Before the Patriots took their sixth offensive snap Saturday, Mac Jones glanced proper at three receivers.
Anticipating a blitz on third-and-6, he signaled for a display screen. Two of the receivers caught his sign. One didn’t.
Then Jones took the snap and turned proper together with his arm cocked. All three receivers charged upfield with out bothering to look over. Meanwhile, two Bengals defensive backs trapped them and dropping linebackers rallied of their path, all having appropriately acknowledged an incoming display screen. So Jones pulled the ball down, whipped again to the center of the sphere and fired an anxious incompletion to kill the drive.
Who was liable for the busted play?
Was it the receiver who missed Jones’ sign? Was it Jones for misidentifying a faux blitz? Or in Week 16, with their playoff hopes seemingly at stake, did the truth that Patriots botched a primary play like this so early within the sport say one thing extra?
Something that speaks to a extra major problem than three-and-out, like poor problem-solving or communication or scheme; all of which fall beneath the identical area.
Coaching.
Because in the event you consider the Patriots’ offensive woes are both Jones’ fault or totally on the gamers, by no means thoughts that the offensive sport plan couldn’t push them throughout midfield till late within the third quarter. Never thoughts that on two of the 5 performs earlier than the busted display screen, Matt Patricia known as predictable weakside zone runs left for no achieve.
Never thoughts that Patricia known as them whereas the Patriots averaged 3.1 yards per run on outdoors zone this season, fourth-worst within the NFL. Or that opponents have been pouncing on that particular weakside zone run for months, as has been documented on this area since early October.
Never thoughts that on one of many three different snaps, tight ends Hunter Henry and Jonnu Smith collided in a crash that despatched Henry to the locker room by no means to be seen once more. Never thoughts that later, Smith was on the middle of three different passing performs with horrible route spacing, two of which resulted in sacks. Or that many of the Pats’ passing manufacturing was owed to the person brilliance of Kendrick Bourne, who caught a 32-yarder amid triple protection, one 50/50 ball for a landing and made a spectacular 28-yard seize to arrange one other landing.
And when Bourne wasn’t pulling an Atlas impression, it was Lady Luck, who guided a third-and-29 move off the palms of practice-squad tight finish Scotty Washington and into the arms of Jakobi Meyers for a fourth-quarter landing.
Never thoughts that defensively, the Patriots’ grand plan to stifle the explosive Bengals was enjoying Cover 2 on greater than half their protection snaps. Never thoughts that Joe Burrow, who towards Cover 2 ranks fourth within the NFL by passer score and yards per try, went 18-of-21 for 147 yards and two touchdowns versus that protection — within the first half alone. Or that on different red-zone snaps, the Pats double-teamed the Bengals’ No. 3 huge receiver, Tyler Boyd, 5 instances; greater than stars Ja’Marr Chase and Tee Higgins, who escaped for lengthy positive aspects and a landing whereas Boyd drew further consideration.
Never thoughts the defensive sport plan allowed two straight landing drives to begin the sport. Never thoughts that the Pats took 10 penalties but once more. Just, by no means thoughts.
Because after 15 video games, it’s time to neglect the outdated axioms from the dynasty years about making fewer errors than opponents and out-working and out-scheming them. Never thoughts any of the brand new causes about why the Patriots don’t do any of these anymore.
These Patriots have proven you who they’re: a staff unfit for the playoffs due to dangerous teaching. Believe them. The solely proof wanted these days is one play.
Here’s what else the movie revealed about Saturday’s loss:
Mac Jones
21-of-33 for 240 yards, 2 TDs
Accurate throw share: 74.2%
Against the blitz: 4-of-8 for 22 yards
Behind the road: 4-of-4 for twenty-four yards
0-9 yards: 11-of-15 for 69 yards
10-19 yards: 3-of-4 for 39 yards, TD
20+ yards: 3-of-8 for 108 yards, TD
Notes: Jones’ greatest passes each discovered Bourne — the 5-yard landing within the again line of the top zone and 28-yard nook route close to the best sideline. He bought fortunate on his longest positive aspects, the 32-yarder in triple protection and deflected 48-yard landing, and in any other case operated a conservative assault at Patricia’s path. Jones largely operated near the road of scrimmage as a substitute of down the seams and, but once more, performed OK.
On the minus aspect, he missed a blitz pre-snap that led to 1 sack, took an intentional grounding penalty and made a extremely questionable hit on cornerback Eli Apple on the finish of the ensuing scoop-and-score on that play.
