Film notes: Patriots offense in Super Bowl LII

The game film has not been posted yet, and I won't post my definitive breakdown until that happens. Too much to see and log. Until that time, I'll post some of my game film notes, thoughts, charts and three up/down on each side of the ball.

First up: Offense



First quarter

• 28-yard pass to Hogan was a thing of beauty. Eagles had no clue


• First and 10 at the 15. Do we really need James Develin on the field as a WR?


• Second down, Develin misses block on Bradham, no gain


• 31 great pass breakup on Gronk at the goal line. No issue with the route. Pass maybe could have been a little better, but still think Mills breaks it up.


• Patriots knew that as soon as they got the zone look, they needed to go after Darby on Amendola’s 50-yard catch. That's why Brady had them switch spots. First pressure of the game too. Protection was good in this game (pending film review).

• Cooks bad run on the jet sweep. This is why the book on him is he's not good with the ball in his hands, can't break tackles. Fine if there's space in front of him. It's his job to make that guy miss. Have to make a move and dive.


• Patriots should have gone for it. Then miss field goal.


• Eagles green dogged the linebacker a lot to keep backs in pass pro. Good plan. Something the Patriots like to do.


• Didn’t mind Brady pass call. Would have gotten down to the 15.


• Belichick passed up a 52-yard field goal to go for it on 4th and 5? Another Super Bowl where Gostkowski gets passed up over 50. Maybe they thought miss had shaken him.


• 3-8 incomplete swing pass to White. Looked like that was just bad luck. Long appeared to stumble into White after Fleming made a little contact. Still, had to know it would be a tough block with Wide 9 and Long likely being that guy. Probably a call McDaniels wants back.


• After INT 3-6, big holding call on Mills vs. Hogan. Very iffy. Contact within 5 yards.


• Gronk two drops in first half. Gronk did not have a good first half.


• Hogan double move on Mills. Talked about that all week.


• What’s the deal with Develin split out? I could understand it if it was part of no-huddle package, but … Actually, upon further review that package wasn't terrible.


• Final timeout with 22 seconds left? What happened to the other two? Defense?


• Brady didn’t throw ball away with 16 seconds left. Spike at 4 seconds. Big mistake.

• Develin on field again for high red. Brady throwaway


• Great routes by Gronk on third-down conversion, first TD.

• Gronk second TD catch was just ridiculous.


• If Graham doesn’t bounce off Fleming, Brady slides up in pocket cleanly.


• Brady had White available early in the flat. End of half, end of game, Brady trying to do too much? Tough to say. Bullets flying. Patriots source said Brady absolutely would NOT be graded negatively for the fumble.


• Maybe if they go no-huddle more, Graham doesn’t have the legs to make that final play?


• Line played really well in this game. Totally handled the Eagles.