NFL Conference Finals: Darnold, Patriots & Key Takeaways

No, the Patriots have not shone in these Playoffs at the level of the Seahawks or Rams, but they always find the formula to move forward in games and add victories… and that also has an important value. So much so that it has taken them to the Super Bowl. Well, I said that New England has not shone as much as others, but it must be pointed out. He has not shone as much in attack, because his defense has been at the level of the best in the second part of the season and in the Playoffs, directly, it has been the best.

Obviously, the way to reach the game for the Vince Lombardi trophy has not been as brilliant as that of the Seahawks and they have had to struggle and have had to suffer, but they are where they deserve. They have been the best team in the American Conference, beating three of the five best defenses in the NFL to reach the Super Bowl, specifically the fifth, the first and the third – something that no team had ever achieved in the history of the league – and now, in Santa Clara, the second best awaits them, will they be able to achieve the most difficult one yet?

All eyes are on Drake Maye, who obviously has not posted the best numbers in the Playoffs, but the level of controversy goes so far that it reaches the ridiculous: His detractors compare him again and again to Tom Brady, again and again, again and again. And if we look at Tom Brady’s first Playoff numbers… they are worse than Maye’s numbers in these Playoffs: With both having played and won three games, Brady had 572 total yards and Drake Maye 674; Brady had 2 Touchdowns and 1 Interception, Maye 5 Touchdowns and 2 Interceptions and finally, Brady had a rating of 77.3 and Maye a rating of 84.0, not to mention that at the age in which Drake Maye has led the Patriots to the Super Bowl, Tom Brady had not even been a starter once in the NFL. Let Drake Maye be Drake Maye and Tom Brady be the greatest of all time. He’s obviously their heir and has been able to get the Patriots back to the Super Bowl by playing an MVP-caliber season, but let’s not start asking him for seven rings just yet.

Then there is the matter of the weather. In these Playoffs we have experienced truly wonderful games under the snow, the Rams-Bears, the Texans-Patriots… that left us with ideal images for plays to remember. That was not the case this past Sunday in Denver. When the snow storm hit, playing became completely impossible. And this has triggered, once again, the debate about whether we should always tend to play in covered stadiums. I am very clear, my answer is a resounding no. If you remove that weather factor you are removing a vital part of the essence of the NFL. Of course we like games where the stars shine and both teams are capable of exceeding 40 points in an even battle… but just as wonderful is a game fighting against the elements, where strategy takes a greater role and everyone has to find solutions. Although I recognize that this match ended up being unplayable, on most occasions we enjoyed epic moments that made us enjoy it equally.

In this case, the Patriots were able to turn the game around in time, enough to take the lead minutes before the landscape changed completely due to the snow and the ball could no longer be advanced, passed or shot. The Broncos played a great game on defense but their backup QB Jarrett Stidham had more errors than successes and his turnovers ended up costing his team the game. That and a controversial decision by Sean Payton when playing a 4th & 2 when he had a comfortable kick at his disposal that would have made the score 10-0. I don’t want to be hypocritical, when that play happened I thought I had to take a chance, what I think is that the play he ordered was not the correct one. That said, I thought the right decision was to go for it and it really wasn’t. That kick, given the circumstances, could have given them the game or, at least, sent them to overtime.

But those who won were the Patriots whose defense is at an elite level, not only thinking about these Playoffs, but historically: Only two teams in the Super Bowl era have managed in their three Playoff games to allow a total of 26 points or less, a passer rating of 55.0 or less, a total offensive yards of their rival of 650 or less, 8 or more ball recoveries and 12 or more sacks. Those two teams are the ’85 Bears and these Patriots. But it goes further, Milton Williams has probably been the best defensive player in these Playoffs, being second in total pressures (18, only behind Jared Verse’s 20) and having achieved the best percentage of pressures per snap played (28%) and, at the same time, the CBs who have allowed the least passer rating in these Playoffs are both from the Patriots: Carlton Davis (21.4) and Christian Gonzalez (39.0).

With this defense, the Patriots can dream and although Drake Maye’s numbers have not been the best, he has appeared in decisive moments and he has done enough for the Patriots, who have the great virtue of always being in the games and finding, whatever, a way to win. Now New England will have the toughest test of the season against Seattle, which has been the best team and which arrives as a super favorite for the Super Bowl. We’ll see if Vrabel finds a way to compete and emerge victorious. In any case, it will be wonderful to witness it and see who gets revenge for the famous game eleven years ago in which Pete Carroll had to give the ball to Marshawn Lynch…