Pats Pulpit
The New England Patriots are on to the divisional round after winning their first playoff game since Super Bowl LIII. Now, they welcome a top ranked Houston Texans defense to Foxborough with a trip to the AFC Championship Game on the line.
With that, let’s get into this week’s #PostPulpit Mailbag.
What is the best offensive game plan for this Texans defense? McDaniels has schemed against many great defenses one being seattles legion of boom in a previous Super Bowl. Is it getting the running backs out in space with short passing game, using bunch formations for possible pick plays, and using RPO with Maye if the Texans defensive front is too aggressive? – SouthernPatriot
We’ve seen Drake Maye play well this sesaon against very strong defenses. What is the key to the offense clicking and finding room to put up points against maybe the best DL we have faced all season? – LandenPatz1
Nothing will be easy against a Texans defense that ranks near or at the top of the league in every metric you can find. But due to their talented personnel — which features studs at all three levels — Houston largely lines up and plays their style, not changing the picture on opposing offenses like the Chargers’ multiple defense.
For Houston, that style lives out of nickel defense (due to the elite safety Jalen Pitre) and majors in cover-three and quarters. They do play man-to-man on roughly 30 percent of their snaps, however, and could uptick that usage this week after New England’s struggles last week.
“I wouldn’t say one of the toughest [defenses to prepare for],” Kayshon Boutte said. “At the end of the day we know we’re going to get man coverage, we got to beat it.”
As good as the unit is, Houston not straying from their style should open the door for offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels to show up on Sunday and win the chess match.
As for specific areas McDaniels and Drake Maye can take advantage, the Texans rank 14th in the league in allowing explosive passes — and were close to giving up several downfield shots in their wild card victory but the Steelers could not capitalize. Additionally, Houston’s primary four-man rush opens the rushing lanes for scrambles — where they ranked 31st in yards per scramble (9.6) on the season.
Both areas are strengths of Drake Maye’s game. But, noting will come easy as Will Anderson, Danielle Hunter, and their talented interior players will need to be blocked to push the ball downfield. Maye is also aware of Azeez Al-Shaair’s ability to lay the boom along the second level when he escapes the pocket.
It would also not be a surprise to see McDaniels use plenty of the six offensive line package that has become a key part of New England’s offense down the stretch — and helped them push the ball downfield against LA. The Steelers broke off a pair of plus plays to open the game out...
