration on the within.
- As for Barmore and Williams, the latter had the higher pass-rushing day, and Barmore confirmed up extra persistently towards the run. I might anticipate that to even out, because the teaching employees deploys all of them throughout the defensive position to leverage their abilities and unlock favorable matchups for different rushers.
- In his Patriots debut, exterior linebacker Okay’Lavon Chaisson was pretty quiet except for his half-sack. He took snaps forward of Keion White, who did little together with his 29 snaps exterior of setting a pair sturdy edges towards the run.
- Tough outing for inside linebackers Robert Spillane and Christian Elliss. Each bought victimized on play-action and missed too many tackles. Total, the Pats’ tackling was an actual drawback.
- Because the lynchpin of this unit who performed 100% of the defensive snaps, Spillane have to be higher. However not less than he is not susceptible to shedding his job.
- If Elliss performs like this extra typically, veteran backup Jack Gibbens is ready within the wings. Elliss’s play analysis remains to be only a second too gradual too typically.
- Fourth-round rookie security Craig Woodson, however, seems to be like an actual discover. He flew up in run assist and competed properly in man-to-man protection. Woodson supplied a gradual presence subsequent to Jaylinn Hawkins, whose roller-coaster day featured one allowed landing, two missed tackles, a sack, one run stuff and interception.
- The Patriots didn’t want Christian Gonzalez to beat the Raiders, principally due to the strain they generated and Alex Austin’s strong play in his place (one move breakup). Nonetheless, Gonzalez would have actually slowed Brock Bowers and even perhaps saved him from a 100-yard day earlier than the fourth quarter.
- The earlier Gonzalez returns, the earlier the Patriots can take a look at their potential as a top-10 protection. With out him, no shot.
*Explosive performs are outlined as runs of 12-plus yards and passes of 20-plus yards.
**Success price is an effectivity metric measuring how typically an offense stays on schedule. A play is profitable when it produces optimistic EPA (Anticipated Factors Added).
***11 personnel = one working again, one tight finish; 12 personnel = one working again, two tight ends; 21 personnel = two backs, one tight finish; 21H = two halfbacks, one tight ends; 22 personnel = two backs, two tight ends.
****Base protection = 4 defensive backs; nickel = 5; dime = six, greenback = seven.
