The Rams present some challenge schematically but the Patriots are playing with some momentum and have the personal to match up.

Here is this week’s game plan on offense and defense. 

Offense

1.Attack vertically in the passing game: The Rams secondary has been generous this season. They are 30th in the NFL in average yards per pass. If there was ever a game to push the ball down the field, this is it. The Patriots have a multitude of concepts in their arsenal to attack the Rams secondary. Four verticals, All-Go Special, Arrow Choice are chief among them.

Diagrams 1-3: All Go-Special, Arrow Choice, Four Verticals 

2. Run inside on them: The Patriots rushed for 144 yards last week and finally got the ground game going. One of the ways to keep the running game humming this week is to run inside the tackles. Aaron Donald is no longer in the middle of the Rams defense. Kobe Turner is good but undersized and he struggles to consistently get off double teams. The Patriots need hit B gap and C gap on the ground. 

3. Go big and unbalanced: The Patriots need to be physical today along the offensive line. Going big and unbalanced is another way to attack this undersized front and cool them off a bit. Look for six offensive lineman in the run game as they try to pound and wear down an athletic but small front.

4. Run jet sweep and flip off of it: I like the jet sweep today as a way for the Patriots to get outside. Once the Rams wide their ends and adjust, come back with the flip play to the halfback off of it. It is a good way to mix up your running game and control a speed front. 

Defense

1. Bring five every down: Matthew Stafford has seen it all but I would vary my pressures and get after him. You can bring five out of a 30 or 40 front. Move the front around, show one look pre-snap and and go get him after the snap. 

2. Blitz to the motion side: Many of the modern West Coast offense teams run to their motion side of where ever they shift to. The Patriots need to have built in pressures to that side do they can outnumber the Rams at the point of attack. The other thing the Patriots could do is bring double dagger pressure off the edge and force their running backs to cut runs back inside.

3. Get physical with Kupp and Nacua: The Patriots should not be afraid to pressure and play man coverage in this game. Get after Stafford and be physical with the Rams receivers. Force Demarcus Robinson or their tight ends to beat you. Do not let their two Pro Bowl receivers have a big game. If they do, the Patriots will lose today. I would also 

4. Mix T-E stunts and daggers off the edge: The Patriots had a fair amount of success last week with T-E stunts. Now they can blend stunts inside with daggers off the edge and attack another weak offensive line. Like the Bears, the Rams will be without their two starting tackles. Take advantage of it by being aggressive.