Going over some key sequences in the Patriots' upset of the Bills on Sunday night, including:
• Huge Patriots sack on third down before halftime to avoid a Bills double score
• Drake Maye's improv to Stefon Diggs works out
• Bad OPI call, Josh Allen not taking the checkdown, bad route by Khalil Shakir leads to Marcus Jones' interception
• Allen doesn't manage final drive, back to cowboy-ing up
• Maye's final throw to Kayshon Boutte was outstanding, but not because of his arm strength
And away we go...
3-7-BUF 35 (3:16) (Shotgun) J.Allen sacked at BUF 27 for -8 yards (sack split by M.Williams and J.Hawkins)
Allen was going to have options down the field if he was protected, but he wasn't. I put that more on the Bills than the Patriots, but they wisely targeted RG O'Cyrus Torrence, whom I identified as their weak link before this game.
The Patriots are showing a possible overload blitz before the snap, with Jaylinn Hawkins and Marte Mapu both aligned to Allen's right. What I don't understand is why Allen didn't change the protection to solidify himself on that side by keeping the back in. The bigger problem was LG David Edwards decided to help LT Dion Dawkins against Keion White, when Dawkins could block White in his sleep. If Edwards helps to the overload side, the Bills might be in business. He did not. Perhaps this was a weakness in the Bills' protection that the Patriots identified.
2-9-BUF 36 (7:15) D.Maye pass deep right to S.Diggs to BUF 4 for 32 yards (T.Rapp).
This was a great playground play by Maye and Diggs, and the end zone view is even better. What's interesting about this play is Maye wound up having good protection — and he had Kyle Williams open in rhythm if he stayed there — but Maye was obviously spooked, probably by TreVeyon Henderson in pass protection. But the rookie actually held up this time.
2-3-NE 9 (3:22) (Shotgun) J.Allen pass short right to D.Kincaid to NE 7 for 2 yards (H.Landry; R.Spillane). PENALTY on BUF-K.Shakir, Offensive Pass Interference, 10 yards, enforced at NE 9 - No Play.
2-13-NE 19 (2:58) (Shotgun) J.Allen pass short middle intended for K.Shakir INTERCEPTED by M.Jones at NE 10. M.Jones to NE 10 for no gain (K.Shakir)
The Bills got jobbed on the Shakir OPI call. It was not OPI. He didn't block until Allen released the ball, and the Bills should have had 3rd and 1 at the Patriots' 7-yard line.
After the penalty, Allen wanted to take the checkdown to James Cook, and he should have to get them into third and manageable. But he went rogue and played hero ball. It might have worked if Shakir had recognized it was man instead of zone, and continued to speed across the field to outrun the coverage. Instead, he powered down and that allowed Marcus Jones to undercut the route. This was a bad play by Allen and Shakir.
2-10-NE 27 (2:43) (Shotgun) J.Allen pass incomplete deep left to K.Coleman [C.Barmore].
3-10-NE 27 (2:31) (Shotgun) J.Allen pass incomplete short middle to K.Shakir (C.Gonzalez)
Can't believe I'm going to say this, but this is where the quarterbacks are at: on the second down play, Maye would have taken the quick checkdown to the back, and it would have been the correct play to get them into third and manageable. Instead, again, Allen declined to manage the game and went Cowboy Josh Allen and heaved up a prayer that didn't even land in bounds. He should have taken the checkdown to Cook, again.
On third down, Allen had a TE quickly to possibly go for it on fourth down. Allen also left the pocket early for no reason, when he had Keon Coleman coming open for a touchdown to the left on an over route. During the duration of this play, Coleman was open in the end zone. He ultimately threw the ball underneath to Shakir, and Christian Gonzalez was early with the contact. It should have been DPI, and he knew it as he looked for flags.
1-10-NE 29 (2:12) (Shotgun) D.Maye pass short right to S.Diggs to NE 41 for 12 yards (C.Benford) [D.Jones].
2-9-NE 42 (1:25) (Shotgun) D.Maye pass deep right to K.Boutte to BUF 39 for 19 yards (C.Bishop) [G.Rousseau].
Looks like the first down play was going to a run/pass option, depending on the coverage - if Maye was able to get out clean into the right flat. He was not, because DaQuan Jones did not fall for the run fake to Rhamondre Stevenson. The Patriots pulled Will Campbell and Jared Wilson to give Maye a convoy to the right. That means Garrett Bradbury is supposed to block Jones, which is almost impossible. They're depending on Jones to hold up with the run fake to buy Bradbury time. But it didn't work. Maye then makes a superhuman play to avoid a sack. Probably want to junk this play.
The hole shot to Kayshon Boutte was a great play, but not because of Maye's arm strength. Good QBs in this league can make that throw. What made this play was Maye's anticipation. He threw the ball before Boutte was even open. If he doesn't do that, the arm strength doesn't really matter. It was the anticipation, and the fact that he hung in and took a shot because Jared Wilson missed his block.
ANTONIO GIBSON SUFFERS TORN ACL
After conducting tests, it was confirmed that running back Antonio Gibson tore his ACL and will miss the rest of the season.
Expect the Patriots to have some backs for tryouts – Terrell Jennings is the only back on the practice squad — and/or possibly look to make a trade.