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Play 22
Situation: 1st and 10 at SEA 20
Description: Q4 - (2:02) (Shotgun) R.Wilson pass deep left to M.Lynch to NE 49 for 31 yards (J.Collins).

From empty-set shotgun, Wilson has RB24 Lynch split-out far left going up against LB91 Collins in man-coverage. Lynch runs a perfect slant-and-go to turn Collins around and gain separation. Wilson does an excellent job of trusting his RB to gain separation and catch the deep ball as many runningbacks are not good at catching the ball down the field.

Play 24
Situation: 2nd and 10 at NE 49
Description: Q4 - (1:50) (Shotgun) R.Wilson pass incomplete deep right to C.Matthews (B.Browner).

Wilson in shotgun has trips right with WR13 Matthews running a go-route to the right sideline from the inside of the trips right. By this point, CB39 Browner switched to cover Matthews as opposed to Kearse or Lockette. Matthews does a great job of gaining separation, but Browner actually tugs on Matthews arm and doesn’t get called for the defensive pass interference.

http://i.imgur.com/JWmqB9E.png

Here is a GFY of the full route run by Matthews and the pass break-up by Browner.

As you can see, even though Browner makes an excellent play to break-up the ball at the top of the arc, he should have never been in position to do that as there was a clear penalty on the play. Wilson does a good job of navigating the pocket with excellent footwork, but this throw was placed inside and short of Matthews when it should have been placed long considering that Matthews had to adjust to the underthrown ball even after getting interfered.

Next we are going to take a look at some of Wilson’s plays that he made with his legs to move the chains in Plays 1, 8, and 14.

Play 1
Situation: 1st and 10 at SEA 14
Description: Q1 - (1:39) R.Wilson scrambles right end to SEA 21 for 7 yards (J.Collins).

In this play, the Patriots do an excellent job of covering Wilson’s receivers down the field, and Wilson uses his legs to scramble for a seven yard gain on first down. Great play by Wilson.

Play 8
Situation: 1st and 10 at SEA 39
Description: Q2 - (:24) (Shotgun) R.Wilson left end ran ob at NE 44 for 17 yards (D.McCourty).

Wilson from shotgun runs read-option to the left. Wilson reads the edge defender LB95 Jones who crashes into the pocket following RB24 Lynch.

http://i.imgur.com/rTNJy3p.png

Once Jones runs by, LB91 Collins chases down Wilson who fakes inside and cuts completely outside to avoid being tackled for a loss.

http://i.imgur.com/yOxaIua.png

What an excellent move to shake Collins. Incredible reactions and use of his legs to move the chains and gain 17 yards while getting out of bounds to keep the drive alive before halftime.

Play 14
Situation: 1st and 10 at NE 38
Description: Q3 - (6:44) (Shotgun) R.Wilson scrambles left end to NE 23 for 15 yards (D.McCourty). PENALTY on NE-B.Browner, Defensive Holding, 5 yards, enforced at NE 23.

Wilson from I-formation fakes the handoff to his runningback and goers through his reads. This is a packaged play that the Patriots defense covers well which was intended to go to WR89 Baldwin. This is exactly like Play 1 where the packaged play is covered and Wilson uses his legs to escape the pocket and make a positive play. Before escaping the pocket, however, Wilson has to juke LB95 Jones who overpursues.

http://i.imgur.com/rDhIEAY.png

Just like Play 8, Wilson makes another incredible move to avoid two stud Patriots linebackers (Collins and Jones).

There was only one time where I didn’t like Wilson’s decision-making while scrambling. In Play 2 (below), Wilson scrambles to the left outside and gets sacked by CB24 Revis who makes a great diving tackle. Near the end of his run, Wilson should have just thrown the ball away to avoid getting hit and avoid the potential of being sacked. There was nothign else to be gained by this decision.

Overall, Wilson was excellent throughout the game using his legs to escape the pocket and allowing his wide receivers to make plays down the field. There is a reason why ProFootballFocus gave Wilson +3.2 overall with +2.0 coming from passing plays and +1.1 coming from running plays, even with the mistake made at the end of the game that ultimately ended the Seahawks’ chances at hoisting the Lombardi.