If the Patriots had been at dwelling now as a substitute of getting ready for a divisional-round playoff recreation, nothing about their exit would have been a shock.
A bummer, positive. However not a shock.
Mike Vrabel instructed them what the Chargers’ recreation plan could be all final week, then instructed the media Sunday evening.
“The Chargers need to possess the ball and put on you down,” he stated. “And I don’t assume we ever allow them to try this.”
No sir.
The Pats, the truth is, broke the Chargers by giving them a proverbial dose of their very own medication late in a 16-3 win. Drake Maye threw his solely landing from a heavy personnel grouping with six offensive linemen, whereas his offense performed most of its second-half snaps with two tight ends. The Patriots leaned on Los Angeles offensively and thrashed them on protection, circling Justin Herbert within the first half earlier than swarming him for 4 sacks within the second.
This was a butt-whooping. A butt-whooping pushed by huge hits, small scheme tweaks, constant tackling and sticky protection. And, oh yeah, a number of spectacular performs from Maye.
Right here’s what else the movie revealed in regards to the Patriots’ first win in seven years:
Drake Maye
17-of-29 for 268 yards, TD, INT
Correct throw share: 76.9%
Beneath strain: 2-of-6 for 76 yards, 4 sacks, 49 speeding yards
Towards the blitz: 6-of-9 for 122 yards, TD
Behind the road: 3-of-3 for 30 yards
0-9 yards downfield: 9-of-14 for 112 yards, INT
10-19 yards downfield: 3-of-6 for 56 yards
20+ yards downfield: 2-of-3 for 70 yards, TD
Notes: Removed from his finest, Maye overcame his two fumbles, some unhealthy luck and a scarcity of receiving assist to ultimately push the Patriots throughout the end line Sunday.
Maye’s 37-yard scramble within the final minute earlier than halftime was a twofold turning level in that it led to a go-ahead discipline aim and appeared to discourage the Chargers from enjoying man protection within the second half. Maye tore up the center of a Los Angeles protection enjoying man-to-man with two deep safeties, who had been too late to corral him as soon as he hit full velocity. Earlier than that run, Maye had gone 1-of-3 with a scramble and two sacks versus man-to-man, which dangers letting cellular quarterbacks unfastened in open house.
Whereas not all incompletions in opposition to man had been a results of good protection (Stefon Diggs had a drop), tight, single protection restricted the Patriots’ receivers greater than most different coverages. For instance, Maye exploited the Chargers’ numerous zone coverages on all of his largest throws within the second half: a 19-yard third-down reference to Hunter Henry, the 42-yard completion to Kayshon Boutte and a 28-yard landing he lobbed to Henry within the fourth quarter. As Los Angeles tweaked its protection plan, the Pats’ move safety concurrently improved, which allowed Maye to complete 11-of-14 for 173 yards and a landing after halftime.
Drake Maye acknowledges struggles, still shows ‘elite’ traits in Patriots win
Maye’s strip sacks had been errors the Patriots probably cannot afford to repeat within the playoffs, notably the fumble he misplaced deep inside field-goal vary. He merely has to withstand the urge to increase performs from crowded pockets, the place even cocking his arm dangers a turnover, because it did Sunday. However as a rule, Maye protected the ball, threw with anticipation and sufficient accuracy to win, whereas reminding future opponents he can beat you along with his legs simply as simply (see: 69 speeding yards earlier than three kneeldowns).
Crucial areas
Turnovers: Patriots 2, Chargers 1
Explosive play charge: Patriots 10.9%, Chargers 5.1%
Success charge: Patriots 51%, Chargers 44%
Crimson-zone effectivity: Patriots 0-3, Chargers 0-2
Defensive strain charge: Patriots 50%, Chargers 30.7%
Offense
Recreation plan
Personnel breakdown: 44% of snaps in 11 personnel, 31% of snaps in 22 personnel, 11% of snaps in 12 personnel, 8% of snaps in 21F personnel, 3% of snaps in 21H personnel, 2% of snaps in 13 personnel.***
Personnel manufacturing: 41% success charge in 11 personnel, 58% success charge in 22 personnel, 28% success charge in 12 personnel, 60% success charge in 21F personnel, 100% success charge in 21H personnel, 100% success charge in 13 personnel.
First-down down play-calls: 54% run (33% success charge), 46% run (45% success charge)
Play-action charge: 15.6%
Massive individuals, huge issues.
