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Younger quarterbacks face a troublesome activity when squaring off with Invoice Belichick and the New England Patriots.
Counting what Justin Fields did in Foxborough just a few weeks in the past, first- and second-year quarterbacks have traditionally struggled in opposition to a Belichick-led protection. Since 2003, quarterbacks of their first or second season have a mixed 4-42 document at Gillette Stadium.
This may put into context simply how spectacular Fields was within the Chicago Bears’ win over the Patriots three weeks in the past.
However this was the surroundings that second-year quarterback Sam Ehlinger walked into on Sunday, when he and the Colts took on the Patriots on the highway.
He couldn’t duplicate Fields’ success.
Ehlinger and the Colts’ offense struggled, managing simply 121 complete yards and three factors in New England’s 26-3 win. Ehlinger, enjoying with out operating again Jonathan Taylor, accomplished 15 of 29 passes for 103 yards and an interception. However as a result of 9 sacks he took on the afternoon — and the 60 yards misplaced — the Colts completed the day with simply 43 internet passing yards.
The duo of Matthew Judon and Josh Uche posed an issue for the Indianapolis offense all afternoon lengthy, as every move rusher got here away with three sacks on the day. Judon bought the occasion began early, recording his first sack of the sport on the Colts’ first offensive play. Watch as Judon assaults the best facet of the offensive line on the stunt, dipping to the within earlier than attending to the quarterback:
Judon would get to Ehlinger two performs afterward third down, however that sack was nullified attributable to a penalty.
He would nonetheless handle his second sack of the sport within the first quarter, as he bought to Ehlinger on a 3rd down halfway by means of the primary:
That sack, with the Colts dealing with a 3rd down in New England territory, pressured Frank Reich to ship his punt group on the sector.
After a pair of New England subject objectives gave the Patriots a 6-0 lead, the sport’s first huge play got here through particular groups. With the Colts seeking to punt the soccer away to New England, cornerback Jonathan Jones broke into the backfield to dam the punt, and the Patriots recovered in unbelievable subject place:
As you’ll be able to see from this replay angle, Jones begins the snap aligned over one of many punt protection gamers, however bursts into the backfield off the sting after which lays out for the block:
This replay angle can also be value a glance:
New England capitalized with a brief landing move from Mac Jones to Rhamondre Stevenson:
The following Indianapolis possession would see Uche be a part of the sack occasion. With Indianapolis dealing with a 3rd down, and needing an enormous offensive play to get again into the sport, Uche will get house off the sting for his first sack of the afternoon:
Uche’s second sack of the sport got here on the very subsequent Colts’ possession, and could be vital. With Indianapolis trailing 13-0, they lastly put collectively a superb drive, and seemed to be in place to chop into New England’s lead. Dealing with a third and 6 on the New England 19-yard line trailing 13-0, Ehlinger dropped to throw. Once more, nonetheless, Uche bought house for a sack.
Why was this a vital play? The following subject objective try was huge to the left, and the Patriots would ultimately take 13-0 lead into the locker room at halftime.
The second half was extra of the identical, and it started with the Colts in possession of the soccer, and Uche getting after the quarterback for his third sack of the sport:
Uche’s third sack of the sport set a new career-high for him, snapping the earlier finest from final season, when he sacked Zach Wilson twice in an early-season New England win over the New York Jets.
New England’s offense would fail to capitalize on their ensuing possession, as linebacker Bobby Okereke punched the soccer away from Jakobi Meyers, gifting Indianapolis nice beginning subject possession for his or her subsequent possession.
They might accept only a subject objective, nonetheless, due to Judon’s third sack of the sport:
That third sack tied his career-best single-game mark, set again in 2018 when he was with the Baltimore Ravens.
The New England protection was not executed, as they’d add one other huge play. Jones, not glad with simply the punt block, reeled in a deflected throw, returning it for the Decide-Six:
It was not an ideal recreation from the Patriots, nonetheless, because the New England offense struggled as properly. Jones accomplished 20 of 30 passes for simply 147 yards and the landing, averaging simply 4.9 yards per passing try. There have been some vibrant spots from the New England offense, together with this 30-yard completion from Jones to tight finish Hunter Henry to assist arrange a Patriots’ subject objective:
However the story of today was the imposing Patriots’ protection, and New England’s continued success in opposition to younger quarterbacks. After the sport, each Uche and Judon have been fast to reward the opposite:
Quote of the day from Josh Uche about Matthew Judon: “I’ve by no means in my life seen somebody make this recreation look really easy. Seeing that, I’m like, shit, let me attempt to do this.” #Patriots #ForeverNE
— Khari Thompson (@kdthompson5) November 6, 2022
Matthew Judon retains up his reward of Josh Uche on the podium, revealing that Uche truly calls New England’s performs on third down when he’s on the market. The league’s present sack chief even calls Uche “in all probability the most effective pass-rusher now we have.” Each had hat tracks right this moment.
— Khari Thompson (@kdthompson5) November 6, 2022
With scoring down across the league, maybe that is the type of season the place a protection may prepared the ground. What we noticed from New England right this moment was very spectacular on the defensive facet of the soccer. With Judon main the league in sacks, and Uche — together with Deatrich Sensible — each inflicting issues for opposing offenses, the Patriots is perhaps placing collectively the best elements for one of many league’s finest defenses.
New England entered play Sunday pressuring opposing passers on 28.9% of dropbacks this season, second solely to the Dallas Cowboys. New England additionally entered this week twelfth in scoring protection, averaging 20.4 factors per recreation, a quantity that can solely enhance after Sunday’s effort.
They have been additionally sixth in Complete Protection DVOA, transferring up from ninth the earlier week.
The Patriots’ protection appears to be coming collectively.
If their offense can determine issues out…be careful.
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