For the first time since Week 4, the New England Patriots will take the field Sunday night coming off a loss. While players and coaches echoed that last week’s loss can be a positive for this group down the stretch, Mike Vrabel noted they won’t truly know until the groups’ response is seen vs. the Baltimore Ravens.
Here on Pats Pulpit, our focus this week has been on Baltimore preparation in addition to recapping the Bills loss. For anything else not covered previously, let’s clean out the notebook.
Welcome to this week’s edition of our Sunday Patriots Notes.
Stopping the run
It took an opposing running back 10 weeks to eclipse the 50-rushing yard mark against the Patriots defense. That was when Buccaneers running back Sean Tucker totaled 53 yards across nine carries.
What was an elite run defense to date started to show cracks that Sunday in Tampa Bay. Those have now fully revealed themselves.
Since Week 10, the Patriots run defense has cratered to 29th in rush EPA and 31st in the NFL in rush success rate. Over their first nine games, New England ranked 3rd in rush EPA and 8th in success rate.
“Obviously we’re struggling a little bit, it’s been down these last couple weeks,” outside linebackers coach Mike Smith said this week. “We have to get back to what we were at the beginning of the year.”
Injuries have not helped the case.
After suffering an ankle injury early in Week 11, star defensive tackle Milton Williams has resided on injured reserve over the last three games and will remain out Sunday. Fellow defensive tackle Khyiris Tonga (chest) missed a Monday night matchup against the New York Giants.
Linebacker Robert Spillane played a season-low 39 defensive snaps in that contest before not playing last week as he was available only in emergency. Spillane, who was seen in a walking boot this week, has already been ruled out for Sunday night.
But in addition to the injuries, the Patriots’ details, technique, and fundamentals — which add up to be the third pillar of Mike Vrabel’s team identity — were lacking in a 35-31 loss to the Buffalo Bills, who generated a +0.23 rush EPA (95th percentile).
“Just really working on the technique of their job and making sure we’re not chasing plays,” defensive play caller Zak Kuhr explained. “Sometimes guys want to make plays and they get excited and step out of their responsibility to try and make a play. Just do our job with good technique and fundamentals.”
“We want to chase wins, we don’t want to chase plays,” Vrabel added. “That’s the message. I think if we focus on winning and what’s required of winning, then every play will come to us and we’ll make the ones that we’re supposed to make.”
Healthy reinforcements will help, which should include the return of Milton Williams from injured reserve next week as he continues to progress well from his ankle sprain.
But this week, however, New England’s current personnel will be tested again in Baltimore. With Derrick Henry and Lamar Jackson — plus change-of-pace back Keaton Mitchell — leading their ground game, the Ravens are third in the NFL in rushing yards per game (146.2), sixth in rush EPA, and second in explosive run rate.
Similar to the Bills last week, Baltimore, who threw the ball just 12 times in a 24-0 victory over the Bengals last week, will not be shy of pounding the rock until New England can stop it. The Patriots know the challenge that is ahead of them, but are ready for the opportunity.
“All the guys want the taste out of their mouth from this past weekend,” Kuhr said. “I think they’re excited and eager to get back out there to play just good defensive football. There’s a lot of disappointment with all of us – coaches, players, all of them. Everyone just wants to get out there and get that taste out of their mouth.”
Terrell’s presence
Defensive coordinator Terrell Williams, who stepped away from the team in September after being diagnosed with prostate cancer, had a noticeable presence inside the facility this week. Players on both sides of the football were happy to see Williams throughout the week, but made sure to note that what he’s dealign with is much bigger than football.
“Coach T, it’s awesome seeing him around. Anytime he’s around, it brings joy to us. It brings joy to the locker room,” Drake Maye said. “It brings joy to see his face, see how he’s doing. Just praying for him. He’s continuing to fight, and what a story. It’s been something for us to rally around and somebody to care about. Another thing is that it’s just bigger than football, and just props to him for seeing him in here a couple times throughout the year. It’s been cool to see.”
Diggs’ snaps
Stefon Diggs played a season-low 26 snaps in the Patriots loss to Buffalo last Sunday. That 50 percent mark, however, is on par with Diggs’ typical season-total as he’s played 55 percent of the team’s offensive snaps to date. Offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels explained Sunday’s usage as circumstance-based.
