Breaking down three key sequences in the Patriots' win over the Buccaneers, mostly through video analysis, including:
- Drake Maye changing his intended target at the last second on Kyle Williams' first career touchdown;
- Maye bypassing a higher-percentage throw to Hunter Henry on the fourth-down touchdown to Stefon Diggs;
- Craig Woodson, and the game between Milton Williams and K'Lavon Chaisson stopping the Bucs.
1-10-NE 28 (:11) D.Maye pass short right to K.Williams for 72 yards, TOUCHDOWN [C.Braswell].
We all saw the perfect accuracy and touch from Maye while being belted on this touchdown to Williams, but what I missed the first time around was that Maye was just about dead-set on throwing to Hollins — who was open — on a crosser that would have been a really good, solid gain. Maye's feet are pointed at Hollins when, at the last second, perhaps seeing that safety Tykee Smith was out of position (probably because of the heavy personnel and improved playfake from Maye), so Maye went to Williams and laid it out there perfectly.
Oh, and this was one of the times rookie Benjamin Morrison rotated in for Jamel Dean. Might not be a coincidence.
4-1-TB 1 (:02) (Shotgun) D.Maye pass short left to S.Diggs for 1 yard, TOUCHDOWN.
1-10-NE 45 (14:22) T.Henderson right guard for 55 yards, TOUCHDOWN
Playcallers practice and put in certain plays due to the tendencies of the opponent in certain situations, like how the Falcons knew last week that Marcus Jones would end up on Drake London on the goal line. I would not be surprised if this was a two-point/goal line play and practiced during the week, and the Patriots knew exactly how the Bucs would handle the stacked release.
Interesting that Henry was very open as well on a little post-up move that was not defended well. But Maye obviously had a lot of confidence in going to his guy Diggs there, and the catch was insane, as was the ball placement.
On the Henderson TD, for some reason (it could have been from a shift from the Patriots), the Bucs didn't have all their gaps covered when Anthony Nelson shifted inside. That was the reason the play hit, but it was also assisted by a pretty blatant hold by Mack Hollins that I'm surprised wasn't called.
3-3-NE 27 (2:00) (Shotgun) B.Mayfield pass incomplete short middle to C.Otton (C.Woodson, C.Gonzalez).
4-3-NE 27 (1:55) (Shotgun) B.Mayfield pass short left to R.White to NE 30 for -3 yards (J.Hawkins) [M.Williams].
On second down, Mayfield went to Cade Otton on an easy 7-yard reception against a boring two-deep, four-under zone. They changed the call on third down to something that I can't really discern. It appears to be some sort of three-deep zone, with Craig Woodson as the deep safety. Christian Gonzalez isn't playing man technique, but he does decide to go with Otton. But the play was made by Woodson's phenomenal jump — which was risky — on Otton. Fascinating play.
While the Patriots called a blitz on fourth down, that part of it really didn't matter. It was Milton Williams blowing up backup LG Michael Jordan enough that he couldn't handle K'Lavon Chaisson. The play was over at that point, even though the coverage was great (maybe too great by Carlton Davis, who was grabby).