Patriots use unusual goal line strategy against Buccaneers

Contributing Writer
Patriots use unusual goal line strategy against Buccaneers image

Eric Canha-Imagn Images

Trailing 10-7 late in the first half of Sunday's game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, coach Mike Vrabel and the New England Patriots rolled the dice in a big way. 

Facing a first-and-goal from the one-yard line with just over a minute left, New England called on Drake Maye to try a quarterback sneak. And while it initially appeared that the attempt had simply failed, a look at the replay showed something else. Maye did not attempt to score. After receiving the snap, he went straight to the ground. 

Announcers Jim Nantz and Tony Romo quickly identified New England's strategy. Since Tampa had no time-outs remaining, the Patriots figured the better play was to bleed the clock, depriving the Buccaneers a chance to respond with a score of their own before halftime. It's a fairly common strategy for teams to use at the end of games, particularly when a field goal will win the game. But to willingly forego a chance to score on a play at the end of a half is a lot more risky, especially when the team is already trailing. 

It initially looked as though the strategy would come back to bite the Patriots. New England gave the ball to running back TreVeyon Henderson on each of the next two plays. Both times, he was stuffed by the Tampa defense. 

With two seconds remaining, the Patriots once again got risky. Rather than attempt a chip shot field goal to tie the game, Vrabel sent the offense back onto the field. Maye, lined up in the shotgun, threw a pass to Stefon Diggs, who caught the ball and brilliantly kept his feet in bounds for the touchdown. 

The strategy could hardly have worked better for the Patriots, who also received the second-half kickoff. On the second play of the half, Henderson got free and scored on a 55-yard run. 

On its final possession of the first half, the New England defense surrendered a field goal, putting the team down 10-7. The next time they took the field, it was to protect a 21-10 lead. 

It was a risky play for the Patriots, but it couldn't have worked out better. 

 

Senior Editor