POWERSPREAD

LosAngeles Rams at NewOrleans Saints

Things to look for right away:

• Rams Defensive Game Plan
  • Is DC Wade Phillips staying conservative with a 4 man front and deep zone coverage?
  • Are the Rams Blitzing some and mixing press coverage with different types of zone/man coverage.
• Goff’s demeanor in leading the Rams Gillman Power+?
  • Is he making solid run/pass decisions?
  • Is the spread run&pass of the Rams setting up some big early power from their Dynamic Duo?
  • Is the injury to DT Sheldon Rankins giving the Saints early problems vs the Rams Power?
• Is either team starting flat after big wins the week before. (I am not expecting this to be the case)

1ST QUARTER – Rams Flat Start

SAINTS DRIVE 1 – Wade Phillips Aggressive D!

• Great news for the Rams! Phillips mixed fronts, zone blitzes and coverages all on Drive 1! Brees made great reads, but if this continues, the Rams have a shot!
• Big pass down right sideline to Kamara a perfect scheme/read vs that particular ZB. M2M Coverage by a DE. Perfect pass.
• Middle pass to Kamara for another 1st Down. This time M2M by space LB Barron. Again, great read/pass Brees.
• Continued mix by Rams. Inc pass. M2M CB Talib outside hold WR Thomas to 3 yds. Nice Coverage mix from 3 man front on 3rd down. Perfect pass again Brees, dropped by TE.
• BIG – RAMS HELD SAINTS TO FG. Brees and offense near perfect on Drive!

SAINTS 3-0

RAMS DRIVE 1

• Watching for nerves by Goff. Any flatness by Rams.
• Good PlayAction Pass to start.
• Great Saints blitz. Gurley 4 yd loss.
• Nice checkdown by Goff. Should have been a first down catch Gurley but thru his hands. Int Saints!
• Are the Rams Flat on Offense? Very bad play by Gurley.

SAINTS DRIVE 2

• MORE AGGRESSION BY WADE PHILLIPS D!
• Aggressive Run Sets stuff Ingram.
• Mix pressure/coverage on pass! Backed out of Blitz to stop nice surprise screen to Kamara on 3rd&Long.
• HELD TO ANOTHER FG!

SAINTS 6-0

RAMS DRIVE 2 – Great PS Defense by Dennis Allen!

• Rob Ryans influences are everywhere on this Defense! Like I said in my preview – THE DEFENSES ARE IMPROVED NOW.
• Great mix of pressure and coverage.
• So far Goff and Rams fooled. Offense looks a little flat.

SAINTS DRIVE 3 – RAMS OFFICIALLY FLAT

• Great ProPS WC+ play call & scheme on a Play-Action Slip Screen to the TE Hill. Rams raced into deep coverage and got burned big.
• Bad play by LB on crosser to Thomas for 19 yds on 3rd&3. CB Peters in m2m. LB supposed to have short middle zone – late reacting!
• Another pass to Kamara brings up another 3rd&Short, but the Rams Aggressive on Read Option Run with PS WC Taysom Hill in at QB.
• 4th and Short – Saints get Rams to jump offsides!
• Very next play Rollout Brees – TD pass to a TE who was just added to roster! DBs ran into each other on crossing route from opposite side of the field!
• Rams players are having flat start! I did not expect this. Wade Phillips calling a great aggressive game on D! Could be worse!

SAINTS 13-0

2ND QUARTER

RAMS DRIVE 3

• Rams looking to Gillman Power Plus now but great stop on 3rd down WR Screen. Saints PS Mix has really got the best of McVay so far!
• FAKE PUNT! HUGE PLAY FOR SAINTS LAST WEEK! NOW GOES AGAINST THEM. Pass completion by Hekker! (not his first!)
  • Saints started flat last week down 0-14. Had a successful fake punt that fired them up.
  • They controlled the ball with their Walsh Power Plus Offense the rest of the game. Will Rams do the same?
• RAMS POWER! (2 TE Sets)
  • TE Screen left.
  • Goff Rollout run right.
  • TE short pass middle.
  • Anderson 2 Power Runs.
  • Saints D rose again
    • Stuffed WR Screen
    • Stuffed Anderson Power Run
    • Gurley drops another sure 1st Down catch! FLAT!
• Held to FG but HUGE! Fired up now and controlling the clock with their Power. 6+ Minute Drive!

