Editor's Note: Due to the Thursday night game this week, the NFL Notebook will be delayed. We needed to get this to you first and instead of having the Notebook for you on Sunday morning, we would like to report back after Sunday's action. With Bills-Colts and the Titans in action, there's lots to keep tabs on. Looking for NFL Notes by Monday morning. Thanks for your understanding.
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Watching the Patriots' film, for the second week in a row, was an enjoyable experience.
We're a long way from the 2-4 start of the season.
It wasn't perfect — although the defense nearly was (only had five minus plays the entire game, and that includes two missed tackles for minimal gain — butt the offense was better than expected. Bill Belichick wasn't lying when he said that some negative plays and penalties killed some drives. That's the way it appeared on film — a few less timely miscues and the Patriots put up 40.
But, tip your cap to the Falcons' defense coordinated by old friend Dean Pees. Those guys have some talent on all three levels, are physical, well-coached and had a plan against the Patriots. It was equal parts the Patriots and the Falcons. Despite some of their lopsided scores, that defense is solid.
And they can catch you on a few things if you're not careful.
Patriots quarterback Mac Jones has failed to be your normal rookie quarterback in so many ways. One of his best abilities is his quick decision-making and mind, which keeps him out of a lot of the trouble most young QBs find themselves in. Entering Sunday's game, I tagged Jones for being responsible for just 1.5 pressures against himself — a QB hit vs. Jets in Week 7, and a half-sack against Carolina. That's it. That's remarkable.
For contrast, through 10 games last year, Cam Newton was responsible for 9 sacks, 2 hits, 1 hurry — 12 total QB pressures. For his 15 games last year, Newton was responsible for 16 total pressures (11.5 sacks).
In Tom Brady's final season in 2019, he was tagged for 5 total pressures — 1 sack, 2 hits, 2 hurries — through 10 games. In 17 games, Brady had 8 — 2 sacks, 4 hits, 2 hurries.
So through 10 games, Jones had done a remarkable job of staying out of trouble, be it seeing the pressure coming or getting rid of the ball fast.
But against the Falcons, Jones had his first rough game in this regard. In my opinion — and it admittedly could be wrong, I am making an educated guess — Jones was responsible for three pressures: 2 sacks and a hit — double his season pressure to date.
Is this cause for concern? Have teams, at least with wily old DCs like Pees, figured out how to fool the rookie? Or is what we saw easily correctable, especially with a long weekend before facing Mike Vrabel and Titans and a bye week coming up?
The short answer is, no, this is not cause for concern. I have no doubts that the teaching points have been administered by Josh McDaniels and Jones has probably watched the film more than a few times. Certainly teams — especially the Titans — are going to use similar concepts to try to trip up Jones in the future. I would expect him to be ready for them. If anything, we know Jones is a quick study.
So what happened? Let's go over it.
2-4-ATL 30 (:55) (Shotgun) M.Jones sacked at ATL 37 for -7 yards (D.Hall).
The Falcons appear to be playing very conservative coverage, which they should with time winding down and the Patriots only having one timeout left. The Falcons are hoping to prevent a touchdown, and keep the Patriots in bounds. Atlanta shows two deep safeties and everyone else is well off the ball. The Patriots counter with a 3x1 set, and Hunter Henry as the lone option to Jones' left from a very tight split. I assume that's to give him room to operate to the sideline. Jones likely anticipates he'll have an easy out to Henry, who can get out of bound and stop the clock.
What Jones misses on this play is two things. The cornerback opposite Kendrick Bourne (the middle of the three Patriots WRs), Darren Hall, is way inside Meyers — much more than normal "inside leverage." Doubtful he can make much of a play if Meyers just runs a speed out. And right before the snap, another old friend, Duron Harmon, moves to the sideline and in slightly.
Both of these factors should have at least alerted Jones that something could be up on that side of the field.
The offensive line and Brandon Bolden are responsible for the four linemen, and 45 Deion Jones should he rush Mac Jones.
At the snap, Hall indeed does rush and Harmon rotates down to take coverage of Bourne or the player in that area. Dante Fowler drops out into coverage in this zone exchange or pressure. Jones stares to the left side, just waiting for Henry or Bolden to get open. He does not see — likely because Trent Brown is right there in front of Hall (perhaps a tactic, for him to pipe in behind Brown — Hall coming on his slot blitz. Jones doesn't see Hall until the very end, and he slaps his legs in frustration after getting taken down.
Jones, for good reason, is not used to losing like that. Not many outsmart him, but the Falcons got him here.
3-8-ATL 23 (7:26) (Shotgun) M.Jones sacked at ATL 35 for -12 yards (sack split by D.Fowler and E.Harris)
Here's another red-zone chance thwarted by Falcons pressure.
This time, the Falcons are in single-high safety and the corners are well off. Seems like Cover 3 before the snap. The Falcons, like the Patriots and every other team, have walked up both inside linebacker to the line. Patriots have their five linemen, Bolden and Henry (seven players) in position to block the seven Falcons near the line of scrimmage, including 23 Erik Harris, who appears to be covering Bolden.
