Five days later I’m starting to know this game like the back of my hand. Early on it was still a blur, which shouldn’t be surprising considering my first re-watch came in the early morning hours on Monday. The touchdowns and two-pointers, coming so rapidly on top of each other slowly melded together, leaving me unsure of what came when.
So I was excited to take an emotionless look at the All 22. Well, emotionless is the wrong word. I’m still riding the high that came with Super Bowl 51’s triumphant ending and each successive highlight film has only made it better.
Still, there’s nothing better than getting the bird’s eye view of everything to truly grasp how the two teams attacked each other.
Let’s take a look!
— Oh a 37-yard crack toss on the opening play. Not how you want to start. They tried the same play a second time, but Logan Ryan recognized and prevented the running back from cutting up. Ryan is such a smart player who really embodies what the Pats do well — smarts and tackling.
— Didn’t notice Sheard standing at middle linebacker on the first third down. He came barreling down at the snap, likely trying to test Alex Mack, but Sheard didn’t get a good shot at him as he had help from the right guard.
— I am so on the fence with Shea McClellin. I thought maybe he was coming around late in the year but he continues to drive me batty with his ineffectiveness.
— First third down, great bull rush from Ninkovich, driving the right tackle back. Ryan had nowhere to go though as Trey Flowers used his signature aggressive hands to disengage and log the sack. It was nearly a forced fumble too. Sign of things to come.
— First drive featured three plays of 3S/2CB and the last the third down was 2S/3CB as the went to Cover 1, with Hightower dropping into the flat to take away the slants the Falcons lover.
— Patrick Chung has really come full circle. Upon his return he was used almost exclusively as a “robber” safety and that’s what got him back on track. But now he can do anything, even the deep Cover 2 stuff that killed him early in his career. He’ll be manned up on running backs or tight ends just as easily as taking deep coverage now. He was a real swiss army knife in this game, doing it all through two possessions.
— On the second third down, the Pats went 2 Man, rushing just three while dropping three right into the middle of the field. There’s just nowhere to go. He tucks it and is tackled short of the first down.
— The third drive was no bueno coming off the Blount fumble, as the Pats gave up plays of 19, 23, 15, 9, 5TD, aka bing-bang-boom. Let’s break down each:
- 19yds to Julio – Coverage looks like 2 Zone, Julio finds the millimeter of space and somehow makes the grab over Ryan. Tip the hat play.
- 23yds to Julio – 1 Man, Ryan on Julio, Harmon over top. Julio runs deep out despite the double team.
- 15yds Freeman – Zone run right, Branch overpursues opening up huge hole up middle.
- 9yds Freeman – Again, overpursuit, Flowers gets pinned, Sheard tries to go around the outside but gets kicked out. They’re a better run defense than these two plays.
- 5yd Freeman TD – Flowers and Ryan can’t keep the edge, Freeman pops it outside and walks in untouched.
— After a quick three-and-out by the offense the defense is back out there, down 7-0. More big plays on this drive — 24, 18, 19 TD. There was a clear effort to attack Chung here, he was up to the task on the first pass attempted at him, but the second had him singled on Hooper and Ryan made a perfect throw. Falcons were really in a rhythm on this drive and there was just no disruption up front from the Pats. That would change in the second half.
Second Half
— Three-and-out was a great start to the second half. The first play set the tone, with Flowers eating up a block and taking three Falcons down with him. Hightower takes the pulling guard on with his inside shoulder easily and slides off to make the play. Text book, see below. On the third down, Rowe got a physical jam on Gabriel and that disrupted him enough that he couldn’t make the catch that was right there. Pats also sent five in what might be their first “blitz” of the night. After getting gouged without pressure late in the first half, they made sure to bring some heat immediately in the second.
— While they played a variety of coverages it was pretty much all nickel defense, either with three safeties/two corners or two safeties/three corners.
— Okay, the last scoring drive of the game for the Falcons. Again they got a huge play on the first down of the series, going for 17 yards, then two plays later they got 35 yards. These huge plays were the story of Atlanta’s scoring drives. When they didn’t get big plays they stalled. First one was Roberts getting sucked in by play action to open up the in-cut for Gabriel, who made a great catch as well.
— You can see the Patriots starting to pick up steam despite giving up a scoring drive. Their run fits were improving and most of all the pressure was starting to get to Ryan. A few of the throws he made were on the move and needed great catches. The stage was now set for the greatest defensive fourth quarter in Patriots Super Bowl history.
— 28-9, Three-and-out: Nine yards on first down, all the way to the 32 yard line. Chung came on a blitz. On second down Hightower draws a hold, backing Atlanta up a huge 10 yards. Second down Sheard gets pressure, forces a bad throw. Third down was all Sheard too, though Flowers/Van Noy got the sack. Sheard’s bull rush made it possible. Falcons punt!
— 28-12, Force Fumble: Obviously one of the plays of the game. Freeman had no idea Hightower was coming, giving him a clear shot at Ryan. Still can’t believe Branch came up with the ball. He did say afterwards that Ninkovich punched it into his stomach. Monster play.
— 28-20, Punt. The defensive stand of the game. The Falcons got their usual quick start, busted coverage check down to Freeman for 39 yards, then a 27-yard impossible catch by Julio that felt like it would be the final nail in the coffin. All they needed was a field goal, sitting on the 31-yard line. But then.. Trey Flowers sack, holding call drawn by Chris Long and suddenly the Falcons are punting, setting the stage for Brady’s game-tying drive.
This was the most impressive defensive stand of memory, especially because it started so poorly. I wanted to give up when Julio made his crazy catch. I’m sure they wanted to a bit as well. Instead they fought back and forced a punt. Just ridiculous.
