FOXBORO, Mass. — Patriots linebacker Jerod Mayo responded to the comments made by Bills running back Fred Jackson, who said Sunday the offense knew how the New England defense would react in an empty set.
Jackson was discussing his pivotal 38-yard reception when he said the Bills lined up with five wide and no one in the backfield because he knew the Patriots would blitz out of his zone. That's exactly what happened late in the fourth quarter, and Jackson brought the ball to the 1-yard line after two missed tackles over the middle of the defense.
Mayo, who blitzed on that play, was asked Monday if he had any reaction that Buffalo's offense said it could predict what the Patriots were doing defensively in a key situation.
"We show multiple looks to different things, so if that's what he wants to talk about, hey, he can have it," Mayo said. "We were going on that play, and they just happened to hit it."
So, was it fluky that the Bills correctly predicted New England's defensive look?
"I'm not going to say fluky," Mayo responded. "Those guys study film as well, and we just didn't make the play when we needed to."
Mayo said if the Patriots blitz, they've got to get to the quarterback.
"When the coach calls the blitz," Mayo said, "we have to get there, and we didn't on that play."
