Locked On Patriots - Daily Podcast On The New England Patriots - 2018 Revisited: Week 6 - Locked On Patriots May 29, 2019

Episode Date: May 29, 2019

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Timeout, Grady, sneak it left. He'll take the snap, he's going to sneak it left. He drops to his knees and he covers up the football at the 10. Take it down to 4 or 3 and burn your timeout. And he's telling John Hussey that now. And 6, and 5, and 4, and 3, and now the whistle sounds. Steven Gostkowski. Will make his entrance off the far sideline.

Patriots place picker tonight is hit from 48. 23. 39. And 50. And now the ball centered between the hash marks at the 10. Gostkowski. Will mark off his steps. From the 18-yard line with a 28-yard attempt for the win.

Tied at 40. Allen right knee down. Ryan turns toward Gostkowski. Now to Cardona. The snap in place. Swing the right leg. Kick left into the uprights. Right down the middle. A game winner for Gostkowski.

And the Patriots prevail 43-40. As the great John Sterling once said, raise your glass. Man, do I need one. What a night by the kicker, too. I mean, perfect ending for it. Gostkowski's been nils tonight. You put the game in his hands, and you made plays when you had to. What a night by the kicker, too. I mean, perfect ending for it. Gostowski's been nils tonight. You put the game in his hands, and you made plays when you had to.

Your big-time player stepped up. What a night by Kansas City, too. Mahomes' kid. It's going to be fun watching this kid in this league for a long time. He's the real deal. Real deal. And these teams may very well meet again. And maybe this game could have bearing where they'll meet, because I don't want to go there.

And they don't really want to come here. But both teams can play. I'm telling you that. You're going to see this team again down the road. This is Mark Schofield for Locked On Patriots, and welcome to the latest installment of 2018 Revisited, the off-season series here at Locked On Patriots, where we are going week by week to take a look back at the 2018 season from your New England Patriots that began with a victory in the opening contest

against the Houston Texans and ended with their sixth Lombardi Trophy. We're looking at those two games and, of course, every game in between. This installment, week six, that Sunday night tilt between the Patriots and the visiting Kansas City Chiefs, it will be the first of, of course, two meetings between these two teams. And before we dive in, just think about this. Of all the top games, regular season, postseason, from the entire 2018 season, league-wide, you would have to believe, and it is for most people, that this game we're about to talk about is among the top five, if not one of the top two or three

games of the entire season. And it totally set the stage for what would be the eventual rematch as foretold there by the one and only scott zolak zolak and bob soci of course they're on the call for 90 at five the sports hub before we dive in though your usual reminders here at the start to follow me on twitter at mark schoolfield check out the work at a variety of great websites, including InsideThePylon.com, Pro Football Weekly, Matt Waldman's Rookie Scouting Portfolio, and yes, that venerable trio of SB Nation websites, including Big Blue View, Bleeding Green Nation, where I co-host the QB Scosho with the Honorable Michael J. Solak and yes Pat's Pulpit. Also please check out our fantastic sponsors

we've got a great slate of sponsors here at the entire Locked On Podcast Network included Hotels.com Untuckit and Grip Six Belts. Also don't forget check out the show on Himalaya the free super easy to use podcast hosting app Himalaya, the free, super easy to use podcast host and app. Himalaya

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So check out Himalaya. Follow and download Himalaya on the App Store or Google Play Store. And don't forget to follow Locked On Patriots while you're in there. Now, week six. Sunday night tilt between the Patriots and the visiting Chiefs. The teams entered this contest both kind of on the upswing. The Patriots had just won two straight as we've been breaking down, and they entered the game 3-2 on the season.

The Chiefs were riding high, 5-0 on the young campaign. And this game kind of gets started off a little bit slowly. But don't worry, friends. The action certainly picked up down the stretch. The team sort of traded field goals. Harrison Bucker got the Chiefs on the board first with a field goal from 42 yards. That was going to be a theme, as we'll talk about, for the first half of this game.