RAMS 3-14

SAINTS DRIVE 4

• Fired up Defense now with Phillips Aggressive mix.
• Another TE Screen, but great run blitz on 1st down and m2m coverage by Barron on Kamara on 3rd down!

RAMS DRIVE 4

• Rams continue a Gillman Style 2 TE Power PS+
• Nice 3rd&10 Draw to Anderson bringing up 3rd&Short
• Another great play by Saints D – m2m coverage by Nickel PJ Williams!

SAINTS DRIVE 5

• Wade Phillips has really come on this game as I predicted!
• Another blitz – 1st Sack of Brees
• Deep Coverage Mix – 4 man Rush – Brees confused – 2nd Sack in a row!!

RAMS DRIVE 5

• MORE GREAT PS DEFENSE BY SAINTS!
  • First CB Eli Apple then Nickel PJ Williams blitz 2 plays in a row!
    • Allen would never have done this in the past!
    • Ode to ROB RYAN – his marks are all over the game! PS2020
• Allen went to the well too much. Williams on another blitz. Goff burns him with a big pass to WR Cooks!
  • Allen calling a great game, but needed a bit more variety on that one.
  • Zone Blitz Cover 3 – like old LeBeau ZB – Cooks able to get open on CB in deep third.
  • Credit to Rams for adjusting quickly in pass protection and route design.
• HUGE PASS DOWN LEFT SIDELINE TO WR WOODS!!
  • Rams called perfect route design versus Cover 1 Man Under! Williams couldn’t keep up with Woods in slot. Perfect pass Goff!
  • Great adjustment again by McVay. Did he expect the man coverage?!
• No Huddle Up Tempo TD Power Run Gurley!!

RAMS 10-13

HALFTIME – Saints 13-10

• Wade Phillips Aggressive!
• Dennis Allen using Rob Ryan PS Defense!
• Rams start flat but woke up. Same as Saints week before!
  • Fake Punt for 1st Down!
  • Power Control Offense!
  • Score right before Half! (Again, like Saints last week!)

3RD QUARTER

RAMS DRIVE 1

• Again, great Rob Ryanesque by Dennis Allen!
• Rams Spreading horizontally with run and pass. Aggressive Saints D all over!

SAINTS DRIVE 1 – Phillips suddenly goes AWOL??

• Suddenly Phillips goes back to a more conservative scheme!??
• Easy for Saints ProPS WC+ mix of run and pass! Ripping off small chunks every play!
  • Power Run Ingram
  • 2 Short Passes Kamara on LBs
  • Spread Run Kamara
  • PS Power up gut for 16 yds Ingram!
  • Another pass to Kamara vs a LB!
  • FB Power Run (TEAM)
  • Brees Inc Pass; PS WC Hill Inc Pass; Brees pass to Hill for TD!! SpaceTime + TEAM!!
• Ate 5+ Minutes!
• Rams Defense looks tired. Their Offense seemed flat again.
  • Phillips NEEDED to continue his aggression. BIG MISTAKE!

SAINTS 20-10

RAMS DRIVE 2 – PLAY ACTION!

• Rams start to Power Up again – This time to set up a McVay Staple: PLAY-ACTION
  
  • Short Power Runs + Play Action Spread Screens + Rollout Short Passes! – Great Misdirection Timing!
    • SS Von Bell hurt on the PA Roll Left 25 pass to Cooks
  • Sets up a great Fake Power up middle, Spread Jet Sweep Left! WR Reynolds 16 yard run to Saints 1 yd line!
• Another PlayAction to the TE. TOUCHDOWN! HUGE!!
• Ate up 5+ minutes.

RAMS 17-20

SAINTS DRIVE 2

• Saints own PlayAction mix from their more horizontal version of PS WC+
• Finally, Phillips gets back to some aggression!
  • Run Pressure – Kamara no gain!
  • Zone Mix for 3 yard completion to outlet.
  • Strong m2m by Nickel Robey on WR Ginn!

4TH QUARTER

RAMS DRIVE 3 – SAINTS PS DEFENSE!

