See, that’s what happens when somebody takes Wes Welker out of the game. The Patriots have nothing on the outside.
They must have made an adjustment. Maybe one of those vaunted halftime adjustments.
All of that is good to talk about, and gives us writers something to write about, but the truth is often much simpler and boring: The Patriots didn’t execute very well to start the game, but they finished much better.
They were fortunate to be playing a much weaker team in the Chiefs. If the Patriots take the field and execute that way in the playoffs - or even Sunday against the Eagles - they’re going to get bounced faster than a Superball off the blacktop.
Don’t expect Patriots coaches to be showing much of the film after the 7:36 mark of the second quarter against the Chiefs, although there was plenty of subpar play there, too, mixed in with the standout variety.
The start of the game couldn’t have been much worse for the offense, and you know Bill Belichick and his staff will be milking that for all it’s worth.
There is plenty to choose from:
The first three plays set the tone. BenJarvus Green-Ellis dropped a pass on first down. The second-down run went for only 2 yards because Matt Light, Connolly, and Brian Waters all got whipped at the snap. That forced Green-Ellis to make a rare stutter-step because the run lane was so poorly blocked. We know Logan Mankins came to play because he laid a vicious pancake on linebacker Jovan Belcher.
To top it all off on third down, Danny Woodhead and Light blocked the same player, allowing a free inside blitzer at Brady, receiver Chad Ochocinco didn’t see the blitz coming so he did not break off his route to help his quarterback, and as a result, Brady was called for intentional grounding.
That’s not anything the opponent did, those are self-inflicted wounds.
The next drive got off to a better start, with a first down on the second play, and the Patriots were in decent shape with second and 7.
