We've certainly been critical of the Patriots' lack of aggressive gameplans recently against the better offenses in the league — games the Patriots have lost at an alarming rate.
There was the Dolphins game earlier this season, and recent matchups with the Bills — namely the first matchup last season when the Patriots were fully healthy. The Patriots got run over, and let it happen in that one — blitzing only 15 percent and only pressuring Josh Allen on 20 percent of dropbacks.
There is certainly sound football theory behind, for example, playing three deep safeties against the Dolphins — but only if you have a certain team, not one where the offense was clearly compromised. Bill Belichick built this team to win games on defense and special teams. Playing passive and hoping for a turnover against the better teams and QBs makes no sense give the way the Patriots are built. They have to turn the ball over and create short fields for an offense that Belichick decided to give the short end of the talent stick.
Yet the Patriots did what they did against the Dolphins and, in recent matchups, played mostly coverage against Allen. Starting in his third year in the league, that was a losing proposition. He'd just buy time for his receivers to get free. You can't cover forever.
The Patriots learned from their past sins against Allen and, finally, brought the fight to him.
As we discussed in the lead-up to this game, Bills opponents have found success speeding up Allen by forcing him to throw on their timetable — something the Patriots have chosen not to do, for fear of the big play and getting blown out.
In Sunday's upset of the Bills, Steve Belichick and Jerod Mayo finally threw caution to the wind and brought the fight to Allen — and it won the game.
The Patriots, who have become blitz-happy this season, set a new season high by sending an extra rusher over 45 percent of Allen's dropbacks. Not only that ...
Uncle Junior once said on the Sopranos, "Next time you come in, come heavy or not at all."
Well, the Patriots came heavy in this one like I've never seen. They sent at least six rushers (normally the max with five possible targets) an amazing 57 percent of those blitzes.
The Patriots had a great plan. On almost every rush, someone was hanging back with faux pressure (often a linebacker like Ja'Whaun Bentley) as the spy. And the rush integrity was tremendous. Allen didn't have many escape routes — even though he's a freak and still find a way to step out of at least five sacks — and was forced to get rid of the ball before his targets were ready.
Now, the Bills and offensive coordinator Ken Dorsey were complicit in this. His plan to have levels to his passing game outside the numbers instead of between them — which has been targeted by opponents in recent weeks due to the Patriots' shoddy safety play — didn't stress the Patriots' defense where it should be.
But at the end of the game, the Patriots' thwarted Allen with pressure — he was sacked once, hit 10 times and pressured on nearly half his dropbacks.
It was a marked and needed change, and a high-water mark for the Patriots' defensive braintrust.
Here are the positional ratings against the Bills:
DEFENSE
Defensive line (5 out of 5)
Across the board, this was an outstanding effort by this group. It wasn't perfect against the run (low stuff rate), but it was still solid. Eleven of the Patriots' 20 pressure came from the front line even though they were without Matthew Judon and Josh Uche (that the pass rushing didn't take a step back without him doesn't exactly enhance the need to re-sign him). ... Christian Barmore continued his recent upswing. He and Davon Godchaux — he rarely approaches his 3 QB hits in one game — completely dominated the Bills' interior, which is feeble at best. ... The rush lane discipline was terrific and a big key in this game.
Linebackers (3.5 out of 5)
Bentley had two big missed tackles (one missed sack) but was hugely impactful again with 3.5 pressures, pass breakup and a nice play on the goal line. ... Jahlani Tavai was his normal steady self.
Secondary (2.5 out of 5)
Jabrill Peppers had the key interception, but that was an awful read/throw by Allen who should know better than to throw short without looking at the flat defender against Cover 3, but he also allowed a touchdown. ... This group had eight missed tackles/sacks alone. Way too many and they were lucky to get away with it. ... There's zero chance Myles Bryant is not bouncing off that sequoia, Allen. Not sure why you blitz him. ... Kyle Dugger is a fish out of water playing deep safety with continual mistakes. One of Dugger's worst games. They need to keep him in the box and let someone like Jalen Mills play deeper. ... The Patriots played solid coverage, but the lack of plays to Stefon Diggs was more about the Patriots' rush and Dorsey's poor route concepts against this defense than anything else. He has to be frustrated.
THREE UP
Christian Barmore: I guess we just need to learn that he's a slow starter because he's coming on big-time again.
Davon Godchaux: Controlled the middle and was impactful. Rare for him, but he usually plays well vs. Bills for some reason (wind game being his best ever).
Ja'Whaun Bentley: His spies/green dog blitzes were a big key in speeding up Allen.
TWO DOWN
Kyle Dugger: It's time to junk the free safety thing before he really gets burned. Allowed five impactful plays and the wind kept him from giving up a long touchdown to Diggs.
JC Jackson: Penalty on third down and then the awful missed tackle on the Diggs touchdown.