“You know, there’s a lot of guys that got fewer snaps on Sunday because we didn’t earn enough snaps in the game,” McDaniels said, as his offense ran 18 second-half plays. “And so, we look at it, Stef has done a great job and so whether it’s Stef, or TreVeyon, who played in the 20s on Sunday, I’d love TreVeyon to play in the 50s. But when you don’t have 50 plays, it’s hard for us to establish that volume for any one player.
“But for us, and for me specifically, let’s see if we can establish more rhythm on both this first half, second half, get the play count up into the high 60s, 70s, and now I think the opportunities for every player on the team go up. So, no, there’s no special reason for that.”
As Diggs continues to adjust to his role and make plays when called upon, he has additionally been held under 30 receiving yards the last three games. He’ll look to break that streak in primetime — where two of his best games have come this season.
“Just trying to get used to it. It was kind of the same in the beginning of the year, too,” Diggs said. “I just try to take advantage of the opportunities I do get and when I am out there, be a vessel, be a positive force rather than being any other way. I’m adjusting to it. I just try to do what I’m asked and handle it the best way I can.
“I always want to be out there. I want to make plays, and I want to play at a high level. We have a lot of skill guys. We’ve got a lot of amazing players. I’m just doing what I can.”
Find 14
When Tom Brady use to take on the Baltimore Ravens, he made it a point of emphasis to “Find 20” — Hall of Fame safety Ed Reed — before every snap. As Drake Maye gets set to face the new-era Ravens defense this Sunday night, he likely will follow a similar strategy with All-Pro safety Kyle Hamilton, who was singled out by head coach Mike Vrabel and has logged over 100 snaps from four different alignments this season.
“I think Kyle Hamilton is one of the best players in this league just from a versatility standpoint and what he can do at the line of scrimmage, covering,” Vrabel said. “I mean, 34 career PBUs, 8 career sacks, plays nickel, plays safety, plays dimebacker. So, the versatility there is impressive. The playmaking ability is impressive.”
Play clock
Near the end of the first-half against Buffalo, a handoff to Rhamondre Stevenson with six seconds left in the first half picked up 11 yards to lead to an end-of-half field goal attempt with one second remaining on the clock. The conservative approach to hand the ball off and not take an end zone shot from the 29-yard line was due to the six remaining seconds on the play clock being just on the edge on the needed time — which left Mike Vrabel to campaign for a change to game-day operations.
“I thought about taking a shot. And again, you just – is it 6.1 on the clock or is it 6.9? I would hate to look up there, have a go ball from the 30-yard line, look up, have [the clock] be zero and not one, and then look like an idiot,” Vrabel said. “So, if it was 6.9, I would have taken a shot. If it was 6.1, I probably would have done what we did, if that makes any sense.
“For any of you that are interested in the technology of football, they have considered that. It came up a few years ago that I heard about having the NBA clock. This is where I think our fans would like it. I think the coaches would like it. Is there 11.9 and you don’t have any timeouts, or is it 11.1? Can you get it clocked? So, that was the conversation that we had, if that’s what you’re referencing.”
Green dot
In Robert Spillane’s absence last week, veteran linebacker Jack Gibbens took over green dot duties in the middle of the defense and played a season-high 70 defensive snaps (previous high of 41). Mike Vrabel noted the communication remained good and Gibbens should be expected to start again in Spillane’s place this week.
Henderson & CJ2k
Former Titans running back Chris Johnson was one of TreyVeon Henderson’s favorite backs to watch growing up (which may not be a surprise due to Johnson’s blazing speed). Following last week’s performance, Henderson joined Johnson (2009) as the second player in NFL history to have multiple games in a season with two rushing touchdowns of 50-plus yards.
The success has Henderson entering Week 16 as the odds-on favorite to win Offensive Rookie of the Year across sports books, where’d he be the first Patriot to earn those honors since fellow RB Curtis Martin in 1995.
Week ahead
Following the primetime matchup, the Patriots players are off Monday before prep turns towards the New York Jets. With Christmas set for Thursday, there is a slight change from the usual media schedule as Mike Vrabel will hold his first press conference on Tuesday.
- Monday, Dec. 8: Players day off
- Tuesday, Dec. 9: Mike Vrabel media availability, player media availability
- Wednesday, Dec. 10: Practice, Mike Vrabel media availability, player media availability
- Thursday, Dec. 11: Day off – Merry Christmas!
- Friday, Dec. 12: Practice, Mike Vrabel media availability, player media availability
- Saturday, Dec. 13: Pre-game walkthrough, practice squad elevations
- Sunday, Dec. 14: Game day vs. New York Jets at MetLife Stadium (8:20 p.m. ET)