• Finally, Saints not fooled by the PlayAction as DE Jordan gets to Goff!
• Aggressive on Power Runs! Amazingly, don’t seem to miss DT Rankins at all!
• Great Punt as always by Hekker, but bad penalty on chop block by Blake Countess! Puts Saints in Rams territory.

SAINTS DRIVE 3 – Rams Lucky!

• BIG HOLDING CALL ON OL ARMSTEAD TAKING SAINTS OUT OF RAMS TERRITORY
• Deep Zones by Phillips vs Brees worries me, but it worked out…barely!
  • Brees had a miscommunication with Ginn on 3rd&17. Ginn was open vs the conservative zone coverage!
  • Big screw up by Saints! A TD now with the way their D is playing would have been HUGE!
• Nice Punt by Morstead to Rams 9!

RAMS DRIVE 4

• Power Run Gurley for 6, but Saints Aggression stuffs the Jet Sweep to WR Woods on the next play!
• 3rd&3 broken play by Rams, scramble Goff, HUGE COMPLETION AND RUN BY TE EVERETT!! 39 Yards! CHAOS FOR THE RAMS!
• Power Run Anderson, then another big PlayAction Pass Play where the Rams burn the Saints in Man Coverage! Slot WR Reynolds on a LB for 33 yards!
• Again great PS AGGRESSION by Saints D!
  • NOT fooled by PlayAction on 2nd Down!
  • Stuffed Power Runs on 1st and 3rd Downs!
• FG Rams – HUGE STOP BY THIS SAINTS PS DEFENSE!

RAMS 20-20 TIE GAME!

SAINTS DRIVE 4

• Another recent acquisition makes a catch!
  • Saints more banged up than the Rams
  • Von Bell, Josh Hill hurt in this game
  • Waiver Wire Pickups by HC Sean Payton – TEAM
• 3rd&2 another big catch Kamara!
• Rams slam Ingram for 2 yard loss, but give up the longest play of the game to speedster GINN!! 43 Yards to the Rams 13 yd line!
  • Saint’s more horizontal spread from PS WC+ has lulled the Rams to sleep. Perfect time for deep pass call by Payton!
  • FS Joyner was there but simply didn’t make the play!
    • This was an Energy Catch – Both players had a shot – Ginn went after it more!
    • The Saints Energy has been better than the Rams all game!??
• Thankfully, for the Rams, Phillips stays aggressive.
  • Tight coverage on Inc to Thomas.
  • Aggressive Run Defense – Kamara no gain.
• 3rd&10 another pass down sideline to WR Lewis out of backfield!
  • Rams stay in zone this time rather than m2m – good mix.
  • Robey is in perfect position for Int and possible TD return to win game but goes for the big hit!!??
  • Luckily no penalty called on Rams. Saints fans furious!!
• ALL GAME LONG THE RAMS PLAYERS ARE SCREWING UP GOOD AGGRESSION BY THE COACH PHILLIPS AND MCVAY
• FG – Rams Lucky

SAINTS 23-20

RAMS DRIVE 5

• 19 yd pass to Reynolds
  • First time all game Allen got a bit passive.
• HUGE 3RD& 16 YD PASS WOODS!
  • Breakdown in secondary – Woods wide open for possible TD!
  • GOFF NERVES – Bad pass or Rams may have already won!
• 3rd&7 GOFF NERVES AGAIN – Inc
  • Threw it away instead of being aggressive.
  • Great Route Design of McVay – WR breaking open.
• AGGRESSIVE KICK BLOCK ON – GREAT RAMS SPECIAL TEAMS!
  • TOP KICKER ZUERLEIN HANDLES THE OUTSIDE RUSH!
  • HOOKS THE BALL RIGHT THRU THE UPRIGHTS!

RAMS 23-23 TIE GAME!!

OVERTIME

SAINTS DRIVE 1 – Saints flat for the first time all game!

• Saints seem really flat to start the Overtime
  • They have had the better Energy and Outplayed the Rams all game long and are in Overtime!
  • Big Non-Penalty on their last Drive and ensuing Rams FG has really brought the energy down in the whole stadium!
• After an Interference Penalty, a big execution screwup by offense – big loss on run by Ingram!
• DE Fowler pressure on Brees – hits his arm – wobbler Intercepted S Johnson!!
• FOR THE FIRST TIME ALL GAME RAMS HAVE THE BETTER ENERGY!!

