Disguising is certainly a big part of the game and is important, but it’s not as important as playing what you have called is. “If you can’t play what you have, then it doesn’t matter if you disguise it or not, it’s probably not going to be very good, but that’s the issue, they don’t make it easy for you as much as you want to disguise, sometimes they put you in a bind.”
More coming on this on Thursday in my B/R-ticle, but it seemed like the Pats pretty much played the Broncos straight up defensively the first time, mostly in Cover 1 Robber, or Cover 2 Man.
This allowed them to send some blitzes in the second half but the Broncos also adjusted by running more man-beating plays with crossing routes and rubs.
Overall the Pats just haven’t had this kind of man defense capability across the board ever. There are ways to beat man defense, but it makes it more about winning matchups for the wide receivers than when you’re in zone and you’re hoping Peyton Manning makes the wrong read or a bad throw.