Studs
CB Marcus Jones
Sure, he bought smoked just a few instances by Ja’Marr Chase and Tee Higgins. What AFC nook hasn’t? But round these performs, Jones sparked the Patriots’ comeback with a pick-six, ripped off a 15-yard display screen on their penultimate possession and piled up a team-high 14 tackles.
LB Ja’Whaun Bentley
He completed with a dozen tackles, together with one cease on particular groups, and broke up a possible landing move. Bentley continues to ascend within the second half of the season. On the Patriots protection, solely Matt Judon has been higher since Halloween.
WR Kendrick Bourne
His first profession 100-yard sport saved the Patriots from getting utterly embarrassed at dwelling. His three damaged tackles have been additionally a season excessive.
Duds
RB Rhamondre Stevenson
Stevenson fumbled twice, dropped a move and didn’t break a single deal with. Without him at his greatest, was it any surprise the Pats solely scored 12 offensive factors?
TE Jonnu Smith
Worse than a non-factor, Smith appeared to harm the Patriots’ passing assault together with his haphazard route-running that eradicated alternatives for teammates. He completed with an unthreatening three catches for 21 yards.
OL Cole Strange
The first-round rookie allowed a sack and two hurries, and was arguably worse as a run-blocker.
Offense
Game plan
- Personnel: 86% of snaps in 11 personnel, 6% snaps in 12 personnel, 6% snaps in 12J personnel, 2% in 21H personnel.*
- Personnel manufacturing: 5.7 yards/play in 11 personnel, 1.66 yards/play in 12 personnel, 3 yards/play in 12J personnel, 5 yards/play in 21H personnel.
- First down play-calls: 35% run (6.4 yards per play), 65% move (4.4 yards per play)
- Play-action charge: 8.1%
Key areas
- Third downs: 6-13
- Red-zone effectivity: 1-2
- Pressure charge allowed: 31.5%
Player stats
- Broken tackles: Kendrick Bourne 3, Marcus Jones 2,
- Sacks allowed: Team 3, Cole Strange
- QB hits allowed: Trent Brown, Team
- Hurries allowed: Strange 2, Brown, David Andrews, Mike Onwenu, Conor McDermott
- Run stuffs allowed: Team, Strange
- Penalties: QB Mac Jones (intentional grounding, pointless roughness, delay of sport), OT Trent Brown (false begin), C David Andrews (ineligible man downfield)
- Drops: Tyquan Thornton, Rhamondre Stevenson
Notes
- Of all their offensive sins Saturday, the Patriots’ route spacing was probably the most egregious. Flat-out inexcusable.
- Jonnu Smith was a teammate magnet on two-man route mixtures, and the huge receivers have been repeatedly knocked off their timing by Cincinnati’s bodily press protection.
- The Patriots misplaced a half-dozen performs to receivers operating too shut collectively, with Jones both taking a sack or throwing an incompletion. That falls on route particulars and play design, which stays past vanilla.
- Rhamondre Stevenson’s workload bears watching. He’s already performed greater than double the snaps he did final yr, and there are nonetheless two video games left. Between Saturday’s fumbles and lack of explosion, plus one drop in three of his final 5 video games, Stevenson may very well be buckling beneath the burden he’s been requested to hold all season.
- Where has Kendrick Bourne been? It’s a good query, contemplating Bourne’s potential to interrupt tackles jolted this offense to life with a 29-yard run within the first half.
- He’s the one receiver on the roster who threatens defenses after the catch and on the catch level. He must be seeing snaps because the Pats’ No. 3 receiver, at worst, transferring ahead. And that’s if DeVante Parker returns.
- Elsewhere out huge, Nelson Agholor stays flat-out invisible, and Tyquan Thornton continues to battle. His drop on a third-quarter deep ball was killer. Considering Agholor is in a contract yr and the Patriots want Thornton to develop, the rookie ought to see snaps forward of him the remainder of the yr.
- It’s price questioning how Hunter Henry’s exit affected the Patriots’ sport plan. Henry is without doubt one of the Pats’ greatest route runners, and the offense opened with three straight snaps of two-tight finish personnel whereas going no-huddle.
- The no-huddle strategy was sensible: Cincinnati had been permitting the NFL’s fifth-highest passer score to opponents who went no-huddle. Then once more, it solely works in the event you can string performs collectively.
- Per week after calling runs on 22 of 23 under-center performs, Patricia went 9-of-11 calling runs when beneath middle.
- Up entrance, Cole Strange endured the worst sport of any offensive lineman, however Trent Brown was not far behind. He took his eleventh penalty of the season with an ill-timed false begin.
