{"id":59097,"date":"2020-11-17T17:09:07","date_gmt":"2020-11-17T22:09:07","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.clnsmedia.com\/?p=59097"},"modified":"2021-08-30T05:06:02","modified_gmt":"2021-08-30T05:06:02","slug":"lazar-in-win-over-ravens-patriots-had-peak-performances-on-both-sides-of-the-ball","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.clnsmedia.com\/?p=59097","title":{"rendered":"Lazar: in Win Over Ravens, Patriots Had Peak Performances on Both Sides of the Ball"},"content":{"rendered":"

Patriots head coach Bill Belichick always wants to peak late in the season.<\/span><\/p>\n

Belichick\u2019s motto to his team over the years is that \u201creal football starts after Thanksgiving,\u201d which is when New England typically begins to gear up for another postseason run.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Although the Patriots (4-5) are tenth in the AFC out of seven playoff spots with a ten percent chance to make the postseason, they might be peaking at the right time once again.<\/span><\/p>\n

New England still has an uphill battle, but their victory over the Ravens was the first time in months that they looked like a playoff-caliber team.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

The Pats offense put together four consecutive scoring drives, including three touchdowns, taking a 23-10 lead in the third quarter over the defending AFC regular-season champs.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

Leaning on an elite rushing attack, offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels found ways to prop up a passing game that\u2019s now fifth in expected points added per drop-back since Week 8.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

We saw a peak offensive performance on Sunday night that featured a high-end ground game and timely downfield passing against the top-ranked defense in football by some metrics.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Similarly, Belichick\u2019s defense had its best early-down execution in over a month, sparking a shutdown of reigning MVP Lamar Jackson and the struggling Ravens offense.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

On both offense and defense, Belichick and McDaniels are settling into personnel groupings and schemes that use the players available to them the best way possible.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

The Patriots won on the line of scrimmage thanks to a great offensive line that currently leads the league in run-blocking grade and is ninth in pass-blocking efficiency, per Pro Football Focus.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

We also saw first and second-year players such as Jakobi Meyers, Damien Harris, Chase Winovich, Kyle Dugger, and Josh Uche contribute in significant roles.<\/span><\/p>\n

Plus, quarterback Cam Newton\u2019s struggles after contracting the coronavirus are over, with the former MVP ranking fourth in completion percentage over expected in his last three starts.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Ultimately, it might be too little too late for New England, who needs to leapfrog three 6-3 football teams to make the playoffs. But the foundation is there for a second-half push.<\/span><\/p>\n

PEAK PATRIOTS OFFENSE\u00a0<\/span><\/strong><\/h4>\n

The Pats went full Belichick by winning the \u201cmiddle eight\u201d portion of Sunday night\u2019s win against the Ravens, the last eight minutes of the first half and the first eight minutes of the second half.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Newton led a ten-play, 75-yard scoring drive that, followed by a JC Jackson interception, gave the Patriots a 13-10 lead heading into the half.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

New England then opened the second half with their fastest scoring drive of the year, going 75 yards on four plays with gains of 16 yards, 25 yards, and 26 yards before Cam waltzed in for six.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n