Mayo’s gameplan to beat Stafford was total failure

The Rams knew what the Patriots wanted to do and beat them at their own game

Patriots head coach Jerod Mayo had a one-note gameplan meant to bother and disrupt Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford and it was a complete failure:

• The Patriots blitzed Stafford 63% of the time, by far the highest rate of any defense this week
• Stafford was sacked 0 times and had his best game of the season
• Stafford: 295 yards, 4 TD, 0 INT, 13.9 adjusted yards per attempt, and killing cover-0

Credit the Rams offensive line, credit Stafford, credit Sean McVay, blame Mayo, this was New England’s recipe for L.A.’s 28-22 win over the Patriots:

Not only did Stafford throw four touchdowns for the second time in the last month (Stafford’s last four games: 10 TD, 3 INT, no sacks in three of the last four) he was also extremely comfortable against Cover-0 and Mayo’s blitz packages:

• Stafford was 12/17 for 218 yards and 3 TD against the blitz
• Season-high 11.4 air yards per attempt
• Season-high 18.5% deep passing attempts
• New England’s 33% pressure rate is nothing to write home about
• 123 yards for Puka Nacua, 106 yards for Cooper Kupp

For the Rams, the win was another step towards being involved in playoff picture conversations next month.

For the Patriots, perhaps a sign that New England is headed for another top-5 pick because Mayo was completely out-coached by McVay and his defense out-played by Stafford, Kupp, and Nacua.

The only other QB blitzed over 50% this week was Jaguars backup Mac Jones. Only two other teams were over 40%, so Mayo tried to do his best Brian Flores impression and failed.