As the Patriots prepare for their Week 5 matchup against the Las Vegas Raiders at Gillette Stadium, executing the plan will be key with so many starters out this week, especially on defense. Guys will need to step and play beyond their abilities. Expect the Patriots to make some philosophical changes this week as a result. Here is the complete gameplan breakdown.
Offense
1. Slide protection to Maxx Crosby’s side: Maxx Crosby remains a game-wrecking force who can single-handedly disrupt passing architecture and ruin a game plan. Protecting the pocket starts with sliding full slide protection and utilizing chip help from tight ends or running backs toward Crosby’s alignment to neutralize his initial burst and inside-out rush moves.
2. Run inside zone, power and counter inside out of 11, 12 and 10 personnel: Formation and personnel usage will dictate defensive spacing and the Patriots can exploit lighter boxes as a result. Utilizing core run schemes like inside zone, power, and counter out of multiple looks—spread 11 personnel, heavy 12 personnel, and space-clearing 10 personnel—will keep the Raiders’ front seven guessing and establish physical momentum.
3. Get into 21 and 22 personnel and run inside the tackles: Imposing a physical presence in heavier packages forces the defense to honor extra gaps. Snapping the ball in 21 and 22 personnel allows the offense to hammer away directly inside the tackles, wearing down the defensive line and setting up play-action opportunities downfield.
4. Screens and draws against their edge rushers: Aggressive pass-rushers naturally create opportunities underneath through over-pursuit. Capitalizing on their up-field rush momentum with well-timed running back screens and delayed draw plays will exploit vacant space behind the charging defensive ends.
5. Heavy emphasis on 3-Step Drop and Quick 5-Step Drops: Getting the ball out of Drake Maye’s hands quickly shortens the pass rush clock. Calling a heavy diet of three-step and quick five-step drop concepts neutralizes high-end edge speed, protects the integrity of the pocket, and keeps the chains moving with rhythm throws.
Defense
1. Play more Cover 3, Cover 4, and Cover 6 with Gonzalez and Davis out: Operating without top cornerbacks Christian Gonzalez and Carlton Davis requires structural shell adjustments. Leaning heavily on split-field coverages like Cover 3, Cover 4, and Cover 6 provides necessary deep-third and quarter-flat cushion, ensuring that secondary defenders keep everything in front of them and prevent explosive plays.
2. Play more 30 fronts and bring double edge pressure to contain their boot game: Bootleg and roll-out passing elements can stretch disciplined defensive structures. Deploying a 30-front baseline look combined with coordinated double-edge pressures cuts off perimeter escape lanes, forces the quarterback to throw hot under duress, and suffocates stretch-run play-action.
3. Bracket Bowers on certain alignments: Dynamic pass-catching tight ends present severe matchup dilemmas across the middle of the field. Implementing specific bracket coverages on Brock Bowers whenever he aligns in favorable isolation or trips formations takes away primary middle-of-the-field reads from the quarterback and forces him to go elsewhere in his progression.
4. Zone blitz emphasis: Dropping defensive linemen into simulated throwing lanes while replacing them with calculated second-level rushers creates confusion in pass protection. A sound zone blitz package disrupts rhythm, forces quick pre-snap reads, and generates negative plays without compromising the second-level run defense.
5. Run a variety of T-E stunts and bring the extra blitzer: Creating interior pressure collapses the pocket vertically and forces signal-callers off their spot. Mixing persistent tackle-end (T-E) twist stunts with timely pressure from an extra gap-shooting blitzer stresses the opponent’s interior protection rules and speeds up their decision-making process.
Final Thoughts
Success against Las Vegas hinges on the Patriots being able to run the ball and pressuring Cousins. Offensively, neutralizing Crosby through the quick game and disciplined pass protection will keep the chains moving.
Defensively, maintaining a sound umbrella shell in the secondary while crowding the line of scrimmage ensures New England can dictate the terms up front from start to finish. Winning the line of scrimmage on both sides of the ball will be key today.