Analyzing three key sequences from the Patriots' win over the Chargers, mostly through video analysis, including:
• The big goal line stand, which featured blanket coverage and Justin Herbert missing his best chance at a touchdown;
• The defensive and offensive series that produced a big field goal before halftime;
• And Josh McDaniels manipulating the Chargers' defense to produce Hunter Henry's touchdown.
1-10-NE 10 (7:30) (Shotgun) J.Herbert scrambles up the middle to NE 6 for 4 yards (A.Jennings).
2-6-NE 6 (6:45) (Shotgun) T.Penning reported in as eligible. J.Herbert right end to NE 3 for 3 yards (J.Gibbens; C.Davis).
3-3-NE 3 (6:01) (Shotgun) J.Herbert scrambles left guard to NE 2 for 1 yard (M.Jones).
4-2-NE 2 (5:17) (Shotgun) J.Herbert pass incomplete short right to K.Allen
On first down, the Patriots have all four of the Chargers' major routes completely shut down with six in coverage against them. Justin Herbert could have possibly checked it down to Ladd McConkey way over in the left flat, but Milton Williams and Cory Durden ran a twist that prevented Herbert for doing that. Williams forced Herbert to his right, and Durden came free. Herbert had no choice to scramble.
The designed run for Herbert should have scored a touchdown but WR Tre' Harris and FB Scott Matlock both didn't execute their blocks. Harris missed Jack Gibbens, but Herbert still could have scored if Matlock blocked Carl Davis, which he should do in his sleep.
On third down, Patriots again blanket the three main routes with seven in coverage. Marcus Jones makes a great tackle on Herbert — most defensive backs bounce off him — and I think Jones might have injured Herbert, a charley horse or something, because he was slow to get up and looked at his left quad.
On fourth down, Herbert made a poor throw. The rule is to throw low at the goal line, and high on the end line. Keenan Allen has a step on Gonzalez — who very well might have recovered and broken up the pass because he has way more speed than Allen — but that throw has to be low and toward the pylon. The Chargers didn't have many chances to score TDs in this game, and this one, even if the Patriots brought a zero blitz and Robert Spillane was unblocked, was a play you need to make to win a playoff game on the road.
1-10-LAC 28 (1:11) (Shotgun) J.Herbert pass short right to K.Allen to LAC 35 for 7 yards (D.Pettus).
2-3-LAC 35 (:53) (No Huddle, Shotgun) J.Herbert sacked at LAC 27 for -8 yards (M.Williams).
Timeout #1 by NE at 00:48.
3-11-LAC 27 (:48) (Shotgun) J.Herbert sacked at LAC 23 for -4 yards (K.Chaisson).
Timeout #2 by NE at 00:41.
1-10-NE 46 (:31) (Shotgun) D.Maye pass incomplete deep middle to S.Diggs.
2-10-NE 46 (:26) (Shotgun) D.Maye scrambles up the middle to LAC 17 for 37 yards (E.Molden; T.Still).
Timeout #3 by NE at 00:16.
1-10-LAC 17 (:16) (Shotgun) D.Maye pass incomplete deep middle.
2-10-LAC 17 (:11) (Shotgun) D.Maye pass incomplete short right.
Big sequence at the end of the first half nets the Patriots a big field goal to lead 6-3 at halftime.
After a simple completion against the Patriots' two-deep zone on first down, Herbert is sacked when there are no options down the field and he can't get to the RB checkdown because Milton Williams put LG Zion Johnson on skates. Williams should have been flagged for roughing the passer with a blatant blow to Herbert's head.
I should point out that at this time, Carl Davis (toe) is out of the game, but returns after halftime like he always does. Charles Woods is the new boundary corner. Do the Chargers even know this? If Roman telling Herbert to test the new cornerback? It doesn't look like it, especially on this play. Herbert has all day, and when safety Craig Woodson slides down to help double TE Oronde Gadsden (who knows why), the ball should be going to Johnston against Woods. There's no safety help. Just give him a chance. This sack is on Herbert.
After the Patriots get the ball back with great field position thanks to a 33-yard punt, Stefon Diggs and Drake Maye don't connect as Diggs stops his route against man coverage. Maye was right, Diggs was wrong.
On second down, the Chargers play two-man with five players over 20 yards down the field and there's no spy on Maye. After Jared Wilson makes a recovery to hold up in pass protection, Maye wisely takes the space to get them into field-goal range.
With no timeouts left and nothing open on the next two downs, Maye smartly throws both balls out of bounds.
1-10-NE 20 (14:01) D.Maye pass short left to D.Douglas to NE 23 for 3 yards (D.Henley).
2-7-NE 23 (13:18) (Shotgun) D.Maye pass short right to J.Westover to NE 31 for 8 yards (T.Dye). P15
1-10-NE 31 (12:42) R.Stevenson right guard to NE 35 for 4 yards (J.Caldwell).
2-6-NE 35 (12:05) (Shotgun) D.Maye pass short right to K.Boutte pushed ob at LAC 49 for 16 yards (R.Mickens). P16
1-10-LAC 49 (11:22) (Shotgun) D.Maye scrambles right guard to LAC 41 for 8 yards (D.Henley).
Timeout #1 by NE at 10:33.
2-2-LAC 41 (10:33) R.Stevenson left tackle to LAC 28 for 13 yards (T.Jefferson; T.Still). R17
1-10-LAC 28 (9:52) T.Munford reported in as eligible. D.Maye pass deep left to H.Henry for 28 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
Rhamondre Stevenson probably would have been the better check-down over DeMario Douglas, but I'm fine with it.
On second down, Josh McDaniels goes back to the old Hoss Y Juke. Maye has Austin Hooper wide open but doesn't pull the trigger. Settles for the check-down to Jack Westover, who I wasn't sure could catch the ball.
The Chargers blitz, which is picked up by Stevenson, and Maye's pass to Kayshon Boutte barely beats CB Cam Ward, who was eyeing a pick-six.
Mike Onwenu doesn't handle the twist inside, and Maye does a great job of stepping out of tackle to pick up 8 yards.
Chargers LB Denzel Perryman is unblocked and has Stevenson dead to rights, but he takes a poor angle and misses the tackle on a run that goes for 13 yards.
McDaniels puts 13 jumbo personnel on the field with Thayer Munford as the H-back to get the Chargers into base personnel. TreVeyon Henderson gets just enough of blitzing LB Daiyan Henley to give Maye time, Kyle Williams runs a hard "for love of the game" clear-out route to get rid of the Cover 3 corner to that side of the field, and Henry is wide open in the zone void. Maye barely gets it over Derwin James for the game-sealing touchdown. As Henry pointed out postgame, this was a Josh McDaniels special. Before Henry went in motion, the Chargers showed two-deep zone. McDaniels knew that if sent Henry to the other side, the Chargers were going to counter with Cover 3, and then it was just a matter of beating James. Checkmate.
in th