DEFENSIVE NOTES
Game plan
Personnel breakdown: 41% dime package, 29% three-cornerback nickel package, 27% three-safety nickel package, 3% base.**
Blitz rate: 21%
Blitz efficacy: 4-of-7, 21 yards allowed, 2 sacks
Key areas
Yards per carry allowed: 3.5 Third downs: 0-14 Red-zone efficiency: 0-2 Pressure rate: 40.4%
Player stats
Interceptions: Jonathan Jones
Pass deflections: Devin McCourty 2, Jalen Mills 2, Jack Jones, Myles Bryant, Anfernee Jennings
Sacks: Matt Judon 3, Josh Uche 3, Ja’Whaun Bentley, Raekwon McMillan, Deatrich Wise 0.5, Jahlani Tavai 0.5 QB hits: Judon, Tavai
Hurries: Wise 3, Bentley, Kyle Dugger, Team
Run stuffs: Team 2
Missed tackles: Bentley, Wise, Jack Jones Penalties: DT Daniel Ekuale (roughing the passer, encroachment),
Notes
The Patriots feasted on perhaps the worst pass-blocking line in the NFL, notching nine sacks with several minutes remaining. The defense had matchup advantages everywhere, but especially up front. Matt Judon earned his first two sacks looping inside the right side of the Colts’ O-line, which played like it had never seen a basic stunt before. Bentley earned his the same way, starting on the right edge, looping around a defensive tackle that attacked the edge and rushing up the middle for a sack.
The Pats called these T-E (tackle-end) stunts throughout the game, which not only broke Indy’s offensive line but flushed second-year quarterback Sam Ehlinger outside the pocket.
Ehlinger went 5-of-9 with an interception over the short middle, where the Colts worked constantly to free receivers with pick routes. Without easy-access throws, he was forced to settle for checkdowns or misfire deep down the sidelines. Outside, veteran corner Jalen Mills didn’t allow a catch on five targets and locked down Indy’s No. 1 receiver, Michael Pittman, in their matchups. Pittman finished with just three catches on twice as many
Patriots rookie guard Cole Strange takes the field prior to Sunday’s game against the Colts in Foxboro. He struggled again and was pulled from the game. targets.
Mills was also one of several veteran defenders to play fewer than 70% of the team’s snaps, including Matt Judon, Jonathan Jones, Kyle Dugger and Adrian Phillips.
Their low snap counts were a function of the team’s ongoing rotations at most positions that afford backups like Anfernee Jennings, Jabrill Peppers, Jack Jones and Marcus Jones more run and keep the best players fresh.
Devin McCourty, Deatrich Wise and Ja’Whaun Bentley were the only starters to play more than 70% of the team’s snaps. Wise’s half-sack gave him a new single-season career high with 5.5 this year.
Bentley is also on a tear lately, with 22 tackles, an interception, one sack and two QB hits around his usual run-stuffing over the past three games.
His backups, Raekwon McMillan, played his best game of the season and earned a sack powering through left tackle Bernhard Raimann.
The Patriots remain the surest tackling team in the NFL, whiffing just three times against the Colts.
Statistics for passing depth, broken tackles and missed tackles courtesy of Pro Football Focus.
*11 personnel = one running back, one tight end; 12 personnel = one running back, two tight ends.
**Base defense = four defensive backs; nickel defense = five defensive backs; dime defense = six defensive backs.