FOXBOROUGH – For all the crap Patriots offensive coordinator Alex Van Pelt has been given this year, he played one of many key roles in the Patriots’ comeback win over the Jets on Sunday.
The offensive line was good enough, Jacoby Brissett came in and eventually led a game-winning drive in a ‘gotta have it’ moment, Kayshon Boutte rewarded the team’s trust by going back to him in a key spot and Rhamondre Stevenson (barely) punched in the final score.
But, after preparing with Drake Maye all week, Van Pelt had to adjust on the fly.
Sure, the offense still only had 247 total yards, but when they needed it most, New England got a near-flawless 2:35 of play calling (and execution by the players of course).
On the final 12-play, 70-yard drive, there were only four non-positive plays and the team never went backwards. Is it a low bar right now? Probably, but this was a big moment for everyone involved.
Incomplete pass to Hunter Henry.
12-yard completion to Henry.
Incomplete deep ball to Kendrick Bourne.
One-yard completion to Rhamondre Stevenson.
14-yard scramble for Brissett (Quinen Williams injured and did not return, big help of course).
Incomplete pass to Demario Douglas.
Incomplete pass.
34-yard completion to Bourne (on 3rd-&-10).
Two-yard run for Stevenson.
Two-yard completion to Stevenson (On 3rd-&-5, down to the Jet five-yard line).
Four-yard completion to Boutte (down to the Key one-yard line).
One-yard touchdown run for Stevenson.
“He instills a lot of confidence in us,” Boutte said when asked about his OC. “I would say his job is to call the plays and our job is to execute. It kind of works together. In order for him to feel comfortable with us we’ve gotta go out and do that…we’re feeling more comfortable day-by-day.”
Earlier in the week, Van Pelt also acknowledged it’s been difficult with so many offensive line groupings. But, another makeshift unit managed to only give up two sacks and four QB hits on Sunday. The Pats also ran for 111 yards.
“It’s great for Coach AVP for us to get the win, especially for it to come on us executing a full drive,” Vederian Lowe said. “Getting the touchdown, getting exactly what we want. We train for these times and it just comes down to all of us executing. For us to do that and come away with the score, I know it means a lot to (Van Pelt). He instills a lot of confidence in every guy. His most important message and the one he preaches is playing for your brothers, playing for each other. Doing that, we give ourselves a chance.”
“He’s a great coach and I love his scheme,” Ben Brown added. “He’s a great coach, love his scheme and I think we’re confident every single drive we go out there. The expectation is we get points, but obviously in the NFL, it’s hard to get points every single drive.
“He brings a lot of confidence to our offense, for sure.”
Sunday may not be any kind of springboard into a magical season for the Patriots or anything like that, but it might have unlocked another level of trust between Van Pelt and the offense after everyone saw each other execute in a clutch moment.
“As a team, six-game losing streak, it’s not the easiest to go through,” Boutte added. “Knowing that we practice hard day-in and day-out, but we felt like we…like Mayo said, we practice hard for three weeks in a row. I feel like hard worked paid off today. It’s a great feeling in the locker room. Everybody feels good. Coaches feel good. That’s what we worked hard for.
“So, to accomplish our goals is big.”