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Breaking down the biggest plays in the Patriots' 38-15 win over the Browns — and some that set up those plays — using analysis of the coaches' film. The plays/discussion points:
- Bailey Zappe showing off his accuracy to Hunter Henry and Tyquan Thornton in the red zone;
- Late adjustment by Ja'Whaun Bentley and Jahlani Tavai enables key run stop;
- Great team defense shuts down Nick Chubb and gets the Patriots a turnover on downs after Zappe strip sack.
2-4-CLV 15 (12:49) (Shotgun) B.Zappe pass short right to H.Henry to CLV 2 for 13 yards (G.Delpit).
3-2-CLV 2 (11:25) (Shotgun) B.Zappe pass short right to T.Thornton for 2 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
When you're dealing with a young, inexperienced quarterback, you're hoping to make things as easy as possible for them in the passing game by a) giving them great protection, and b) allowing them to have some clarity about where they're going to with the ball before the ball is snapped. If the QB has confidence in the protection, and knows where he's going to go with the ball, you're really set up for a high rate of success.
Zappe has been protected incredibly well in his two starts — credit to the line and also opponents who aren't exactly the Steel Curtain — and the Browns really helped out the latter in this game, by playing a high rate of man coverage (to put more assets to the running game; Patriots did same thing). That makes things a lot easier for the playcaller and the QB.
On the first play, Zappe knows he has man coverage due to the Henry motion. He also knows, when the safety tilts to DeVante Parker's side, that he has 3 vs. 3 to the right. Patriots have a basic route combination to the right — a smash concept with slants from the outside, and Hunter Henry going to the flag. Unless the Browns use creative coverage concepts like trap (evidently they don't), Zappe knows before the snap that he has Henry on this play. Zappe gets great protection and delivers an accurate pass to get the Patriots into a goal-to-go scenario.
On third down, Zappe knows the Browns are again in man, but he doesn't have the route he wants — Meyers in the flat on a rub route. But Zappe does a great job staying with his progressions, and finds his second option, Tyquan Thornton in the back of the end zone. Again, great protection and Zappe goes a little sidearm to fit it in.
3-4-NE 21 (3:47) (Shotgun) K.Hunt right guard to NE 21 for no gain (K.Dugger, J.Mills).
This is great team defense on a key stop against the Browns' vaunted running game. Once Kareem Hunt motions into the backfield, but Ja'Whaun Bentley and Jahlani Tavai tell Deatrich Wise to kick inside. If he doesn't do that, this is an easy conversion for the Browns.
Now, it's not a good run by Hunt — I would give him the stuff if this is a Patriots back — but Christian Barmore does a good job standing up RG Wyatt Teller, a really good player to limit Hunt's lane to the right. Davon Godchaux, Deatrich Wise and Bentley each do a great job two-gapping, causing Hunt to hesitate. Bentley does the best job standing up the center and allows everyone else to get in on the stop that limits the Browns to a field goal. Really good team defense.
1-10-NE 27 (:15) (No Huddle) N.Chubb left tackle to NE 24 for 3 yards (C.Barmore).
2-7-NE 24 (15:00) (Shotgun) N.Chubb left guard to NE 23 for 1 yard (C.Barmore).
3-6-NE 23 (14:22) (Shotgun) J.Brissett pass short right to H.Bryant to NE 18 for 5 yards (A.Phillips).
4-1-NE 18 (14:00) (No Huddle) J.Brissett right guard to NE 18 for no gain (M.Judon).
This is right after Zappe was strip-sacked. If the Browns convert the turnover into points and now Zappe is flustered from the turnover, and he's behind on the scoreboard, maybe this game goes differently. Not only do the Patriots hold, but they get a turnover of their own (on downs).
On the first play, Adrian Phillips really makes this play and blows up the blocking by going downhill hard and beats the terrific LG Joel Bitonio. But Wise also beats his block, and Matthew Judon has great backside pursuit. You'll take 3 yards from Chubb all day.
The Browns have this play set up and it should be a good gainer. But Barmore and Judon don't give much ground, and then Bentley defeats the TE in the hole to make this a three-man stop.
On third down, Phillips makes an immediate tackle to put the Browns into fourth down.
On fourth down, Barmore, Wise and Mack Wilson all defeat their blocks to give the Patriots a huge stop and turnover that keeps the score 3-3.