This is already high alert for Jones and he knows he will need to get rid of the ball quick, unless the Falcons back off. Jones again identifies 45 Deion Jones as the Mike. That means all four down linemen and Jones are accounted for by the line and Bolden. If 54 Foyesade Oluokun or Harris blitz, Mac Jones is responsible for them and likely needs to hit a quick pass.
Harmon again has late rotation, this time to Jones' left. Another alerting movement. It could be just to make Jones look to his right since now it appears Jakobi Meyers is being double covered to the left.
At the snap, Jones does come and his picked up by Bolden but LDE Adetokunbo Ogundeji drops into coverage. Mac Jones does immediately look right, but he senses a trap coverage and looks for another option when he sees Harris bearing down on him for the drive-ending sack.
Jones did not see Harris, who hid behind Fowler a bit, coming until it was too late. He did look left initially but that was for coverage, not rush. He should have been more alert that Harris could rush from his position.
This is not a big deal. I'm sure next time he will double-check the potential threats after the snap in the future. These weren't overly complicated pressures but they worked. Sometimes you have to tip your cap to the other team, make the corrections and move forward. Jones is excellent at making corrections and learning as he goes, and this is a great time to get a lesson like this — right before some creative defense (Titans and Colts) are on the schedule.
Here are the positional ratings against the Falcons:
OFFENSE
Quarterback (3 out of 5)
On just his throws, Jones had another excellent game with great tosses to Henry, Meyers on third down against pressure. Outside of the pressures, I had Jones for two more minus plays — taking a checkdown when he had time an options deeper, and the interception. That wasn't a terrible decision, but a pass to Jonnu Smith in the seam needs to be firmer, or he needs to hit N'Keal Harry in the flat. ... To me, Henry was clearly at fault on the missed end zone pass attempt. Jones was right to throw it to the pylon.
Running backs (5 out of 5)
Another outstanding game by all the backs. Damien Harris broke three tackles, and Rhamondre Stevenson had six — if you count the three he broke on the long run called back by David Andrews' hold. That run was just outstanding. Elite back-type stuff.
Receivers (3 out of 5)
Jakobi Meyers had some good plays but did not love how he came out of his break on the third-down incompletion from Jones. Meyers hesitated instead of firing out. He also slipped on a third down. ... Henry had another terrific grab on a great throw from Jones. Those two are starting to become something else in terms of chemistry. ... Another solid if quiet game from Nelson Agholor, who seems to be improving. ... Surprisingly quiet game from Kendrick Bourne after last week. Credit Falcons and AJ Terrell.
Offensive line (4 out of 5)
Another sub-25 percent pressure game, which is huge for Jones. Only one (Shaq Mason) was charged to a lineman. ... But the run blocking was a bit average. A 35 percent stuff rate is not great but not terrible. ... Order of effectiveness: Trent Brown, Ted Karras, Isaiah Wynn, David Andrews, Mason.
DEFENSE
Defensive line (5 out of 5)
Out of this whole group, there was just one minus play — an edge by Matthew Judon. Other than, same old, same old — Judon and Christian Barmore being impactful, and other guys filling their roles. ... Breakout game from Davon Godchaux. And Carl Davis was just immense in short yardage. Some pieces coming together in this unit, which posted an amazing 47 percent pressure rate. Now let's see them do this a not-terrible offensive line.
Linebackers (5 out of 5)
Dont'a Hightower continued his string of strong play and, obviously, Kyle Van Noy had his best game of the season. He, like Deatrich Wise, seems to be better coming off the bench and in smaller bursts. ... Ja'Whaun Bentley wasn't all that impactful in this game, but still very good.
Secondary (4.5 out of 5)
Where were you for the Kyle Dugger breakout game? So good to see him continue to play faster. His route recognition is vastly improved and the reason why he is now suddenly making plays. Not sure if that's him starting to study, or it just clicking all at once. Wait until he really cuts it loose. Dugger had a chance to undercut an out — and that was initial impulse — but he held back just a little bit. Very soon he's going to start making that play with regularity. ... Strong game from Adrian Phillips, Devin McCourty and JC Jackson.
THREE UP
Matthew Judon: Seemed to be a fairly quiet outing for him but by the end of the game I looked down on my sheet and he led the team with eight impactful plays. Unreal how he does this every week. Yes, he's a strong contender for Defensive Player of the Year. Just need to get him a showcase turnover in one of these big games coming up.
Kyle Van Noy: This was vintage 2019 Van Noy. He is moving much better than he did earlier in the season.
Kyle Dugger: He's coming. Remember when I called him the Patriots' future Jamal Adams early as a rookie? If he keeps covering like this, he's going to be way better than Adams.
ONE DOWN
Jonnu Smith: Another 2.5 run stuffs, including a very questionable hold, to add to his team lead.
I had Shaq Mason as the only other down, but I can't do it here. Just one real down this week. A well-earned long weekend for all.