- No offensive lineman escaped with a clear sheet. Right guard Mike Onwenu and proper deal with Conor McDermott held robust till late within the fourth quarter.
Defense
Game plan
- Personnel breakdown: 39% dime package deal, 31% three-safety nickel package deal, 22% three-corner nickel package deal, 6% base, 2% goal-line.**
- Blitz charge: 12.7%
- Blitz efficacy: 10.1 yards per play allowed, INT
Key areas
- Yards per carry allowed: 3.0
- Third downs: 8-16
- Red-zone effectivity: 2-4
- Pressure charge: 21.8%
Player stats
- Interceptions: Devin McCourty, Marcus Jones
- Pass deflections: Ja’Whaun Bentley
- Sacks: Matt Judon, Josh Uche
- QB hits: Judon, Lawrence Guy, Kyle Dugger
- Hurries: Judon 2, Uche 2, Davon Godchaux, Deatrich Wise, Team
- Run stuffs: Team 2, Jahlani Tavai
- Missed tackles: M. Jones, Bentley, Davon Godchaux, Daniel Ekuale, Raekwon McMillan, Jabrill Peppers
- Penalties: LB Matt Judon (roughing the passer), S Kyle Dugger (face masks), LB Josh Uche (unlawful use of palms), DL Carl Davis (holding), DL Daniel Ekuale (pointless roughness), LB Jahlani Tavai (ineligible man downfield on punt)
Notes
- Were it not for a Devin Asiasi holding penalty and a miscommunication between Joe Burrow and huge receiver Tyler Boyd (which allowed for Devin McCourty’s interception), the Bengals ought to have scored touchdowns on all 5 first-half drives. That’s how unbothered Cincinnati was.
- The Patriots known as extra Cover 2 than that they had in any sport since at the least 2018, enjoying it on 54% of protection snaps, per Sports Info. Solutions.
- While the construction of the protection remained nearly fixed, most defensive backs rotated into completely different assignments inside the scheme to maintain Burrow guessing. Most notably, Ja’Whaun Bentley and Kyle Dugger took turns dropping down the center between the 2 excessive safeties, and different safeties spun between deep-half protection, the flats and quick zone duties.
- The Pats caught to Cover 2 to stop Burrow from placing deep towards their overmatched cornerbacks: Jonathan Jones, Marcus Jones and Myles Bryant, who all stand 5-foot-9 or shorter. Burrow hit Tee Higgins for 39 yards on the second play from scrimmage. Higgins has an 8-inch top benefit on Marcus Jones.
- Three performs later, Higgins shook Jonathan Jones for a landing in 1-on-1 protection, whereas McCourty and Bryant double-teamed Boyd. Chase additionally dropped a possible landing within the first half with Jonathan Jones in protection.
- The Patriots appeared terrified of those 1-on-1 matchups, enjoying roughly 90% zone for the sport. Though, they did get barely extra aggressive within the second half when the Bengals turned extra clock-focused and conservative.
- After halftime, defensive play-caller Steve Belichick combined some Cover 3 and four-man “creeper” pressures (the place a linebacker or security replaces a defensive lineman/linebacker within the rush) into their regular weight loss plan of Cover 2. The outcomes have been combined, save for 2 late third downs.
- The Pats blitzed on Marcus Jones’ pick-six, an interception he comprised of depth on third-and-11 whereas studying Burrow’s eyes.
- On the subsequent collection, the Patriots bailed from a stress look on third-and-medium, when Cincinnati known as a display screen, which they sniffed out for a throwaway.
- Good luck additionally spurred the Patriots on, as Burrow missed a landing throw to Trenton Irwin within the fourth quarter and the Bengals took extra premature penalties to stall ensuing drives. Chase’s butterfingers on his fourth-quarter fumble have been inexcusable, too.
- Overall, 10 of Cincinnati’s 12 drives resulted in Patriots territory, and the Bengals piled up 442 yards, numbers that spoke much more to their offensive success than 22 factors.
- The one space the Pats did dominate: run protection. Linebackers Bentley and Jahlani Tavai triggered rapidly on most runs and flew downhill to make stops. Jabrill Peppers additionally led the cost on one early run stuff.
Statistics for passing depth, damaged tackles and missed tackles courtesy of Pro Football Focus.
*11 personnel = one operating again, one tight finish; 12 personnel = one operating again, two tight ends; 21H = two halfbacks, one tight finish.
**Base protection = 4 defensive backs; nickel protection = 5 defensive backs; dime protection = six defensive backs; goal-line protection = three defensive backs; greenback protection = seven defensive backs.
Source: www.bostonherald.com