Denver Broncos stall New England Patriots
**Updated with links to blogs and quotes from Belichick’s press conference**
Denver Broncos played a solid game and defeated the New England Patriots 17-7 after building a 17-0 lead. New England’s sole score came on 10 play, 80 yard drive that consisted of 10 completions tossed by Tom Brady to his depleted corps of receivers.
The game of the play came in the first half when Denver stuffed New England’s fourth-and-one attempt, primarily because left guard Stephen Neal whiffed a cutblock on the backside of the play, resulting in runningback Laurence Maroney getting tackled in the backfield. However, there wasn’t much push at the point of attack anyway, in spite of New England using the formation and play that’s been so successful so far this season (two tight ends left, fullback Heath Evans lead-blocking off-tackle left). Maroney carried because Corey Dillon was injured.
Maroney also displayed some more of his apparent inability to make use of the blocking if front of him. He’s got great speed and makes terrific cuts but he doesn’t appear to see or react to the blocking very well. Or perhaps he tries to see too much instead of just following the butts in front of him.
The Broncos offense consistently pierced New England’s front seven, especially on off-tackle runs.
Mike Vrabel had an incomprehensibly weak game. Inside linebackers Junior Seau and Tedy Bruschi mostly held up, but neither turned in a tide-turning play.
I’m surprised the Patriots didn’t try the 4-3 defense, but perhaps the coaching staff felt it would have even less success against Denver’s precise and fast-moving offensive line.
The pass rush continues to struggle, especially when the Patriots send only four rushers. Rosevelt Colvin has good upfield speed, but rarely got close enough to Denver’s quarterback Jake Plummer to have much effect. Patriots also had a hard time containing Plummer when they used four-men rushes.
Safety James Sanders had a tough outing and blew it big-time when he missed Denver’s wide receiver Javon Walker on the latter’s 83 yard touchdown reception.
New England’s quarterback Tom Brady was frequently frustrated by his team’s inability to beat Denver’s coverage. He doesn’t have much talent to work with and it’s painfully obvious against a top-notch team like Denver.
As I wrote after the pre-season game against Arizona Cardinals:
Let’s not get too excited about the wide receiver situations, folks. We’re still missing Deion Branch and we do indeed miss him… Branch brings an unusal combination of speed, quickness, hands and eyes to the game. The passing game looks different when he’s playing.
That’s how it is. A receiver like Deion Branch isn’t easily replaced and the coaching staff has yet to figure out how to do it.
A disappointing performance by the Patriots overall.
Blogger reactions:
Mile High Report delivers a good after-action review. Read it. Another Rocky Mountain blogger has the following to say about the game:
Sunday I spent fishing until about 4:00 pm. then I came home and watched the Denver Broncos beat up on the New England Patriots. While watching that I made a prototype red dragon miniature just to see if I could make one. It turned out OK for a prototype, but looks more cartoonish than intimidating.
More cartoonish than intimidating? That’s not a red dragon, that’s our passing game!
Former Boston Herald sports writer Michael Gee sums up Denver’s game strategy:
What I do know is that the Broncos made the conscious decision stuffing the Pats’ running game would be priority A for their defense. They dared Brady to beat them, which most of the time is like sticking out one’s chin and daring a young Thomas Hearns to take his best shot, and the dare paid off big-time.
Who the heck is Thomas Hearns?
Quotes from Bill Belichick’s Monday press conference:
“We’re better than we played last night.”
Belichick also said the fourth down play was “out of synch” and “poorly done.”
“There were things in the game that were fairly well executed.”
“The ball came out low” on Stephen Gostkowski’s blocked field goal attempt.
“Right now I couldn’t care less about China or anything else right now.”
“I don’t know if I’ll be here a year from now.”