Steven Zaskowski tied the game at three with a 48-yard field goal of his own. And then the first true big play of the game came, stop me if you've heard something like this before, on the defensive side of the ball. After the Gostowski field goal, the chief start of the drive, they face the first and 10 on their own 23. Patrick Mahomes, the young phenom, dropped to throw, and it'd be the first time, but not the only time this season, the Patriots would bait him into a mistake. and the 10 and he'll make it first and go from the 3 Hightower in coverage over the middle and there's a

flag that comes in late you've got Eric Fisher hobbling off the left tackle and John Hussey will be the man of the moment to let us know what this is all about there is no foul on the play. The block by number 98 was legal. First down. That is Hightower's first regular season interception. He had one in postseason. Yeah, you give the young guy something to think about. You fake the blitz,

you drop back, and he falls underneath. The crosser here coming across the field. Nice play by Hightower. The veteran got the young man. The interception was a combination of great design and execution from the Patriots' defense. Hightower aligned his linebacker spot, faked a blitz into the opposite A gap between the center and the right guard. Mahomes saw that, assumed that Hightower was going to complete his blitz, and tried to throw a crossing route to where Hightower had going to complete his blitz and tried to throw a cross and route to where Hightower had basically vacated the second level of the defense instead Hightower

had dropped and retreated from the line of scrimmage ball was thrown right to him and he returned it to the Patriots to the excuse me to the Chiefs four yard line on the very next play the Patriots would take the lead. Sonny Michel's four-yard plunge gave the Patriots a 10-3 lead, but they would not be done here in what was going to be pretty much an all-Patriots first half. After Michelle's four-yard touchdown run that made it 10-3, the Chiefs tacked on yet another field goal, again kept out of the end zone, giving the Patriots a now 10-6 lead. But Tom Brady and the New England Patriots offense would get back into the end zone early in the second quarter, with Brady finding one of his favorite targets, Julian Edelman, from 17 yards out.

Silver went to the Giants, and they picked up Brown from San Francisco to trade. Third down to 10. Three-man rush, eight covering. Brady floats, one caught, touchdown Edelman! Perfect park, and Julian Edelman into the end zone. Facing a third and ten on the Chiefs' 17-yard line, Tom Brady looked to one of his favorite targets, Julian Edelman, and this touchdown throw is very reminiscent of a play we talked about just a few episodes ago.

A corner out to the back of the end zone made with anticipation. Tom Brady drops it in for Julian Edelman who beats his defender. Running that corner route out of the inside alignment and the Trips formation and the Patriots have a 17-6 lead. Now, as things would stand, the Chiefs, they would get another field goal. A 24-yarder by Harrison Butker with 621 remaining in the first half to make it a 17 to 9 game the Patriots would yet again score a touchdown Sonny Michel his second touchdown of the night a one yard run making it 24 to 9 that was with 157

left and the Chiefs offense perhaps with a bit of foreshadow and they get right down the field and they're facing a play near the end of the half but this play perhaps not only save the day you could say but also really set the stage for what might be the theme of these two teams and their two meetings over the season the Chiefs down early with a chance to cut into the lead but Patrick Mahomes gets baited into another mistake. Mahomes stepping up trying to get away and does throws to the end zone and it is tipped and intercepted by Harmon who thinks about coming out and then takes it. Daron Harmon's interception of Patrick Mahomes kept the Chiefs out of the end zone yet again and

in a rather stunning development the Patriots went into the locker room at halftime with a 24-9 lead. The Chiefs held to just three field goals on a number of red zone attempts. Two interceptions of Patrick Mahomes in the first half. And this play, we'll break it down a little bit more, but it kind of gets into the defensive and the future of defensive football that we talked about last week. The Patriots, obviously, with a sub package, just three down linemen, it gives them the ability to have Dante Hightower, Chip, Travis Kelsey.

