Breaking down three key plays, mostly through video analysis, from the Patriots' divisional round playoff victory over the Texans, including:
• Drake Maye sees the coverage coming on the fourth-down touchdown to DeMario Douglas;
• Milton Williams setting the stage for Marcus Jones' pick-six;
• Perfect placement by Drake Maye, legendary TD catch by Kayshon Boutte to ice the game.
4-1-HST 28 (9:41) (Shotgun) D.Maye pass short middle to D.Douglas for 28 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
The Patriots bring Douglas in motion to help disclose what kind of coverage the Texans are in. No one really goes with Douglas — Jalen Pitre bumps out a little on him — so Maye doesn't get a ton of information. It could be zone (quarters), it could be man. It could be a zero blitz with seven defenders around the line of scrimmage, but Maye does get a little information when safety Calen Bullock moves over behind Pitre. This means Pitre is "capped", meaning if Pitre blitzes, Bullock is in position to replace him in coverage.
The Texans could definitely change after the snap, but Maye likely thinks the chances are good that Pitre will blitz. He does, kind of. I'm actually not sure what he's doing on this play because he bluffs blitz, then helps a little on Rhamondre Stevenson, then sort of blitzes. I actually think Pitre is one of three defenders that is, in essence, spying Maye. Perhaps they were hoping he would see man, bait him into scrambling, and the Texans are ready with three spies.
If Pitre just straight blitzed, I think Stevenson would get the ball. If the Texans fell back into zone, I think Stefon Diggs with a speed out gets the ball. It turns out it is man, Bullock is a little flat-footed, and Douglas just beats him with a good throw from Maye. If Bullock had better coverage, Boutte definitely looks like an option on a deeper in-cut.
I'm wondering if the read against man is 1) Stevenson (if Pitre blitzes), 2) Douglas, 3) Boutte.
But nice job by everyone.
1-10-HST 25 (10:41) C.Stroud pass short left intended for X.Hutchinson INTERCEPTED by M.Jones [K.Chaisson] at HST 26. M.Jones for 26 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
I'm going to split this interception three ways, between Milton Williams, K'Lavon Chaisson and Marcus Jones.
Williams kills the left tackle so badly, he knocks Airontae Ersery into tight end Harrison Bryant, who was coming in motion to be the flat receiver. Instead, he trips over Ersery because of Williams. With Harrison on the ground, Chaisson doesn't have to worry about hitting him, or even helping to cover him in the flat. The primary option on this play is the crosser to Xavier Hutchinson, and that's open, as he beat Christian Gonzalez across the field. That's where Stroud was going with the ball.
But Chaisson gets on him quickly, hits him as he throws, and the ball flutters to Jones, who shows his great play strength, carrying Hutchinson into the end zone.
The defense had won the play. Stround should have just turfed the ball in the area of Bryant.
3-4-HST 32 (13:05) (Shotgun) D.Maye pass deep right to K.Boutte for 32 yards, TOUCHDOWN
Not too much to say about this one. Great route by Boutte down the "red line" (basically, an imaginary line between the numbers and the sideline) against Derek Stingley, who had inside leverage, to give Maye room to throw the ball between Boutte and the sideline. Maye places the ball perfectly, giving only Boutte a chance at the ball (Stroud would have missed inside). Boutte made a ridiculous one-handed catch, and the Patriots were on to the AFC Championship game.
Shoutout to Garrett Bradbury, who, after the Texans dropped out of their blitz, helped triple-team Will Anderson. Also Mike Onwenu held up just long enough to give Maye time and space to make the throw.
