NOTE: Sorry for the last posting of this. The source of the coaches film was delayed today, apparently due to the holidays
Breaking down the biggest sequences in the Patriots' 22-18 loss to the Bengals using analysis of the coaches' film. The plays/discussion points:
- Bengals target voids in Patriots' zone coverage in the red zone for second score;
- Secondary mistakes plague the Bengals score before halftime;
- Dropped pass, missed blocks keep offense struggling out of halftime
2-12-NE 38 (6:25) (Shotgun) J.Burrow pass short left to T.Higgins to NE 27 for 11 yards (J.Bentley).
3-1-NE 27 (5:44) (Shotgun) J.Mixon left tackle to NE 23 for 4 yards (A.Phillips, K.Dugger). R6
1-10-NE 23 (5:23) (No Huddle, Shotgun) J.Burrow pass deep middle to T.Irwin for 23 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
We didn't even touch the first drive because that was just ... pathetic. Five plays, 78 yards and a touchdown. Like a hot knife through better. Way to be prepared.
However, ok, the Patriots often come out a little soft, adjust after the second drive and tighten up. Right? Right? Actually, it got a little worse because the Patriots just couldn't get the Bengals off the field.
9 plays, 64 yards, TD
10 plays, 47 yards, FG
13 plays, 49 yards, INT
12 plays, 65 yards, TD
Let's deal with the tail end of the 9-play drive. Thanks to a delay of game penalty, the Patriots have the Bengals at 2nd and 12 on the outskirts of FG range ... and that didn't last long.
In what is becoming a trend, opponents are expecting the Patriots to be in their Tampa 2 coverage in the red zone. On the 11-yard pass to Tee Higgins, the Bengals easily find a void in the zone despite the fact that Joe Burrow looked off no one — he looked left the whole way. The problem? Ja'Whaun Bentley and Adrian Phillips bluffed a Cover 1 look, and then rotated to Cover 2. Not a huge issue. Patriots and other teams do this all the time. However, I don't like this elementary fake stuff against smart QBs and offenses that know their system. I really think it's pointless, unless you're bringing real pressure to speed up the QB. The Patriots don't.
In any event, Bentley takes his drop facing the field (wide part of the field), to his left. I'm sure he's been coached to do that, but sometimes you need to adjust. The receivers to Bentley's left were in very wide splits. They weren't really a threat to the middle of the field, and Kyle Dugger was there to cover the slot with inside leverage. If Bentley takes a drop straight back with his eyes on Burrow, he stands a chance of reading his eyes and making that play a lot more difficult. But because of his initial alignment, this is an easy an important completion — unless Phillips reads the hell out of it and jumps it. To easy.
On third down, Daniel Ekuale isn't much help, and Dugger doesn't do a great job fitting the run.
Then, it was very smart by the Bengals to go hurry up into first down, which did not allow the Patriots to sub and get set up. The result leads to confusion as now Dugger is left as the MLB in Tampa 2 (deep middle) and he doesn't get enough depth. Myles Bryant fails to carry Trenton Irwin deep enough (which is usually not his responsibility; Dugger is supposed to be there) and gets caught with his eyes in the backfield. Finally, Devin McCourty plays this ... strange. He doesn't close on the ball with any authority, almost like he thought it was overthrown and was getting in position to catch the ball. But Irwin snagged it before he could get there. A very odd play with multiple failures, but good on the Bengals to catch the Patriots napping a bit.
2-6-NE 20 (:35) (Shotgun) J.Burrow pass short right to T.Higgins to NE 4 for 16 yards (Ma.Jones, M.Bryant). P21
Timeout #3 by CIN at 00:29.
1-4-NE 4 (:29) (Shotgun) J.Burrow pass incomplete short left to T.Higgins.
2-4-NE 4 (:25) (Shotgun) J.Burrow pass incomplete short middle. thrown away from outside the pocket
3-4-NE 4 (:19) (Shotgun) J.Burrow pass short right to T.Irwin for 4 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
Bengals are rolling now, with the Patriots putting up little resistance. The only things that stopped the Bengals to this point was Devin Asiasi's hold on a TD, leading to a field goal, and Tyler Boyd stopping on his route, allowing McCourty a red zone interception.
They're back in the red zone again here and the Bengals execute a simple concept (two verticals with a crosser underneath) that goes for 16 yards because the Patriots are again not buttoned up with the zone coverage. This time it appears to be Cover 4 (quarters) and someone is not there to defend Higgins' crosser. It's either Bryant or Dugger, and my guess is Dugger. I doubt he's supposed to carry the TE all the way into the end zone — he should be passing him off to Bryant, but he's also occupied (along with McCourty and Marcus Jones) with Ja'Marr Chase — that's how talent creates opportunities for others. In any even, someone blew this coverage and now the Bengals are in business.