He basically gets triple covered on the play. Mahomes forces a throw. It's intercepted. And the Patriots, as we said, head to the locker room up 24-9. But we all know what's coming here in the second half, and we're going to get to that in a moment. But first, a reminder, as I said earlier, this show is brought to you by

our great friends over at Hotels.com. Don't hate like your friends trip. Book your own with Hotels.com and get rewarded basically everywhere. Hotels.com. Be there. Do that. Get rewarded.

Mark Schofield back with you now on this latest installment of 2018 Revisited, looking at the 2018 season from the New England Patriots on a week-by-week basis. We are breaking down week six, that Sunday night heavyweight bout between the Chiefs and the New England Patriots. Now, as you just heard, the Patriots went to the locker room for the halftime break up 24-9, and they had a chance early in the second half to perhaps, perhaps put this game away. They're up 24-9. The Chiefs face a third and three on their opening possession,

the opening possession of the second half. And you could make a case that if the Patriots get a stop on this play, if they get a stop and they go down and score, and suddenly you're talking about a 31-9 game, this game probably looks a lot differently. But instead, the Chiefs, facing a 3rd-and-2 on their own 33-yard line, Patrick Mahomes makes his first and not his last magical play of the night. They need to get some forward momentum going at this point in the game.

Third down, long two from the 33-yard line. Mahomes surveys, flushed out again, chased down the sideline. Getting free is Kareem Hunt, and Kareem Hunt is able to get Kansas City right back into the game man that was shades of last year here in the opener 67 yards on a third and two this catch and run play from Kareem Hunt got the Chiefs onto the scoreboard into the end zone for the first time of the night, and right back into the game, making it a 24-16 contest. But the teams were obviously not done scoring points.

The teams would trade field goals on their ensuing two possessions. The Patriots would get a 24-yard field goal from Steven Gostowski, failing in the red zone on a 3rd-and-5 from the Kansas City 5-yard line when Tom Brady failed to connect with Julian Edelman and Josh Gordon on successive plays. The Chiefs would add a Harrison Butker field goal of their own from 30 yards out, making it a 27-19 game. Then, with time ticking down in the third quarter, Tom Brady was sacked by Breland Speaks. We would hear his name again before the night was through and fumbled Alan Bailey recovered for the Chiefs getting the Chiefs some pretty good field position at the New England Patriots

29 yard line and this was a rather confusing play from Tom Brady he tried to sort of create in the pocket very un-Brady like the Chiefs they would strike quickly on a second and 10 play from the 14 Patrick Mahomes found Tyreek Hill for the touchdown. And they have two road division wins. They have a win at Pittsburgh and trying to pull it off in Foxborough. Second and 10. Mahomes and the end zone. Hill for the Tyreek Hill that was pretty that time they had a safety in the middle of the field

but it didn't matter because Tyreek Hill the speedster was the inside guy so even though there's a safety here you run past him and nobody can keep up with Tyreek Hill so they fooled him on the first one not on the second one. That was a pretty little touch.

Obviously, that's Al Michaels and Chris Collinsworth there on the call from NBC. And what Collinsworth is referring to, a couple of things. One, the ability of Tyree Kill to just run away from defenders, even if they have the angle or the leverage advantage. And two, this was a deep cross and route design that the Chiefs missed on in the first quarter. They didn't miss here. Mahomes drops it into Tyree Hill with the extra point. Good. This was a 27-26 game. The Patriots clinted to just a one-point lead. It was a rather curious decision, I thought,

at the time. The Chiefs decided not to go for two and tie it up, but we all kind of assumed there would be more points coming, even though there was just over one quarter remaining the patriots on their next possession and somewhat of a flip of the script from the first half they were kept out of the end zone again they had a first and ten at the kansas city 25 yard line after a sony michelle two yard run back-to-back incompletions from tom brady first to james white and then again to j James White left them facing a fourth and six at the 21. Kostowski split the uprights from 39 yards out and it is a 30 to 26 advantage now for the Patriots with 10 22 left in the contest. Kostowski teed it up for the kickoff and Tremont Smith decided look I'm justround pick, but I can make a big play too. Let's go.