That was the essence of the sport Josh McDaniels known as in opposition to Los Angeles, cracking an elite protection within the fourth quarter with the identical heavy personnel he used on the Patriots’ first snap. McDaniels’ opening play-call was a downhill run for six yards out of twenty-two personnel (two tight ends, two backs), and the Patriots’ subsequent runs from that grouping lined 5 after which six yards. But McDaniels curiously pivoted away from his huge personnel within the second quarter, which allowed a Chargers workforce that prefers to play with extra defensive backs to do exactly that.
Positive sufficient, the Patriots’ three-receiver groupings struggled versus Los Angeles’ major protection, particularly in opposition to man-to-man protection. To not point out, McDaniels known as one designed run from that personnel out of 26 performs. Mixed, these issues contributed to a red-zone discipline aim and a punt within the first half. However as soon as the Pats returned to enjoying with a number of tight ends and backs, the Chargers’ protection bulked up and have become extra slow-footed in zone. Bingo.
That allowed the Patriots to use them with unfold formations the place Maye thrived throwing the next: quick-hitters (nine-yard move to Diggs and eight-yarder to Jack Westover), passes to receivers operating by way of cleared-out deep zones (Henry’s 28-yard landing) and lobs into tender spots alongside the sideline (Boutte’s 42-yard catch and Henry’s 17-yarder).
Translation: the Patriots took the scenic route, however they made the Chargers play left-handed, and it paid off.
Participant stats
Damaged tackles: RB Rhamondre Stevenson 4, QB Drake Maye 2, RB TreVeyon Henderson
Strain allowed: Workforce 4 (2 sacks, 2 hurries), LT Will Campbell 4 (sack, QB hit, 2 hurries), LG Jared Wilson 3 (sack, 2 hurries), C Garrett Bradbury (hurry), RG Mike Onwenu (hurry), Henderson (hurry)
Run stuffs allowed: Workforce 2, Bradbruy, Onwenu, TE Hunter Henry
Drops: WR Stefon Diggs, WR DeMario Douglas, Henry
Notes
- The Patriots’ defensive historical past this season suggests scoring 16 factors in one other playoff recreation will not be sufficient to win. So the place does Josh McDaniels begin rolling up his sleeves? Contained in the broad receivers room.
- The Chargers dared Stefon Diggs and Co. to beat man protection in crucial conditions, and too typically they could not separate. McDaniels schemed a number of targets that had receivers open however nonetheless fell incomplete (DeMario Douglas’ drop within the third quarter, and an incompletion sailed broad to Rhamondre Stevenson within the second quarter).
- Given their play this season, it is probably the Patriots will not drop three passes once more, however they need to put together to see extra man-to-man, which was the identical means Cleveland, the one different top-10 move protection Drake Maye confronted this season, selected to defend him.
- Stevenson had two receptions that beat the Chargers’ strain with a delayed launch, together with his 48-yard catch up the center within the first quarter. Stevenson’s blitz pickup stays invaluable to the Patriots, however his capability to offer an outlet to Maye as a official receiving risk is commonly simply as vital in these conditions.
- Talking of blitz pickup, TreVeyon Henderson did his job on Hunter Henry’s 28-yard landing and allowed Maye to really feel some warmth earlier than the throw. Henderson delivered a tough reduce block that despatched an unblocked blitzer flying. Progress for the rookie.
- Maye confirmed nice belief in one other rookie, Kyle Williams, on their seven-yard completion that transformed a fourth down within the first half. If the Patriots do see extra man protection, Williams ought to anticipate extra deep targets from Maye.
- One other all-around effort from Henry, whose affect on this offense often is the most underrated of any common contributor. Tough recreation for fellow tight finish Austin Hooper, nevertheless, who had points run-blocking and unhealthy luck on Maye’s overthrow to the top zone that may have been a landing.
- Up entrance, Will Campbell allowed pressures when he struggled with an influence rush early within the recreation, then gave up a sack to Chargers exterior linebacker Odafe Oweh on a velocity transfer across the edge. Campbell ultimately settled down with the remainder of the Patriots offensive line in move safety within the second half.
- Proper deal with Morgan Moses shone in move safety, however had weaker moments as a run-blocker. Granted, he, like Campbell, had a tough project controlling a gifted Chargers edge group.
- Garrett Bradbury and Mike Onwenu would have posted clear sheets had been it not for each of them failing to deal with a stunt that led to direct strain on Maye within the fourth quarter.
