There probably was only one NFL team that could have beaten the New England Patriots on Sunday: the Aaron Rodgers-led Green Bay Packers.
The Patriots didn’t play a perfect game, but they played extremely well, to the point that even the slightest mistakes have been magnified. Sunday’s 26-21 loss really came down to three key plays by the Packers:
1. Wide receiver Jordy Nelson’s 45-yard touchdown right before halftime.
2. Defensive end Mike Daniels and linebacker Mike Neal’s combined sack on Tom Brady late in the fourth quarter.
3. Rodgers’ first-down conversion to wideout Randall Cobb to seal the game.
If any of those three plays had gone the Patriots’ way, the result might have been different. We highlight those plays and more in this week’s film review:
QUARTERBACK
— Brady was outplayed by Rodgers — but only slightly. Brady’s offensive line didn’t do him many favors, and the Packers’ pass rush was able to bring consistent pressure, rushing the Patriots’ quarterback on four incompletions. Brady doesn’t have Rodgers’ athleticism, but he maneuvered the pocket well under pressure.
— Brady’s best throw was a back-shoulder fade to wide receiver Brandon LaFell in the end zone.
— Brady froze safety Ha Ha Clinton-Dix with a pump fake, then threw a perfect strike to LaFell at the top of the screen near the sideline.
RUNNING BACKS
— The Patriots have been criticized for straying from the power run game against the Packers, and it’s deserved, though Belichick explained why they focused more on passing.
— LeGarrette Blount ran extremely well in his second game back with the Patriots, showing impressive balance, power and a low pad level while breaking tackles.
— It’s amazing that Blount was able to emerge from that pile without a knee hitting the turf. Blount stayed low, kept his balance, and picked up 6 hard-earned yards.
— Here’s the first of Blount’s two 13-yard runs. He puts the truck stick on Packers safety Morgan Burnett.
— Blount gets through contact by staying low and keeping his balance, then he picks up some extra yardage thanks to his power.
— Brandon Bolden saw an increased workload while Jonas Gray sat on the sideline until late in the third quarter. Bolden scored from 6 yards out, weaving his way through Packers defenders.
— Shane Vereen found himself wide open on a wheel route, but he remains slightly inconsistent in the passing game, dropping another wide-open pass, which was tipped by pass rusher Julius Peppers, from Brady.
WIDE RECEIVERS
— Julian Edelman was banged up for the second straight game. He was shaking off a thigh injury during the second half. He didn’t drop any passes for the first time in six weeks. Edelman has 182 catches over the last two seasons — second only to Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver Antonio Brown, who has 206.
— LaFell now has careers highs in receptions, yards and touchdowns with a 53/712/7 line. He ran a perfect, crisp route on his first touchdown reception of the game.
— Packers cornerback Tramon Williams played a great game, but he didn’t stand a chance here against LaFell.
TIGHT ENDS
— Rob Gronkowski was inconsistent as a run blocker. He whiffed on unsuccessful carries by Blount and Vereen. Gronk was his usual dominant self in the passing game, however, picking up 98 yards on seven catches. Gronk did all he could to catch a touchdown pass from Brady in the end zone. Packers safety Ha Ha Clinton-Dix did a perfect job of breaking up the pass, however, and Brady’s throw was slightly off.
— Clinton-Dix actually broke this pass up twice, first forcing it to hit the turf, and then pulling it out at the end. It was a tremendous effort from Gronk, though.
OFFENSIVE LINE
— Sunday’s loss marked the worst game from the Patriots’ offensive line in a while. Starting left guard Dan Connolly, nursing an ankle injury, particularly struggled, giving up seven pressures, including a game-clinching fourth-quarter sack, when the Patriots were driving toward the end zone.
— Brady had open receivers but Neal, beating left tackle Nate Solder, forced Brady up in the pocket, and Daniels, shedding Connolly, cleaned up for the sack.
— Solder had tough assignments against Clay Matthews and Peppers, and he gave up a fair share of pressures and quarterback hits, as well.
— Right tackle Sebastian Vollmer flashed his athleticism on a screen pass to Edelman, getting out in front of the shifty receiver to lay a crucial block.
