Taking a look at four key plays/sequences in the Patriots' blowout win over the Panthers, including:
- Marcus Jones' solo effort on the punt return touchdown
- Josh McDaniels getting explosive on first touchdown drive
- Milton Williams' showing off a new pass rush move that causes a huge sack
- Putting speed on the field to set up a 33-yard pass to Stefon Diggs
4-8-NE 43 (5:55) S.Martin punts 30 yards to NE 13, Center-J.Jansen. M.Jones for 87 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
Jones and Mike Vrabel can say all the nice things they want about this being a team effort, but it wasn't. It was equal parts Jones' greatness, and the Panthers dropping the ball.
First of all, this was a terrible punt. Before the kick, Jones lined up on the 7-yard line. It was kicked to the 13. It has to be inside the 10.
The Patriots were not expecting Jones to return this punt. Alex Austin ran out of bounds. Dell Pettus and Charles Woods were watching, not doing anything. Jones didn't get a real block from anyone as Panthers undrafted rookie WR Dalevon Campbell and OLB DJ Johnson (a big problem in this game) overpursued.
It was Jones breaking a tackle and then avoiding a few Panthers, and after that, it was over, as Jones' speed took over.
Just a great play from Jones and horrible execution by the Panthers.
1-10-NE 20 (2:56) (Shotgun) D.Maye pass short right to A.Hooper pushed ob at NE 44 for 24 yards (N.Scott).
1-10-NE 44 (2:13) (Shotgun) D.Maye pass short left to S.Diggs to 50 for 6 yards (M.Jackson; C.Rozeboom).
2-4-50 (1:38) A.Gibson right end to CAR 29 for 21 yards (T.Wallace).
1-10-CAR 29 (:54) R.Stevenson left tackle to CAR 7 for 22 yards (T.Wallace; N.Scott).
1-7-CAR 7 (:06) R.Stevenson left guard to CAR 5 for 2 yards (C.Rozeboom; A.Robinson).
2-5-CAR 5 (15:00) D.Maye scrambles left end for 5 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
On the first play, it was great execution all around as Maye was calm with Nic Scourton coming after him hard, and placed the ball perfectly so Hooper could run. Ben Brown (nearly illegally downfield) and Morgan Moses make good blocks on the move. Good effort from Demario Douglas to continue to block, although he ends up driving the Nick Scott right into Hooper.
Seemed like McDaniels really wanted to target the youth and inexperience of the Panthers' edge players with veterans Pat Jones and DJ Wonnum out. Scourton misplays the Gibson end around as Diggs and Hooper block down the field, and Gibson breaks a tackle.
Patriots use the same concept with TreVeyon Henderson as a decoy on the next play, and the entire Panthers defense falls for it, especially DJ Johnson, who makes this play easy. Will Campbell doesn't even have a player to block, as the Panthers had eight players to the top of the screen.
Campbell whiffs on Derrick Brown on the first-and-goal play.
On the touchdown, the Patriots took advantage of Johnson again thanks to a pretty good playfake from Maye. Good block by Hooper.
2-5-NE 26 (10:50) (No Huddle, Shotgun) B.Young sacked at NE 37 for -11 yards (K.Chaisson).
Panthers were driving again (they drove into Patriots territory six times), down 14-6, when Milton Williams pulls out a great pass-rush move on LG Damien Lewis. Williams faked outside with his shoulders, Lewis jumped outside, and then Williams showed off great speed to beat him clean inside. That spooked Young, as he tried to spin out of the pocket, but he slipped.
Craig Woodson had a great pass breakup on the next play, and then the Panthers missed a 55-yard field goal.
Big swing here.
1-10-CAR 43 (8:34) (Shotgun) D.Maye pass deep left to S.Diggs pushed ob at CAR 10 for 33 yards (M.Jackson)
Patriots put perhaps their fastest group on the field with Kyle Williams to the left, Pop Douglas in the left slot and Henderson in the backfield. Not sure if McDaniels anticipated man coverage here, but that's what he got. Williams and Douglas both ran posts — and were open for potential touchdowns — that cleared out coverage for Diggs. He ran a slant, gave Mike Jackson a shoulder fake and had a step on him. Great protection and Maye threw with a great base to deliver a perfect pass in stride.
The Patriots would make it 21-6 a few plays later on Henderson's first career touchdown.