RAMS DRIVE 1 – GREG ZUERLEIN SAVES THE DAY!

• Rams still sloppy!
• Good PlayAction passes to TE, but a penalty and some bumbled execution on Offense leaves Zuerlein with a 57 yard FG try!!??
• ZUERLEIN HITS THE 57 YARD FG!! UNBELIEVABLE!
• POWER SPREAD CHAOS!

RAMS 26 SAINT 23

Order is the “facts”. What we think we know. Chaos is what we feel in spite of what we think we know.

I nailed this one guys. Almost to the exact score. Based, not on what I knew – completely – but what I felt. Phillips played Aggressive Defense. The Team had somewhat of a letdown and Goff was nervous at the end, but their two great kickers came through again! TEAM!

As for the Saints, you have to feel bad. They outplayed the Rams all game in energy and execution. They were the better team. Probably the best team let in the Playoffs. It just wasn’t their Time.

The Rams players have 2 weeks to think about all of this. They will need to play better. Their coaches bailed them out. Chaos doesn’t always win.

NewEngland Patriots at KansasCity Chiefs

Weather a factor?

• I say no. I left this out of my preview for a reason.
  • In today’s high tech world, the players have all they need for the Cold. Gloves, Shoes, Socks, Heaters, Liquids..etc.
  • Wind, Altitude, Downpour, Ice in that order, seem to be the last bastions of weather effects on the NFL.
• Mahomes Inexperience Early
  • Pats Defensive Schemes more aggressive now
  • Expect some early game confusion by Mahomes
• Chiefs Defense Much Improved
  • Brady may be in for a surprise. He will hit big plays, but be fooled with a Pressure Mix as well.
  • Eric Berry is looking good in practice this week. Watch Out for his Robber Effect!

FIRST QUARTER

PATRIOTS DRIVE 1

• 15 PLAYS; 8 MINUTES – INCREDIBLE!
• I said that the Pats would attempt ball control, but this time it could hurt them. Well, I still believe that could be true. But not on this drive.
• Brady & Co matriculated the ball down the field.
  • SPACE/TIME – PlayAction, Misdirection, Breaking Tendency, run/pass.
  • TEAM –Michel, White, Gronk, Burkhead.
• Great Play Calling as usual by OC McDaniels!
• Great 3rd down execution by this veteran team!
  • White two 3rd Down Draw Runs vs aggressive Run D!
  • Brady big read over the middle to Edelman vs a big Zone Blitz w/ a Robber Safety!
  • Power with Michel from there!

PATS 7-0

CHIEFS DRIVE 1

• Belichick’s D aggressive right from the start. Tight man coverage and a big sack on a 3rd down blitz by LB Van Noy.
• Mahomes definitely confused early with the NE coverage/pressure looks.

PATRIOTS DRIVE 2

• MORE INCREDIBLE VARIETY AND PLAY CALLS BY MCDANIELS
  • Another 3rd&Short Draw to White
  • A nice shovel pass underneath the KC blitz to Patterson who runs for 15 yds!
  • Yet another 3rd Down conversion. This one to Edelman on a quick pass…again.
• 3RD&GOAL FROM 1 – INTERCEPTION KC!!
  • This is the problem with Ball Control.
    • No threat of a vertical threat, creates automatic aggression up front from the D
    • More chances for a bad play from 30 plays than 10.
  • Brady/McDaniel went to the well once too often with the PlayAction. Former Bama LB Ragland reads it perfectly!
  • HUGE!!

2ND QUARTER

CHIEFS DRIVE 2

• Pass to TE Kelce for 9. Finally a receiver breaks free from the aggressive m2m coverage of the Pats.
• 3rd& 1. Nice call/scheme from HC Andy Reid – fake sweep,RB up the gut – but Pats weren’t fooled. Aggressively jammed the middle!
• Chiefs only 1st down on first 2 Drives was on a penalty! This is big!
  • For Pats Ball Control idea to backfire, the Chiefs need to move the ball.
  • Mahomes needs to settle in. I believe he will.