Higgins drops a perfect pass TD on first down. Burrow throws it away on second down.
On third down, Shaun Wade is asked to come in cold off the bench (his only play of the game_ and completely botched the TD to Irwin. Burrow doesn't even throw a good ball — it's there to be knocked down at the least or possibly picked off — but Wade stumbles and gives up an easy TD. Now it's 22-0.
1-10-NE 39 (14:13) (Shotgun) M.Jones pass incomplete deep right to T.Thornton.
2-10-NE 39 (14:06) R.Stevenson left end to NE 39 for no gain (L.Wilson).
3-10-NE 39 (13:29) (Shotgun) M.Jones pass incomplete deep right to K.Bourne (C.Taylor-Britt).
_____________
1-10-NE 12 (9:06) (Shotgun) M.Jones sacked at NE 2 for -10 yards (J.Tupou).
2-20-NE 2 (8:27) Y.Cajuste reported in as eligible. M.Jones pass short right to J.Meyers to NE 8 for 6 yards (G.Pratt).
3-14-NE 8 (7:46) (Shotgun) M.Jones pass short right to J.Smith to NE 16 for 8 yards (A.Davis-Gaither).
Ok, let's take a look at the offense. It's right out of halftime, time to get going, what's past is past.
Patriots definitely looked like they decided to open things up down 22-0 (as opposed to the Bills' game) as Mac Jones airs one out to Tyquan Thornton after a penalty gave them a first down. Jones throw the ball before Thornton is even open, but he read it read and delivered a perfect pass. The problem? Thornton kept fading his route down the field, has to come back at the last second and then drops a ball right in the bread basket. Jones threw the ball 47 yards in the air and dropped it in a bucket.
On second down, the Patriots try a run play that goes nowhere for two reasons: 1) they asked Nelson Agholor to crack on Trey Hendrickson (good luck), and 2) David Andrews didn't block anyone on his pull. Just a bad play.
Jones airs it out on third down to Bourne. Fine with the read, good placement giving his guy a chance, but Taylor-Britt just made a better play.
On the next possession, the Patriots have multiple failures leading to an embarrassing sack. Jones does not react this way to a free blitzer unless he thinks either it's picked up, or his receivers are going to run hot routes. Neither happens. Jones adjusted the protection and then goes through a play fake ... to no one because Kevin Harris goes the other way. I think Harris is supposed to do the fake and then protect to the right. That doesn't happen. And then to make matters worse, Jonnu Smith and, especially, Bourne just keep running down the field. No one hitches and makes themselves available to Jones. Just a total calamity.
Tagovailoa in concussion protocol ahead of Sunday's game
Despite losing 4 of 5, the Patriots still control their own destiny in the AFC playoff race, which has one spot left after the Chargers clinched a spot on Monday night (AFC South winner will get the other spot).
They got some good news on Monday as Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa — who is 4-0 against the Patriots — has returned to the NFL’s concussion protocol, Miami coach Mike McDaniel told reporters.
According to the AP:
Tagovailoa was experiencing symptoms when he met with team doctors Monday, though McDaniel said it is unclear if Tagovailoa was concussed in Sunday’s 26-20 loss to Green Bay. Tagovailoa appeared to bang his head on the ground when he was tackled in the second quarter against the Packers, but he never left the game and was not evaluated for a concussion.
“As far as the game was concerned, no one recognized anything with regard to any sort of hit. I can’t really tell you exactly what it was,” McDaniel said, adding that he got the news Monday afternoon.
The concussion protocol is enacted whenever a player reports concussion-related symptoms, even if he isn’t certain to have a concussion.
There is no set timetable for exiting the protocol, so Tagovailoa could potentially play in Sunday’s pivotal game at New England if he advances through the NFL’s five-step process and is cleared.
Teddy Bridgewater will practice this week with the first team, but McDaniel said it is too early to name a starter for Week 17.
“That’s one of the reasons you go and aggressively pursue a player like Teddy Bridgewater,” McDaniel said.
Mac Jones fined for low hit on Eli Apple
According to PFT, Jones was fined $11,139 for going low on the Bengals CB Eli Apple behind the play.
“Just kind of went down in front of him and tried to stop a fast guy from getting to another fast guy," Jones told WEEI. "Just a split-second decision, and there’s a lot that goes into it. You’re out there trying to compete, and it’s a physical game, so just trying to help the team win."
Belichick doesn't blame Rhamondre Stevenson for his costly late-game fumble
"Rhamondre's ball security has been pretty good all year," Belichick said. "He had the ball knocked out on the start of the second half there. Yeah, he had two hands on the ball. They're running him back and they knock it out at the end.
"Yeah, I'm not going to second guess Rhamondre on what he did."