Pats Pulpit
For the first time since 2018, the New England Patriots are on to the AFC Championship Game. After a win over a top ranked Texans defense, Drake Maye and Co. will have another tough task against Denver’s unit while New England’s defense will look to keep their hot streak going against Jarrett Stidham.
With that, let’s get into this week’s #PostPulpit Mailbag.
What are the keys to beating the Denver Broncos? With Bo Nix out and Jarrett Stidham being virtually an unknown although he’s been seen in some game action in the past, how should we attack the Broncos offensively and defensively? – LandenPatz1
On defense, don’t change what’s not broken. Since the playoffs started New England has gotten much more aggressive increasing their blitz percentage and leaning on their talented cover cornerbacks playing more man coverage — specifically on first downs (where their success rate has jumped 10 percent from the regular season) to get opposing offenses behind the sticks.
While it will be tougher to get pressure this week against a talented Broncos offensive line, I’d still look to try to heat up Stidham as he has not seen a live pass rush in over two years.
On the other side of the ball, it starts with Drake Maye taking care of the football against a pass rush that finished second in pressure rate (40.7 percent) and first in sacks (68). If Maye, who has fumbled six times (lost three) in New England’s first two playoff games, does not turn the ball over, it’s tough to see Stidham and Co. keeping pace on the scoreboard.
Now, New England will have to be ready for a talented defensive line and pressure packages as the Broncos send plenty of schemed pressures to produce a high rate of unblocked rushers. But if you can block up the drop back passing game, it will then come down to beating Denver’s man-to-man coverage — which may begin by targeting Riley Moss early and often as Moss was the most targeted corner in football this season and allowed nine deep completions to pair with 12 penalties.
Do you think the one of the keys to beating the Broncos and slowing down their pass rush would be to get the offense quicker? During the Brady years NE had White and Edelman as quick targets that could gain yards after a catch and act as a safety outlet. Could Henderson, Pop, Williams, or heck even Chism move into that type of role this weekend? – Kingratt
They kept things quick and relatively simple against the Texans last weekend as Maye had his fourth fastest time to throw on the season. Could see a similar approach mixed in with a handful of calculated shot plays to go along with early-down work for Rhamondre Stevenson and Henderson on the ground — where Buffalo had success against Denver last week while building the play-action pass game off of it. New England would be wise to avoid as many...
