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Play 9: 1st & 10. -32. 12:10 4th.
Formation: Shotgun Dbls Wing TE
Offensive Personnel: 11 Personnel
Coverage: Cover 1
http://i.imgur.com/AHp8KLl.jpg
For their first play of the 4th quarter, the Patriots decide to try and take a shot down the field. Facing tight man-to-man coverage, the Patriots run a 4 vertical combo, with the bunch WR’s running a “curl-wheel” combo to the field (bottom). The Seahawks are in a Cover 1 but have extra underneath help but dropping their NG back in coverage. With such a long developing play, the Seahawks only need 3 pass rushers to hit home, sacking Brady for the one and only time on the day. This play is on Brady because he should have been more aware of his safety valve, the RB in the flat, he was open and Brady missed what could have been an easy completion.
Play 10: 3rd & 14. -28. 10:58 4th.
Formation: Shotgun Trips Open
Offensive Personnel: 11 Personnel
Coverage: Cover 3
http://i.imgur.com/u5dgiDc.jpg
This might be Brady’s most impressive throw on the night. Late in the game, and the Patriots are facing 3rd and very long. To the field (bottom) the Patriots run a “Levels” combination, in-breaking routes on different levels of the coverage. With the Seahawks in a zone coverage, this is not an easy play. Since it is such a long developing play, Brady must create time for himself. Brady does a beautiful job of stepping up in the pocket to free himself a nice throwing lane. Once free, Brady loads and fires and delivers a strike to the outside WR, running the deepest “dig” of the 3. The ball is thrown over top of the LB’s and in front of the CB and SS. The ball hits the WR just a split second before the SS lays the blow. A beautiful throw to keep the drive alive (heck of a catch too).
Play 11: 3rd & 8. 25. 8:46 4th.
Formation: Shotgun Empty Y-Saints
Offensive Personnel: 11 Personnel
Coverage: Cover 2
http://i.imgur.com/g3tLwrC.jpg
Once again a 3rd down situation in the 4th quarter, crunch time for Brady and the Patriots. The outside WR’s on both sides of the formation run “sail” routes, while both slot WR’s run vertical routes. The far inside WR to the trips side is the player who makes this play happen. With the Patriots running verticals, it stretches the Seahawks Cover 2. The Seahawks have no defender in the middle of the field, so they drop off their NG once again, bad mistake. The WR makes a quick hesitation move and is past the NG giving Brady all the room he needs. Brady hits the WR in the open window resulting in a 1st down and a gain of 21.
Play 12: 1st & 4. 4. 8:04 4th.
Formation: Singleback Slot Strong
Offensive Personnel: 11 Personnel
Coverage: Cover 1
http://i.imgur.com/r40R2Ix.jpg
With Brady under center, the Seahawks are forced to pack the box due to the threat of run. This leaves the sides of the field open, with the CB’s in 1-on-1 coverage with the Patriots WR’s, a tough task for anyone. Brady takes the snap and after a play-action fake, he turns to the field side (bottom) and fires to his WR running a “snag” route. The route is fantastic by the WR, losing his man as he makes his break. Brady just gets too much behind the ball and it sails over the WR’s head. A huge miss here for the Patriots. (We will see this play again later).
Play 13: 2nd & 4. 4. 8:00 4th.
Formation: Shotgun Trips
Offensive Personnel: 11 Personnel
Coverage: Cover 1
http://i.imgur.com/wYSJ9rt.jpg
The play right after Brady missed an easy TD, they come right back to their QB. The Patriots capitalize on what looks to me to be a busted coverage by the Seahawks. The Seahawks look to be in a Cover 1, but the slot CB does not play it that way, he instead drops to the flats, where the SS and CB are going as well. The 2 inside WR’s run a vertical combo. With 3 defenders covering the outside WR on his shallow “dig” the only player that Brady has to beat now is the FS covering the slot WR on the vertical. Brady makes a nice back shoulder throw to his WR, just out of reach of the FS for his 3rd TD of the day, bringing the Patriots closer to a comeback.
Play 14: 2nd & 11. -48. 4:47 4th.
Formation: Shotgun Empy Y-Saints
Offensive Personnel: 11 Personnel
Coverage: Cover 1
http://i.imgur.com/VyLpsmw.jpg
With the Patriots still down and time running out, Brady must lead his team down the field to complete the comeback. The Patriots have been running short routes all game against the Seahawks Cover 1 defense. This time, both slot WR’s run “snag” routes to take the slot defenders out of the play. The key to the play is the TE in the slot, the TE runs a vertical crossing route. With the slot defenders occupied by the shallow routes, all the TE must do is beat his defender. The TE beats his defender and Brady puts the ball right on the money, allowing the TE to keep his stride. The play results in a gain of 20.
Play 15: 2nd & 10. 32. 4:05 4th.
Formation: Shotgun Doubles
Offensive Personnel: 11 Personnel
Coverage: 2-Man
http://i.imgur.com/ZiHvj5k.jpg
The Seahawks show a 2-man coverage this time, 2 safeties over the top with man-to-man underneath. Once again Tom Brady knows where he’s going with the ball as soon as it is snapped. The Seahawks again line their WLB up on the outside against the TE (which resulted in a TD the last time). This time, the LB is playing the deep ball, but the TE is only running a curl route. Brady steps and delivers the ball on the money for a gain of 13. An easy throw but a coverage that must be recognized and exploited.
Play 16: 2nd & 3. 3. 2:06 4th.
Formation: Singleback Slot Strong
Offensive Personnel: 11 Personnel
Coverage: Cover 1
http://i.imgur.com/15PK9wZ.jpg
The Patriots liked Play 12 (seen above) so much, that they decided to run it again in almost the exact same situation. This time the Seahawks bring a blitz, trying to eliminate the time that Brady has to make a throw. The blitz also leaves the outsides of the field even more open. The single WR, to the boundary (bottom) this time, once again runs a “snag” route and beats his defender again. This time Brady puts the ball right on the money. Brady’s 4th TD of the day gives the Patriots the lead for good and completes the 10 point comeback.
Tom Brady had a great statistical performance, one that will go down in the record books as one of the best ever. The film, however, shows some of Brady’s struggles throughout the game. Poor ball placement, improper reads and underneath defenders are some of the problems Brady faced throughout the game. What makes Tom Brady so good though, is his ability to lead his team to victory, and that’s exactly what he did. Brady dominated the 4th quarter, making laser throws all over the field to lead 2 TD drives. Brady shows incredible pocket presence, toughness and velocity in this game. His performance ultimately led the Patriots to defeating one of the best defenses in the league and solidifying himself as one of the best ever, if not THE best.
