New England Patriots defeat New York Jets in Wild Card game, 37-16
It was a game that seemingly waited for the New England Patriots to take control, even though the score was close for three quarters plus, and finally, the home team did, beating the New York Jets 37-16.
On offense, Patriots had to improve on two things compared to its stunning regular-season loss at home to the Jets: Picking up blitzes and getting the running game going. They were successful in both areas, partly by using a spread offense but largely by using two and three tight-end formations.
New England’s first score came on an 11 yard touchdwon run by runningback Corey Dillon out of the Power-I formation that we have grown so accustomed to seeing. The Patriots mixed up the formation a little by mostly using tightend Daniel Graham on the weak side, with tightend Ben Watson playing on the line on the strongside, with Dave Thomas as the third tightend. Using Graham on the weak side strikes me as a little bit of gamble as Watson is the weakest run blocker of the three tightends. In fact, on Dillon’s touchdown run he was pushed back and Dillon and lead blocking fullback Heath Evans were barely able to slip through the gap between Watson and Thomas. Once through, Evans took out a defender and Dillon took it to the pylon for six points.
However, using Graham on the weakside allowed the Patriots to run to that side (which also was the left side of the formation) with good results. The Patriots also did some playaction passing out of the Power-I. A pass to Watson fell incomplete but quarterback Tom Brady hit Graham with a perfect fastball for a one-yard touchdown at the end of the first half. On that particular play Graham was on the strong side with Thomas while Watson was the weak man and the primary receiver over to the left. When Watson couldn’t get open Brady looked back to the middle of the field where Graham came galloping along the endline. Graham was well covered but was able to make a great diving catch to put New England up 17-10.
The Patriots also made generous use of your basic single-back, balanced two-tightend formation. At one point it worked so well the Patriots ran the same play up the middle on four straight plays on the drive that ended with Graham’s touchdown [head coach Bill Belichick explained in an interview on WEEI on Monday January 8 that New England had caught the Jets in personnel package with only two defensive linemen]. The formation not only helped the running game but also proved productive for the passing game when Brady hit wide receiver Jabar Gaffney over the middle for 31 yards off a play action pass where both tightends stayed home to pass protect.
The third formation of consequence that the Patriots used was the spread shotgun, which they frequently ran no huddle, denying the Jets the opportunity substitute. Brady is very good out of the shotgun spread because of his quick release, his complete grasp of the offense, and his field vision. It was the no huddle shotgun spread that took New England down the field on the game’s opening drive to set up Dillon’s touchdown. New England’s third touchdown came on a nifty little dump off pass to runningback Kevin Faulk out of the shotgun spread against the blitz. Faulk’s 7-yard catch gave New England a 14-point lead and effectively ended New York’s comeback hopes.
New England offensive linemen - Matt Light, Logan Mankins, Dan Koppen, Stephen Neal and Nick Kaczur - deserve a lot of credit for their ability to beat the Jet’s front seven in both run blocking and pass protection. Brady was sacked only once and I thinkl he should have gotten rid of the ball on that play as coverage had busted the play. New England amassed 158 yards running the ball and Brady completed 22 of 34 passes for 212 yards. I’d say that’s a nice day at the office for the big guys.
Gaffney was the leading receiver with eight ctaches for 104 yards. Somewhat surprisingly considering the Patriots’ use of spread formations, only seven different players caught at least one pass, and the wide receivers combined for 15 catches and and 180 yards.
On defense, Patriots gave up a 77 yard touchdown pass, a 13-play drive that ended in a field goal and an eght-play drive that ended in another field goal, but were otherwise good at limiting New York’s offense. When the Jets got the ball on New England’s 15-yard line after a Dillon fumble the defense held them to a field goal. The quirkiest plame of the game was a lateral by Jets quarterback Chad Pennington that was batted down by Colvin Rosevelt and recovered by nose tackle Vince Wilfork only after great confusion as most players on the field thought it was an incomplete forward pass.
After New England had pulled ahead to a 30-16 lead cornerback Asante Samuel iced the game with a 36-yard interception return for a touchdown with less than five minutes remaining in the game.
New England’s front seven was much strong for New York jets who nonetheless did a respectable job of finding ways to move the ball against what might well be the best defensive line in the league.
Kicker Stephen Gostkowski had a solid day kicking off and also made all three of his field goal attempts (from 20, 40, and 28 yards).
Next week new England travels to San Diego play the Chargers. That’s going to be a very tough game.
Blogger reactions
San Diego-based Minor League Town likes New England’s chances against the Chargers:
Standing in the Bolts’ way is a Patriots team that pasted the New York Jets 37-16 on Sunday. New England might not be as dominant as it was a few years ago, but Tom Brady is still the quarterback and Bill Belichick is still the coach, so ’nuff said.
Aside from those two, the Patriots lack star power and are a nearly anonymous bunch. In fact, we’re not sure the average Charger fan can name three Patriots players. After Brady and Rodney Harrison, it probably gets a little fuzzy. But then again, we’re not sure the average Charger fan can name the three branches of government.
Matt at NFL GridIron Gab thinks New England’s victory was “workmanlike.”
Not a flashy effort full of big plays, trick plays, and exciting runs, but an effort that looks championship like, and one that will I think give fits to the San Diego Chargers next Sunday. 37 points, one on a run, two on passes, and one from the defense along with a couple of field goals is all it took for the Pats vs the Jets. They were good enough, and as usual, their execution was just about perfect.
George Coztanza at George Coztanza’s Jets Commentary thinks New England was the better team but doesn’t care much for Belichick’s little stunts:
The Jets saw their magical 2006 season come to a screeching halt on Sunday, losing to the Patriots at Gillette Stadium by a 37-16 final score. New York played the Pats much closer than the score would indicate. The Jets really gave New England all they could handle. However, at the end of the game there was no doubt which team was better and deserved to move on.
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Bill Belichick never misses a chance to rub in a win to Jets fans. He did this today by putting in Vinny Testaverde to take the knee and close the game out. Watching a season end on the home field of a rival is painful enough. Watching Vinny Testaverde celebrate a Pats win over the Jets is enough to make any fan sick.
Giacomo at Joust the Facts points to New England’s superior ball control and third down conversions:
The Patriots put together a touchdown drive of 10 plays and 65 yards to start the game. The second quarter saw a 10 play, 56 yard drive for a field goal, then a 15 play, 80 yard drive for a touchdown that used up all but 10 seconds of the second quarter. The fourth quarter saw a clinching touchdown drive of 13 plays and 63 yards that took 6:32 and left only 5 minutes left for the Jets to try for two touchdowns to tie. Thats four 10 play drives for scores, three of which were touchdowns. The Jets had only one 10 play drive for the game, a 13 play drive that ended in a field goal starting off the third quarter. They were 3 for 4 on third down in the second quarter, but did not convert on third down in the first quarter or the entire second half, 3 for 11 for the game. The Patriots? Eleven for 16, including 4 for 4 in the fourth quarter.
Mondesi sees what the Jets need:
The Jets look like a mirror image of the Patriots, minus a few players. It’s clear that the Jets are trying to completely replicate the New England organization. All they need is a tattered, cut-off hoodie for Mangini.
Yes, for the love of God, why does our head coach dress like the bums that hang outside of Store24 in Kenmore Square?
