Film Review: Total Team Effort in Patriots AFC Championship Win

With the coaches film still not out, I couldn’t wait to dive in for a stress-free re-experience of the 2018 AFC Championship. Patriots Super Bowl 2019 betting has already begun, but with two weeks to go I can’t turn the page just quite yet.

As in all big games there are a handful of plays that went the Chiefs’ way, whether it was because they’re good, the Patriots made a mistake, or the refs threw a flag. But despite the circumstances, the Patriots never blinked and made the tough plays when it counted. It was once again masterful to behold.

Here’s a bunch of rapid fire thoughts as I re-watched the game.

— What a first drive. These are the kind of first drives I’m used to going against us in big games with Super Bowls 42 and 46 being prime examples. The balance of the offense is on display, with Michel getting things started and the full array of options being at their finger tips on second-and-short. The ball is just out too quick, no pass rusher can get there.

— The defense couldn’t have played a better first half. Even after the 42-yarder to Tyreek Hill, the Pats defense didn’t flinch. Pushing them back out of field goal range with a Trey Flowers sack.

— I was most impressed with the pass rush discipline on the edge. John Simon, an under-sung addition who has blossomed on the edge, played 60 percent of the snaps. The most impressive was how Adrian Clayborn did his job. Along with Flowers, they would consistently rush to just in front of Mahomes’ hips. Those hard edges allowed the interior and stunts to find and finish the Chief’s quarterback.

— This just speaks to overall how solid the defense is. Now, J.C. Jackson had a big old target on his back and was responsible for a lot of the late damage the Chiefs did, but like Malcolm Butler took some early lumps in his playoff debut, Jackson will only get better.

— The two impossible catches by James White were even more remarkable watching them again. Yes, the Edelman and Gronk third down catches in overtime will live in infamy, but White made the toughest catches of the day.

— Chris Hogan and Phillip Dorsett are solid complimentary pieces – but neither are ready to be leaned upon like Edelman, Gronk and White. Josh Gordon catches the dropped slant Patterson.

— Seems like the Pats really leaned into Devin McCourty in this gameplan, using him on the back end over Hill but also sending him on at least one blitz. The rise of the Cover-0 and more aggressive blitz tendencies has been welcome. Hopefully it doesn’t go to Miami with Brian Flores. The dependance on McCourty came at the expense of Duron Harmon who played just two defensive snaps.

— Adam Butler continues to develop into a disruptive interior presence.

— Tom Brady, the throws at the end of the game were just perfect. Clutch strikes in critical moments. I don’t know what more anyone is looking for from a quarterback.