At the one-yard line, Smith, Tremont Smith. Oh, good run back. Smith staying inbounds, and Tremont Smith is going to take this one all the way inside the five-yard line. Skirting the sideline, Devin McCourty saves the touchdown for the moment that was right in front of the Kansas City bench he was able to remain in bounds and this is a guy who has the job because the Anthony Thomas is hurt on injury reserve and the rookie out of Central Arkansas six round that huge return from Smith with even though the Patriots get a touchdown save and tackle from Devin McCourty, set the Chiefs up with a first and goal at the three.

After Sammy Watkins' run to the right end for minus one yard and a Kareem Hunt run up the middle for three, Patrick Holmes was able to complete a pass in the short left flat to Tyreek Hill for the one-yard touchdown with the Butker extra point. Suddenly, it was Chiefs 33 patriots 30 but the patriots they would answer after tom brady finds chris hogan on a deep right throw in a 31 situation with 720 remaining the patriots would find themselves eventually in the red zone in the red zone facing a first and goal at the 5. An incompletion for Julian Edelman

on first down and a James White one yard run on second down left the Patriots facing a third and goal from the 4. And here we hear that name. Breland speaks once more. Third and goal. Brady

under pressure. A flag is down in the end zone and Tom gets into the end zone pending the call well you see Brady get a lot of touchdowns on runs but they're all from the one yard line almost never from the four holding defense number 22

penalty on defense number 22. That penalty would be declined. He's off the play as a touchdown. Penalty on Skandrick. Brady to the end zone. And New England has the lead. Breeland speaks, has it. I'm not sure if he thought maybe the ball was already gone and let go. But Tom Brady took full advantage

and I guess that's why... Brady's scramble and headfirst dive into the end zone gave New England the lead once more in this contest with the extra point from Steven Duskowski. The score was once more with Patriots in the lead, 37-33. And as you heard, Collinsworth teed up there. Breland Speeds, he had Brady wrapped up, but whether it was the rule changes and all the emphasis on

not landing on the quarterback or not hitting the quarterback late or whatever the reason, he whether it was the rule changes and all the emphasis on not landing on the quarterback or not hitting the quarterback late or whatever the reason, he doesn't finish the play. He doesn't get Brady to the ground. Brady takes advantage, scrambles, scampers, dives headfirst into the end zone of the Patriots, have the lead. And they would build on that lead. The Patriots would force a three and out from the Chiefs on Kansas City's ensuing possession. It was a dangerous three and out. Chiefs faced a third and seven on their own. 28.

Patriots came with a blitz. They didn't get home. Mahomes just misses Tyree Kilder on a play that would have gone for six. New England on their next possession. They work a little bit of clock. The Chiefs have to burn two timeouts. The big play on that one was a pass from Brady DeGronk for 42 yards. You get a run from Michelle, a short pass to Gordon, an incompletion for Edelman, and then a

50-yard field goal from Ghost. And with 319 remaining, the Patriots now have a 40-33 lead. How long would that last? Well, barely 20 seconds. Steps up, going deep. That field wide open again is Hill. Inside the 30. Hill down the sideline. Hill all the way.

Touchdown Kansas City at 75 yards. This absolutely stunning play sent Gillette Stadium into just abject silence. The game, with the extra point, would be tied at 40. What happened on this play? Well, it seems as if Devin McCourty, who was helping to triple cover or at least double cover Travis Kelsey on this play, may have busted on it because it looks like De'Ron Harmon is expected a two deep coverage. So he vacates to one half of the field. Tyree Kill again, a crossing row from right to left.

Harmon doesn't have the angle and he's probably expecting some help from the other safety Devin McCourty, but McCourty has cheated down towards the line of scrimmage. Wide open, easy throw. Hill outruns everybody and we got a tie game with the extra point. The issue though, the time. Just over three

minutes were left and the Patriots would have more than enough time to get into field goal range, milk the clock a little bit. And the big play, the one that got them into field goal range, Tom Brady to Rob Gronkowski. That matchup, as long as they stay in man coverage, and it looks like man again. First down, 50 seconds.

