Sometimes, like last week’s game against the Jets, the key plays come right at the very end of the game. Often is the case in divisional games.
But this week the game was defined in the first couple possessions, with the Pats coming out on fire on both sides of the ball, dictating to the Bears what kind of game this was going to be.
This is exactly what New England needed to do. It was one of my points of emphasis before the game, and even Brandon Browner said it was something the team talked about this week.
Here are the three plays that immediately defined the game.
First, we have the Pats facing a third-and-18 on the Bears first possession. Granted, there were some solid plays prior to this one, but third down has been the big problem for the Pats this year so getting off the field in this spot was a huge win.
The key to it is Dominique Easley, starting in place of Chandler Jones. Instead of just blindly rushing up field, Easley has the awareness to see Matt Forte trying to slip out to catch a screen pass. Easley is having none of that and blows the whole play up. Great start for the rookie and the defense.
Next up we have the first two plays from scrimmage that the Pats ran. First comes a play that essentially told the Bears what they were in for – a whole lot of Brandon LaFell racking up YAC. Then comes a 19-yard run by Jonas Grey that put the Pats inside the red zone. Starting a game off with a big gain in the passing game, then one in the running game is hard to top. Two plays into the game and Bears are already on their heels, exactly as we hoped.
Finally comes a third down stop on the Bears second possession. These are the stops the Pats have not been getting early in the year. They’d be in position to make this play, but would miss the tackle and allow the drive to keep going. Brandon Browner made a handful of plays that made a difference yesterday. If he can continue to make them on third down, we’ll finally see the kind of elite defense we expect.
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