PATRIOTS DRIVE 3

• ANOTHER LONG DRIVE BY NE!
  • AND ANOTHER SHORT 3RD DOWN COMPLETION FOR THE 1ST DOWN! AGAIN BY WHITE!
  • Chiefs played an aggressive press coverage. Safety was all over White, but incredible throw and catch!
• More breaking tendency, play action and misdirection
  • Short pass Gronk sets up a first down run.
  • Power run Michel from a spread look.
• Chiefs sellout for the run on 3rd&1 and it works!
  • Their 2nd big stop on 3rd down!
  • McDaniels going to the well once too often again. Could be the direction he’s getting from Belichick.
    • Play it safe. No Mistakes.
    • Control the ball.
  • NE has to punt from KC 42! HUGE!
• 1st Drive – Ball Control works. Next 2 Drives it doesn’t. Game on!

CHIEFS DRIVE 3

• First 3rd down conversion – 12 yd pass to Watkins – as Mahomes scrambles out of the pocket and finally the Pats tough Man Coverage breaks down.
• Next play HUGE 42 yard heave to Tyreek Hill! Chiefs finally burning the blitz+man coverage!
• HUGE OVERTHROW FOR EASY TD TO RB WILLIAMS DOWN THE SIDELINE!
• 3rd&Long BIG SACK by the Pats!
  • Blitz again by Pats, but Mahomes had outlet wide open – didn’t see him.
  • Mahomes inexperience definitely showing this 1st Half.
• Mahomes cost the Chiefs a TD, then a first down on that Drive.
  • Sack knocked them out of FG range.

PATRIOTS DRIVE 4

• IT CONTINUES….. 4 POSSESSIONS – 4 LONG DRIVES
  • 90 Yard Drive in 3 Minutes!
  • Only 3 meaningful possessions for the Chiefs the whole Half!
  • So far Ball Control IS working for the Pats!
• Nice Breaking Tendency with a 2nd&Long run for the 1st down by Michel.
• Another 3rd down completion to White vs a Safety! Incredible!
• KC D starting to look fatigued – mentally more than anything
  • Huge 30 yard Screen Pass to White catching KC unprepared with No Huddle.
  • Easy 9 yd Draw by White.
• After all the short yardage plays, great play call by McDaniels on 2nd&1 for the Touchdown!
  • Ball Control really tiring Chiefs.
    • Slow to the line.
    • Slow to react.
    • CB Nelson burned bad on a simple out and up by little used, but speedy WR Dorsett!
    • McDaniel a great use of TEAM as well as Space/Time!
  • HUGE TD FOR PATS FOR THE BALL CONTROL PHILOSOPHY
• 3 Possessions by Chiefs. Expect Pats to stick with same philosophy 2nd Half.

PATRIOTS 14-0

CHIEFS DRIVE 4

• NEAR DISASTER! – Fumble Mahomes from rush by Van Noy. Thankfully recovered by KC. Get into the locker room and regroup guys!

HALFTIME

• Weather absolutely not a factor.
• Pats Ball Control and Aggressive Man Defense is!
• Mahomes needs to let loose in 2nd Half
  • Reid needs a little more aggressive play calls / schemes vs Pats M2M Defense.
  • Also, more Misdirection + PlayAction for the short stuff to set up the big stuff!

3RD QUARTER

CHIEFS DRIVE 1

• 3RD&2 HUGE 54 YD PASS TO WATKINS!!
  • NE rarely has let Mahomes out of the pocket, but when they have it’s been a big play for KC!
  • Gilmore great coverage – absolutely monster throw by Mahomes!
• Great Alignment by Reid – isolated Kelce 1on1 – TOUCHDOWN!

CHIEFS 7-14

PATRIOTS DRIVE 1

• More tricky play calling , short completions, and a short 3rd down conversion.
• Finally a stop by the Chiefs! Again, the Pats going to the well a little too much. DT Chris Jones blocked a Brady short pass.
• INCREDIBLE PUNT COVERAGE BY BELICHICK’S SPECIAL TEAMS ON GREAT PR HILL!! 11 YD LOSS!

CHIEFS DRIVE 2 – Own 4 yd line

• Again, more blitz coverage pressure too much for Mahomes! Punt from inside 20.
• Short punt, BIG RETURN EDELMAN! Surprise, Belichick winning SpTeams. Though Reid always has top SpTeams as well.

