Breaking down four key sequences from the Patriots' win over the Dolphins, mostly through video analysis, including:
• Milton Williams going unblocked, and Anfernee Jennings and Jack Gibbens combining for a 4th-down stop;
• Drake Maye pulling out a play on third down, and selling the flea flicker to Efton Chism;
• A bad playcall on 3rd and 17 gets bailed out by a rookie QB and Jaylinn Hawkins
• Good blocking and Rhamondre Stevenson showing his ability on a 35-yard touchdown run.
2-2-NE 9 (7:17) (Shotgun) J.Wright right end to NE 15 for -6 yards (M.Williams).
3-8-NE 15 (6:34) (Shotgun) Q.Ewers pass short right to T.Washington to NE 8 for 7 yards (C.Davis).
4-1-NE 8 (5:57) D.Brunskill reported in as eligible. Q.Ewers pass incomplete short right to C.Wilson (J.Gibbens) [A.Jennings].
Williams goes completely unblocked, as this was a good call by Zak Kuhr and shows the shortcomings of a Kyle Shanahan offense because they don't really adjust at the line; they just run the play.
On fourth down, good job by Jennings avoiding the block by the back and closing off the backside, where Ewers wants to go. Gibbens has great initial coverage and was right there on a borderline drop. Shoutout to Dolphins OL Daniels Brunskill for going out for a pass and getting in the way.
3-6-NE 30 (3:26) (Shotgun) D.Maye scrambles right end ran ob at NE 37 for 7 yards (J.Brooks).
1-10-NE 37 (2:41) (Shotgun) T.Munford reported in as eligible. D.Maye pass deep right to E.Chism pushed ob at MIA 28 for 35 yards (I.Melifonwu).
1-10-MIA 28 (1:56) (Shotgun) T.Henderson up the middle to MIA 15 for 13 yards (A.Davis). PENALTY on MIA-T.Dodson, Face Mask, 8 yards, enforced at MIA 15.
1-7-MIA 7 (1:37) (Shotgun) T.Henderson up the middle to MIA 2 for 5 yards (C.Goode).
2-2-MIA 2 (:57) (Shotgun) T.Munford reported in as eligible. Direct snap to R.Stevenson. R.Stevenson right tackle for 2 yards, TOUCHDOWN
An unreal play by Maye to avoid two would-be sackers to pick up a first down with his legs when there was really nothing open down the field.
Nifty flea-flicker — some might call it a cute play — that is sold to the defense four different ways: personnel (jumbo TE), formation (Chism close to the line), TreVeyon Henderson holding the ball a beat longer than most of these plays, and Chism faking the block on the safety. It all caused the cornerback and safety to start charging downhill.
Good blocking on the Henderson runs, then great blocking execution on the Stevenson Wildcat touchdown, especially by Morgan Moses.
3-17-NE 45 (13:27) (Shotgun) Q.Ewers pass short middle to G.Dulcich to NE 25 for 20 yards (J.Hawkins).
1-10-NE 25 (12:46) (Shotgun) O.Gordon left end to NE 16 for 9 yards (C.Woodson). NE-K.Chaisson was injured during the play.
2-1-NE 16 (12:19) D.Brunskill reported in as eligible. J.Wright right tackle to NE 13 for 3 yards (C.Durden).
1-10-NE 13 (11:44) Q.Ewers pass deep left intended for T.Wease INTERCEPTED by J.Hawkins at NE -6. Touchback. Penalty on MIA-P.Paul, Ineligible Downfield Pass, declined.
Had to include the 3rd and 17 play, because I just thought it was an awful playcall by Kuhr in that situation (how about a zone), and a rough play from Marte Mapu. Hawkins saves a touchdown (which a Miami safety did not do later in a minute).
I don't know who Ewers was throwing to on the interception, but the coverage was excellent, except on Cedrick Wilson, who was wide open for a walk-in touchdown (would have been called back on an iffy ineligible downfield penalty).
1-10-MIA 35 (2:25) T.Munford reported in as eligible. R.Stevenson left guard for 35 yards, TOUCHDOWN
Great execution on this one as Ben Brown blocks down, Will Campbell gets the backside linebacker, Mike Onwenu and Jack Westover pull into the hole, and then Stevenson makes one of his nifty cuts in the hole. And then it's just him and safety Ashytn Davis, who whiffs. Ballgame.