The NFL is a copycat league and streak routes are in every team’s playbook. Still, it is incredibly rare to see nearly identical patterns for each team become turning points in the eventual outcome. With the season on the line, both the New England Patriots and Baltimore Ravens ran the same play. Dave Archibald and…
The Colts at Broncos special teams preview looks at the kickoff and punt coverage units, the return teams, plus the kickers and the punters for both teams. The Indianapolis Colts travel to Denver to battle the Broncos in what shapes up as a high-scoring affair. While the AFC West winners have been near the top…
The Cowboys at Packers special teams preview looks at the kickoff and punt coverage units, the return teams, plus the kickers and the punters for both teams. After a thrilling win on Wild Card Weekend against the Lions, the Dallas Cowboys trek to Lambeau Field for a classic NFL Playoffs showdown against the Green Bay…
The Panthers at Seahawks special teams preview looks at the kickoff and punt coverage units, the return teams, plus the kickers and the punters for both teams. Connoisseurs of fine special teams skill, prepare to be disappointed. The Carolina Panthers managed to escape from the wreckage of one of the greatest special teams railroad catastrophes…
Having earned home field advantage in chilly Foxboro, the New England Patriots welcome the Baltimore Ravens in the 2015 Divisional Round of the NFL Playoffs. Both teams are looking at the film, trying to find matchups to exploit and schemes that can work – be sure to check out our developing coverage of the game…
The Ravens at Patriots special teams preview looks at the kickoff and punt coverage units, the return teams, plus the kickers and the punters for both teams. The Baltimore Ravens face the New England Patriots for the fourth time in the postseason. Special teams proved decisive in their 2012 battle, as Billy Cundiff’s missed field…
Each week Inside the Pylon takes a look at the standout offensive plays from around the league in Reel Film Recap. In this Wild Card Saturday edition, Mark Schofield examines three ways the Carolina Panthers attacked the Arizona Cardinals defense in the run game, and the importance of Steve Smith, Sr. to Joe Flacco and…
Each week Inside The Pylon takes a look at the standout offensive plays from around the league in Reel Film Recap. In this Wild Card Sunday edition, Mark Schofield looks at Andrew Luck’s feet and left hand, and at the Cowboys’ offensive line. Keeping Plays Alive is Good, Keeping the Football is Better In the…
The New England Patriots’ pass defense has been a strength this season, with new arrivals Darrelle Revis and Brandon Browner keying coverage that has been stifling at times. Dave Archibald explores a potential weakness for the team entering Saturday’s playoff opener against the Baltimore Ravens. If the Patriots defense has an Achilles’ heel, look no…
With no playoff seeding implications involved, the New England Patriots treated Week 17 against the Buffalo Bills like a glorified pre-season game, resting many key contributors and limiting the snaps for most of their remaining starters on both sides of the ball. An extremely vanilla defensive approach by the Patriots didn’t leave much to dissect…
The New England Patriots eeked out a victory against the New York Jets, who harassed Tom Brady and the offense into short drives. Defensive tackle Sheldon Richardson feasted on the Patriots offensive line, taking advantage of injuries to the “five guys” who protect Brady. New York Jets head coach Rex Ryan and defensive coordinator Dennis…
The stakes are high in special teams play. A routine sequence can go very well ‒ or very poorly. As Chuck Zodda shows us, even the little things can make all the difference between a fake being executed perfectly or ending in disaster. To say the Jacksonville Jaguars have had a forgettable season would be…
The New England Patriots edged the New York Jets 17-16 in Week 16, relying on their defense and some innovative play design from defensive coordinator Matt Patricia to seal the victory. New York Jets head coach Rex Ryan gets lots of praise for his imaginative blitzes, but Patricia showed Sunday that he too can design…
After a closely-fought first half, the New England Patriots pulled away from the Miami Dolphins after halftime, outscoring their opponent 27-0 to seal a 41-13 victory in Week 15. The Patriots, who evened the slate against a Dolphins team that defeated them in the season opener, locked up the AFC East with the win and…
For every great return, there are many great blocks. Eleven players working together in orchestrated chaos, punt return blockers are only recognized when they get penalized for blocking in the back. Not on Chuck Zodda‘s watch. Here is how one extraordinary individual effort earned Kansas City Chiefs Josh Martin the coveted title of Special Teams…
NFL defenses are often gauged by their success or failure once an opposing offense reaches the goal line’s doorstep. Dave Archibald explores how the New England Patriots have reinvented their red zone defense. At the bye in Week 10, the New England Patriots rated as mediocre when defending inside their own 20-yard-line, ranking 19th in…