PATRIOTS DRIVE 2 – KC 37

• One first down, but Chiefs starting to slow the Pats down.
  • Stacking the line for Runs
  • More aggressive press coverage.
• Big penalty on Dorsett for Offensive Pass Interference.
• Gostkowski 47 yd FG. BIG FOR CHIEFS!

PATRIOTS 17-7

CHIEFS DRIVE 3

• More Pats Pressure, but Mahomes scrambles up middle for first time today. 9 yds sets up short first down run.
• 3rd&2 great sidearm pass by Mahomes to Watkins for 10!
  • NE Psycho Defense. DE Clayborn free run at Mahomes.
  • Loose Man D behind a big blitz. Watkins wide open.
  • Amazingly athletic improv throw by Mahomes!
• Next play – Quick Flair to Damien Williams for 33 yards to NE 14!!
  • Surprised we haven’t seen more of this for the Chiefs. Quick misdirection throws to RBs/WRs vs NE’s heavy man press D.
• Great TE Travis Kelce 1on1 vs young talented CB JC Jackson. Pass Interference at NE 1 yard line!
• Nice Play Action pass to Damien Williams in the Right Flat
  • Really good coverage by Hybrid LB/DE Hightower
  • Great scramble and throw by Mahomes! TOUCHDOWN!

CHIEFS 14-17

FOURTH QUARTER

PATRIOTS DRIVE 3

• 19 Yard Pass over the middle to Edelman on the first play – silencing the crowd!
  • Pats opening it up a bit now to combat the Chiefs jamming all the short stuff.
  • The Chiefs starting to sit back too much in Cover 2 – 2 Deep Safeties behind the aggressive run front.
  • Too easy for intermediate crossing routes.
• Great PS Power, off of a Fake Swing Pass Left to the WR. Half the Chiefs running after the WR while Michel ran straight up gut for 10 yds. Space+Team
• Swing pass left, downfield to FB for another 9!
• Another run and pass setting up another 3rd&Short.
• 2 Straight Power Runs net 1 yd. Turnover on Downs!
• BELICHICK GETS CONSERVATIVE
  • Nice Draw to White on 3rd Down but Berry crashes.
  • Time Out Belichick. Terrible run right into the teeth of the Chiefs selling out for the run
  • Don’t think that was McDaniels call. Too conservative.
• BALL CONTROL NOW COMING BACK TO BITE THE PATS

CHIEFS DRIVE 4

• 2 more incomplete deep shots by Mahomes.
  • He has to loosen up NE’s aggressive D.
  • He’s also trying to burn the blitz, which he has earlier.
  • But this is over aggressive by the young QB. Not enough checkdowns to shorter open routes.
• Unbelievable muffed punt by Edelman that didn’t touch his hands. At least it looks like it didn’t. Very close, but play was overturned!

PATRIOTS DRIVE 4

• INTERCEPTION CHIEFS! Finally a big Defensive play deep in the Pats territory!
  • Big Play Pass Rusher Justin Houston dropped off in a ZB coverage and almost tipped the pass.
  • Edelman’s view was blocked as he let the pass pop off his fingertips and into the hands of S Daniel Sorensen!
  • Chiefs DC Bob Sutton mixing a lot today. Keeping the Chiefs in the game.

CHIEFS DRIVE 5

• After another call that went that Pats way, the Chiefs finally pull off their double screen misdirection for a 23 yd Touchdown!
  • Out of Shotgun, fake handoff left, roll right, set up screen look right to Kelce and throwback screen to RB who took the fake, Williams!
  • Chiefs have needed more of this all game against aggressive Pats D.

CHIEFS 21-17 !!