- Rookie left guard Jared Wilson made his return after lacking a number of video games with a concussion, and appeared to have some rust.
- Extra Thayer Munford, please! The Pats posted a 75% success charge from jumbo personnel, which they used on simply 4 snaps. Munford, typically the workforce’s sixth offensive lineman in these groupings, was on the sector for Henry’s landing, Boutte’s 42-yard catch-and-run and a 6-yard run.
Protection
Recreation plan
Personnel breakdown: 56% three-corner nickel package deal, 24% base protection, 20% dime.****
Protection breakdown: 70% zone, 30% man
Blitz charge: 45.5%
Blitz efficacy: 40% offensive success charge allowed and three.1 yards per play allowed
The Patriots blitzed the Chargers on their opening snap. They bluffed an all-out blitz and dropped two defensive linemen into protection 4 performs later. Minutes after that, they despatched an precise all-out blitz with seven rushers on fourth-and-goal; a soccer cube roll if there ever was one.
Defensive play-caller Zak Kuhr knew the Patriots could not generate constant strain by merely speeding 4, so he pulled all the things he might from the strain chapters of the playbook to disrupt Justin Herbert. Mission completed.
The Pats dictated phrases to a Chargers offense, with simulated four-man pressures, conventional five-man blitzes, six-man zone blitzes, all-out strain. Inside linebacker Christian Elliss was additionally a frequent spy behind four-man rushes, an indication the Patriots had been extra involved with Herbert’s scrambling than Los Angeles’ common run recreation. Behind Elliss, the Pats performed much less man protection than anticipated, however caught to everybody within the again finish in man-to-man and their base quarters calls that usually evolve into 1-on-1 protection.
This was a knockout defensive efficiency arrange by a knockout recreation plan that had Herbert both operating, in a tizzy or each.
Notes
- Let’s begin with the boring. Sound tackling ended the Chargers’ hopes at a quick begin, when Carlton Davis stopped a checkdown toes shy of the marker on third down throughout their opening drive. Marcus Jones later upended a scrambling Justin Herbert on the 2-yard line on third-and-goal to power a fourth-down try.
- The Pats additionally allowed 2.5 yards per stick with it hand-offs to operating backs with no-frills run protection. They merely lined up, matched the Chargers’ heavy personnel when mandatory and gained the road of scrimmage.
- Inside linebackers Robert Spillane, Christian Ellis and Jack Gibbens had been central to creating Los Angeles one-dimensional, triggering instantly on run performs and assembly ball carriers within the gap. Ellis was particularly rangy and disruptive, whereas Gibbens squeezed essentially the most out of his snaps (14) thanks partly to his monitoring Herbert down on a designed run.
- With out checking basic bins like these, your complete recreation modifications. As a substitute, with primary stops and a bevy of strain, the Pats dictated phrases to the Chargers from begin to end.
- So how in regards to the blitz strain? Zak Kuhr stored his defensive linemen recent with substitutions that mirrored line modifications in hockey. The Pats performed a number of variations of base protection (4 defensive backs), and padded their strain totals late.
- However as dominant because the move rush grew late, this was an A+ overage recreation. Christian Gonzalez didn’t permit a catch in what might have been his finest efficiency of the season. All the Chargers’ wideouts had been non-factors.
- A red-zone wrinkle: the Patriots doubled second-year wideout Ladd McConkey, who burned their protection down a yr in the past. His solely splash play was a 20-yard acquire on an prolonged play versus Marcus Jones.
- Good to see rookie security Craig Woodson make an affect, crashing the backfield for a run stuff within the second quarter and breaking by way of a display on the opening drive to make an open-field deal with.
- The Chargers’ second-longest play was a fumble restoration operating Kimani Vidal took 17 yards.
*Explosive performs are outlined as runs of 12-plus yards and passes of 20-plus yards.
**Success charge is an effectivity metric measuring how typically an offense stays on schedule. A play is profitable when it produces constructive EPA (Anticipated Factors Added).
***11 personnel = one operating again, one tight finish; 12 personnel = one operating again, two tight ends; 13 personnel = one again, three tight ends; 21 personnel = two backs, one tight finish; 21H = two halfbacks, one tight finish; jumbo personnel = two backs, two tight ends, six offensive linemen.
****Base protection = 4 defensive backs; nickel = 5; dime = six, greenback = seven.
