Patriots Replay: Key plays from New England’s win over Pittsburgh

Here's our weekly look at the key plays in the Patriots' game after reviewing the film.

Team effort

The Patriots had a heck of a blocking effort throughout the game, in the run and the pass.

Tight end Rob Gronkowski and tackle Nate Solder do a great job of creating an alley for running back LeGarrette Blount, and receiver Julian Edelman blocks downfield.

And Edelman actually takes out two defenders on one block to spring Blount for 25 yards.

Running back James White receives the screen pass with guard Joe Thuney and center David Andrews in front of him.

Thuney takes out the defender with a nice cut block.

Andrews does a nice athletic move to jump over the scrum and stay in the play.

And White does the rest, making the defender miss and heading into the end zone.

Again in the third quarter, Gronkowski, Solder, and Edelman do a nice job of getting a hat on a hat.

And Edelman sets the edge again on Blount's second touchdown run.

Gronk’s TD

The Steelers seem to have it covered well with Cover 2. Notice receiver Danny Amendola streaking toward the sideline.

Safety Sean Davis turns his attention to Amendola, and has his back to Gronkowski as he streaks down the field for a 36-yard touchdown.

Defending the Patriots

This wasn't the same old Steelers.

They played a basic four-man front, a lot of Cover 2 on the back end, and didn't blitz quarterback Tom Brady once all game.

The Steelers took away the deep shots, but left lots of room for Brady to scramble for three first downs in the first half.

The Brown Effect

The Patriots were obviously concerned with receiver Antonio Brown, and it cost them on the Steelers' touchdown.

The Patriots surround Brown with three defenders, leaving receiver Darrius Heyward-Bey in 1-on-1 coverage for the easy touchdown.

Defending the Steelers

The Patriots come out looking like they're in man to man coverage. The Steelers call crossing routes in response.

But the Patriots drop off into Cover 2 Zone, and quarterback Landry Jones isn't ready for it. He doesn't see the one open receiver and throws incomplete.

Offensive snap counts

	ARI (71)	MIA (80)	HOU (64)	BUF (56)	CLE (80)	CIN (64)	PIT (57)	Tot (472)	%
C David Andrews	71	80	64	56	80	64	57	472	100%
OT Nate Solder	0	65	64	56	80	64	57	386	82%
G Shaq Mason	14	39	64	56	80	64	57	374	79%
QB Tom Brady	0	0	0	0	71	64	57	192	41%
T Marcus Cannon	71	80	64	56	0	64	57	392	83%
G Joe Thuney	71	80	64	56	80	64	56	471	100%
TE Rob Gronkowski	0	0	14	39	65	57	52	227	48%
WR Julian Edelman	61	63	48	50	59	58	51	390	83%
WR Chris Hogan	55	63	57	52	49	56	32	364	77%
RB LeGarrette Blount	42	51	46	30	31	25	31	256	54%
WR Malcolm Mitchell	39	31	17	20	25	11	31	174	37%
TE Martellus Bennett	69	80	63	44	55	36	30	377	80%
RB James White	26	28	16	21	38	39	25	193	41%
WR Danny Amendola	19	19	13	13	21	26	19	130	28%
FB James Develin	17	24	24	5	22	8	11	111	24%
RB Brandon Bolden	3	0	2	5	0	0	3	13	3%
WR Matt Slater	4	14	2	0	11	1	1	33	7%
TE AJ Derby	20	0	0	1	11	3	0	35	7%
T Cameron Fleming	71	16	15	0	80	0	0	182	39%
RB DJ Foster	0	4	0	0	12	0	0	16	3%
QB Jimmy Garoppolo	71	42	0	0	9	0	0	122	26%
QB Jacoby Brissett	0	38	64	56	0	0	0	158	33%
G Ted Karras	58	41	0	0	0	0	0	99	21%
TE Clay Harbor	0	22	3	0	0	0	0	25	5%

Defensive snap counts

	ARI (61)	MIA (65)	HOU (71)	BUF (76)	CLE (63)	CIN (68)	PIT (73)	Total (477)	%
CB Malcolm Butler	61	64	71	76	55	66	73	466	98%
CB Eric Rowe	0	0	0	0	0	26	73	99	21%
S Devin McCourty	61	65	71	76	63	67	72	475	99%
S Patrick Chung	60	57	68	76	63	63	71	458	96%
LB Donta Hightower	58	0	0	69	29	66	68	290	61%
LB Jamie Collins	61	65	71	76	52	0	65	390	82%
DE Rob Ninkovich	0	0	0	0	24	46	56	126	26%
S Duron Harmon	29	31	69	16	22	49	52	268	56%
DE Chris Long	39	46	55	58	47	41	50	336	70%
DT Alan Branch	31	37	36	57	41	53	40	295	62%
DE Jabaal Sheard	44	45	53	58	48	48	35	331	69%
DT Malcom Brown	30	39	31	63	42	44	35	284	60%
CB Logan Ryan	61	57	71	68	63	66	31	417	87%
DT Anthony Johnson	20	0	23	0	0	10	21	74	16%
DE Trey Flowers	21	37	43	42	33	21	20	197	41%
CB Justin Coleman	40	59	0	29	0	0	17	145	30%
LB Elandon Roberts	0	6	0	0	31	50	13	100	21%
LB Shea McClellin	24	39	25	25	0	0	10	123	26%
DE Geneo Grissom	0	0	0	0	0	0	1	1	0%
DT Woodrow Hamilton	0	0	0	0	22	20	0	42	9%
LB Barkevious Mingo	0	5	0	0	7	8	0	20	4%
S Nate Ebner	0	0	0	0	1	4	0	5	1%
CB Jonathan Jones	0	0	0	0	32	0	0	32	7%
CB Cyrus Jones	5	8	33	9	18	0	0	73	15%
DT Vincent Valentine	20	17	20	23	0	0	0	80	17%
LB Jon Freeny	6	36	41	15	0	0	0	98	21%
S Jordan Richards	1	2	0	0	0	0	0	3	1%

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