Film Review: Patriots D Gives Tom Brady a Chance

Yes, if there’s one thing people are worried about with the Patriots it’s the defense because you know, after three games and like 150 snaps, they’re last in a lot of stat rankings. But this ignores the fact that without two bend-don’t-break drives in the fourth quarter from the defense that held the Texans to six points instead of 14, Tom Brady never would’ve had a chance for his heroics.

You could also throw the final game-sealing interception in there as a key play from the defense that helped with the win, but you get the point. There is plenty for the defense to get better at, none more important than stopping the big plays, but in this win over the Texans the defense wasn’t just saved by Tom Brady, they made plays when the game was on the line and deserve credit for that.

Here are two plays on the final Texans scoring drive, where they kicked a field goal to go up 33-28.

The game is hanging by a thread. The Pats are already losing and the Texans are knocking on the door of putting the game away. A first down here not only eats the clock past the two-minute warning, but also sets up a potential game-sealing touchdown.

The Patriots are in a 3-4 front. The down linemen are Adam Butler, Alan Branch and Malcom Brown (L-R), while the linebackers are Trey Flowers, Kyle Van Noy, Elandon Roberts and Cassius Marsh. They are playing the run here and they’re correct to do so.

The key guys in holding this to just two yards are Branch and Brown, who hold their ground and allow the free hitter Kyle Van Noy to cut through the line from the back side to make the play.

No we move to third down with just one yard to go. This is the game and the Patriots are guessing that the Texans are going to run it right up the middle, so they bring in heavy personnel with Lawrence Guy coming on as a down lineman. Branch and Brown are once again the big keys as they are both in the A-gaps.

Branch especially is overwhelming at the point of attack as you can see below, as Guy pushes his blocker back. Lamar Miller simply has nowhere to go and his hesitation allows Kyle Van Noy to reinforce from the second level. Brown and Guy pinch in and finish him off for no gain.

The Texans kick the field goal and with plenty of time left on the clock and just a five-point lead, Brady and the offense are in business.

Alan Branch sure picked the right time to get on track. After just six snaps against the Saints, Branch spiked to 21 against the Texans, none more critical than these two final plays where he showed why he was the Pats’ defensive MVP for much of last season.

With a vet like Branch I’m not too concerned about his slow start. If he continues to show the form he did late against the Texans the entire defense should benefit and take .a much-needed step forward.