PATRIOTS DRIVE 5

• Crowd really vocal now, but another questionable call against the Chiefs – Roughing Passer on Chris Jones who’s arm swiped down on Brady’s shoulder pad!?
• Chiefs stuffing run now. Brady inc deep to Gronk trying to stretch vertically and open up room underneath.
• 3rd&8 INCREDIBLE 11 YD CATCH HOGAN ON A CROSSER!
  • Great 1on1 coverage CB Ward
  • 1 Handed catch Hogan!
  • Chiefs back in a Cover 2 Man Under. Not aggressive enough!
  • ANOTHER CONTROVERSIAL CALL GOES PATS WAY!
    • Debatable if Hogan actually had control of the ball.
    • Replay decision – not indisputable – so call stands as catch.
• Spread Stretch Run Left Burkhead for 14 with the Chiefs again playing 2Deep!
• KC jamming up box for run, Gronk 1on1 crosser for 11 yd catch.
• Short run + pass to Burkhead set up 3rd&1.
• Burkhead stuffed on stretch left.
• Chiefs didn’t guess right on 4th down. Jamming up middle for a QB Sneak, Brady changed the play to off tackle right. 10 yard TD Michel!
• Pats 1st Scoring Drive of the 2nd Half
  • Chiefs getting too passive in coverage scheme on important downs.
  • Pats converting on big 3rd downs again! And now 4th downs too.
  • Pats got a lot of help from the Officials on that drive. Especially the Hogan “catch”, which got it going.

PATRIOTS 24-21

CHIEFS DRIVE 6

• 2 penalties on CB Jackson quickly get the Chiefs in NE territory
• Mahomes late throwing into endzone for Hill. Almost intercepted.
• Great Run & Shoot Style Half Roll Left with a sneaky wheel route by Watkins for 38 yards. Totally burned the Pats Aggressive man coverage!
  • Set up a 2 yd Run Williams.
  • Pats let him score to hurry up and get ball back for their Offense.

CHIEFS 28-24

PATRIOTS DRIVE 6

• Big KR Patterson.
• Way too passive Cover 2 Defense by Chiefs
  • Too bad. Sutton called a great game until 4th Quarter
  • Brady picked it apart with a big pass to Edelman and short one toHogan.
• CHIEFS INTERCEPTION TO WIN GAME NULLIFIED BY NEUTRAL ZONE INFRACTION!!
  • 3rd&10 after a completion to Hogan was reversed – first call that went the Chiefs way.
  • Deep zone, Brady checks down, but threw a little hard and high at Gronk. Ball batted up in air and picked off by Ward.
  • Dee Ford’s hand was in the Neutral Zone! Unbelievable! Pats have another chance.
• 3rd down replayed and huge pass to Gronk down sideline 1on1 with S Berry. Other Safety Sorenson getting there late. 4 YD LINE. HUGE!!
• Burkhead POWER RUN against tiring Defense.

PATRIOTS 31-28

CHIEFS DRIVE 7

• Mahomes all day, scrambles right, nails Ware running down sideline from out of the backfield as an outlet for 21!
  • Pats go conservative on only Defensive Play of the game. 3Man Rush, Deep zone.
  • Diving catch by Ware. Great accurate pass on the move by Mahomes.
• After an incomplete, Butker kicks the FG.

CHIEFS 31-31!

OVERTIME

PATRIOTS DRIVE 1

• 2 BIG EASY 3RD DOWN COMPLETIONS TO EDELMAN OVER THE MIDDLE!
  • AGAIN CHIEFS TOO CONSERVATIVE LATE WITH COVER 2 EVERY BIG PLAY!
  • Romo kept calling it on TV. Edelman over middle vs Cover 2 Man Under.
• Another big 3rd&Long and this time KC brings one of the Safeties down as a Robber.
  • Unfortunately Sorenson overplays Edelman’s side he and gives Gronk easy access over the middle vs Berry on the other side!
• Burkhead 3 power runs against a tired D. Touchdown. Game Over.

PATRIOTS 37 CHIEFS 31

On this day, Chaos ruled. As we might have expected. I amazingly had the scores right on both games (Rams 27-24) until a neutral zone violation changed the ending. Needless to say, a lot played out as forecasted. Especially the early chance at a NE blowout that turned into a real back and forth affair due to Belichick’s conservative decisions.

Everyone will be talking about penalties, but the Chiefs, as the Saints did earlier, had plenty of chances. Though in this game there were a multitude of calls that went against the Chiefs. Not just one or two.

Still, the truth of the matter was that Mahomes showed his inexperience early while Brady and the Pats showed their experience late. Also, the Chiefs D didn’t make quite as many big plays as I expected. Especially from Berry.

While Belichick had his conservative moments in short yardage and his Ball Control philosophy, it was Chiefs DC Sutton who got too conservative late after a mixing aggressively through most of the game.

The Rams are going to have to play much better to even have a chance. If not the Pats will rack up yet another Super Bowl win during their 20 year dynasty.

~DP