BREAKING DOWN
How the Patriots’ defense can slow the Broncos’ offense
1. Fluster young quarterback
This is a Bill Belichick ck special.s special. It really doesn’t matter if Dr Drew rew Lock or Brett Rypien makes the start, although Lock, who is nursing a sprained ained throwing shoulder, ulder, is inching closer r toward d playing and is s the like likely ely starter.
Whether Lock ock or Rypien, both are youn young, ng, inexperienced d signalsignal-callers. calle ers. Rypien, a 2019 undrafted ed free agena agent, nt, and the nephew of former rmer Sup Super per Bowl-B Bowl-winwinning quarterback back Mar Mark rk Ry Rypien, ypien, has one NFL start t under hish his be belt. elt.
Lock, a 2019 19 secon second-round d-ro ound pick, has made de seven sta starts. rts. He’s missed the last t two wo gamesg games with the shoulder ulder inju injury. ury. HeH He was a 50-50 proposit proposition tion if the game had been en played d Mo Monday onday night. But with th the ex extra xtra time,t time, he’ll likely get the green lig light ght Sunday,S Sunday, barring a setback. back. He was s a full participant in practice e du during ring the week.
And if he’s a go, or if Ry Rypien ypien ultimately gets ts the ca call, all, Belich-B Belichick will be licking king his chopc chops. ps.
The Patriots ts head coacc coach h and defensive e master mastermind rmin nd has a history of devou devouring uring g first or second-year ar quarte quarterbacks. erba acks. So this is right in his wheelhouse. heelhous se.
As we saw against the Chiefs in Week 4, Belichick can an also devisd devise se plans to frustrate even n the bes best, st, a as s Patrick Mahomes was out ut of sor sorts rts th thanks hanks to the Patriots dropping ping eigh eight ht in into nto coverage on all throwing ng downs. s
The Broncos os don’t havee have the same kind of receiving arsenal as the Chiefs, so o that tactic might not be necessary. sary. But it’s a sure bet Belichick will provide enough different looks ks and disguises to confuse Lock ock or Rypien, which might ultimately lead to turnovers.
2. Jam Jeudy
Whether it’s top corner Stephon Gilmore, who has a chance of returning after dealing with COVID-19, or J.C. Jackson, Belichick and his coaching staff will want to use one of them to eliminate the Broncos greatest threat. In this case, former Alabama star Jerry Jeudy will likely be the targeted player.
With Broncos star wideout Courtland Sutton (knee) done for the season, and top receiving tight end Noah Fant battling an ankle injury leaving him questionable, the focus shifts to Jeudy, the 15th overall pick in the 2020 draft. If Fant plays, the Patriots will certainly pay attention. But Belichick will also want to take care of Jeudy, who’s a home run threat. It starts with getting physical and jamming him at the line to slow the timing of his routes.
Jeudy was a 1,000-yard receiver his final two seasons at Alabama. He’s explosive, with terrific run-aftercatch ability. Thus far, he has 15 catches for 234 yards and a touchdown.
Along with Jeudy, the Broncos have Tim Patrick (16 catches, 209 yards, 2 TDs) in their receivers room. Patrick also has the speed to take the top off a defense. With Jeudy and Patrick, it will be interesting to see how Belichick adjusts, pending Gilmore’s status. Between Gilmore, Jackson, Jonathan Jones, Jason McCourty and Joejuan Williams, Belichick has plenty to work with to handle Jeudy, Fant, Patrick, and speedster KJ Hamler if he plays.
3. Stuff the run
No doubt, the Patriots will try to make the Broncos onedimensional, and force Lock, the likely starter, to beat them throwing the football, playing into the Patriots’ strength.
They will be aided by the fact leading rusher Melvin Gordon didn’t make the trip. While the running back was charged with a DUI on Tuesday, an illness — reportedly strep throat — forced him to stay home.
So the Patriots dodge a bullet there.
But Gordon isn’t the lone star in the running backs room. The Broncos also have Phillip Lindsay, who is another catalyst for the offense. With Gordon out, Lindsay will be the focal point.
The third-year back is expected to play after missing time with a turf toe injury. He’ll likely carry the load. Of note, Lindsay has had a pair of 1,000-yard rushing seasons, the first undrafted player in league history to do so in his first two seasons.
While the Broncos are only averaging 92.5 rushing yards per game, it still behooves the Patriots to shut down Lindsay and make Lock beat them.
Breaking down three keys for the he Patriots’ defense se in n Sunday’s game aga against ainst the Denver Broncos. ncos s.