DEFENSIVE LINE
— Vince Wilfork mostly played another solid game. He still finds ways to disrupt the run game, either by getting into the backfield or holding his ground against double teams.
— Alan Branch is looking like a solid signing so far. He held up his blocker, stuffing Packers running back Eddie Lacy for no gain in the first quarter. Branch mostly is being used in the base defense as a run stuffer.
— Rob Ninkovich had some issues both in coverage and in limiting quarterback Aaron Rodgers from taking off running. Ninkovich was burned in coverage, allowing two catches for 61 yards. He should have had help from cornerback Kyle Arrington on a completion to wide receiver Randall Cobb, but Arrington was caught up in traffic on a rub play.
— This isn’t a penalty because the ball wasn’t in the air, and the contact was initiated within 5 yards of the line of scrimmage.
— Chris Jones recorded a sack when Rodgers ran straight into the defensive tackle. The Patriots weren’t able to provide much pressure throughout the game.
LINEBACKERS
— Dont’a Hightower wasn’t asked to cover often, but he made an impact as a run-stuffer and pass-rusher. He recorded a sack and helped fellow linebacker Jamie Collins sack Rodgers when he forced the quarterback up in the pocket after a late rush.
— It appears that Packers rookie center Corey Linsley thought he still had help from running back Eddie Lacy, who had shifted to Rodgers’ left.
— Collins continues to have some issues as a run defender, both in tackling and in his ability to come off blocks. Collins’ strengths are his explosive pass rush and ability to cover.
— Jonathan Casillas has been a solid midseason pickup so far. His athleticism in pass coverage was much needed.
CORNERBACKS
— Darrelle Revis had a fantastic game, save for one play. Revis allowed a 45-yard touchdown to Jordy Nelson when the receiver was able to gain separation with a well-placed forearm to the cornerback’s chest. Revis gave up an 8-yard reception, but otherwise, he was perfect.
— Brandon Browner was targeted just three times by Rodgers and allowed one catch for 5 yards. He showed off his elite length when he dove for a pass breakup on a perfect throw from Rodgers to Nelson.
— No other cornerback in the NFL could have made that play.
— Logan Ryan had trouble with rookie wideout Davante Adams early, and he let up over 100 yards on the afternoon. Ryan is solid in press coverage and when he’s asked to drop back in zone, but he struggles to catch up on deep throws. Ryan gave up a game-clinching completion to Cobb late in the fourth quarter. Kyle Arrington probably should have been on the field instead, since he was solid covering Cobb throughout the game.
— Cobb started out lined up in the backfield before splitting out, so it unclear who would have covered the shifty receiver if he originally had lined up in the slot. Arrington wasn’t on the field, however.
From the top, Collins was on tight end Andrew Quarless, Revis was on Nelson, Browner on Adams and safety Devin McCourty on Jarrett Boykin. Hightower is hanging back at the first-down line to spy Rodgers, making sure he doesn’t pick up the first down with his legs. Ryan misses his jam at the line and briefly loses Cobb over the middle of the field. He regains close coverage and even gets a hand on the ball, but Rodgers’ throw and Cobb’s catch were too perfect.
— Alfonzo Dennard played limited snaps and let up two catches to Adams.
— One of the most notable plays of the game came midway through the fourth quarter when Rodgers held the ball for almost 12 seconds.
— You can look at this play one of two ways:
1. The coverage was great.
2. The pressure was terrible.
I think it’s a positive play, though. The front four obviously was more concerned with keeping Rodgers from finding room to run, and they weren’t going all-in on pressuring him. It’s almost impossible, even in the red zone, to hold coverage for nearly 12 seconds.
SAFETIES
— Devin McCourty had a late start and took a poor angle on Nelson’s 45-yard touchdown. McCourty did a nice job of protecting the back half of the field for most of the game, however.
— A better angle from McCourty could have changed the outcome of the game.
— Patrick Chung had his worst game of the season in coverage, and he was getting overpowered by Packers tight ends Richard Rodgers and Quarless, who scored on a 33-yard touchdown with the safety in coverage.
Thumbnail photo via Benny Sieu/USA TODAY Sports Images