Brady, deep down the sideline. He goes for Gronkowski. He has it. Josh Short takes him down, but the ball is inside the 10-yard line. the sideline. He goes for Gronkowski. He has it. Josh Shaw takes him down, but the ball is inside the 10-yard line. And they can milk that clock all the way down now after a

40-yard gain. Brady's job here, the completion to Gronkowski and a seam route from the slot set the stage for what we heard at the cold open. The game-winning field goal from Steven Gostowski. And the Patriots would ice this contest on the game's final play with Ghost splitting the uprights from 28 yards out,

giving the Patriots a win in Week 6, 43-40, improving that record to 4-2, dropping the Chiefs to 5-1. And as you heard from Scott Zolak there at the intro, these teams probably didn't want to face each other again, but everybody kind of knew it might be coming. Up next, we're going to talk quickly about two of the pivotal plays as well as what we learned about the Patriots in this week six victory over the Chiefs. But before we do that, though, a reminder to check out our great friends over at Untuckit. Thanks to Untuckit for sponsoring Locked On Patriots. If you were looking for a great Father's Day idea, their shirts are specifically designed to look great,

untucked, and feel comfortable at work or on the weekend. No tucking or tailoring required. Go to untucket.com, promo code NBA to get 20% off. Mark Schofield back with you now. And look, we've talked about this game a lot. We've talked about some of these plays a lot so i do just want to spend just a couple of seconds here talking about two in particular first the deron harman interception and then of course the throw from brady to gronkowski

on the harman interception again we spent some time on a show last friday talking about the future of defensive football and this was another example of the Patriots using that 3-2-6 sub package. It gives you the flexibility in the secondary, in the second level even, to get some advantageous matchups or even some numbers advantages against players you're worried about. In this case, they take Dante Hightower, a linebacker, one of their decent pass rushers from the second level a guy they like to send on blitzes as they would on this play they walk him to the outside over Travis Kelsey and then they also bracket him with two defenders why they're worried about him in the red zone what does it do it forces Travis Kelsey to fight through coverage. Eventually, on his blitz, Hightower would flush Mahomes to his right,

where he would eventually look for Kelsey, who is still bracketed in coverage. It was a risky throw. Deron Harmon is able to get his hands to it, tip it, and intercept it. What do we take from that? Well, the flexibility of these sub packages we would see this again throughout the season from the patriots it would give them numbers advantages and they were able to play with some different matchups and combinations to get some favorable situations and in here a favorable outcome then of course the throw from brady to gronkowski tom brady

manipulated a defender here the free safety in the middle of the field before throwing that seam route to Robert Gronkowski and if you think about the biggest plays from the Patriots 2018 season their entire campaign at least on the offensive side of the ball how many times do you have a Tom Brady vertical seam route to Rob Gronkowski in your top five? At least twice, this play and, of course, the seam route, Robert Gronkowski's final catch ever in NFL history against the Rams in Super Bowl 53. That set up the game's only offensive touchdown.

The game's only touchdown on this play. Tom Brady freezes that free safety in the middle of the field, gets him to go the other way, away from the three-receiver side of the formation before dropping in a perfect throw. What did we learn about the Patriots? Resilient. And their ability to get out to a lead on the Chiefs. In the AFC Championship game, they did the same thing,

getting out to a lead in that contest keeping them out of the end zone the patriots were able to find some ways to hold them to field goals and get some stops and turnovers early it was pivotal in this game it gave them the ability to withstand the second half onslaught it would be pivotal in the afc championship game thanks for listening to this installment of 2018 revisited looking at the patriots 2018 campaign on a week-by-week basis. In the next installment, the Week 7 contest against the Chicago Bears, a team of the young quarterback, a new head coach, and a fearsome defense. Could the Patriots pull out a win in Chicago against a team that was entering the contest 3-2,

but looked to be putting together one of the better defenses in the NFC. That's on the next installment of 2018 Revisited.