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

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

Defending the Texans

With quarterback Deshaun Watson posing more of a threat with his feet than his arm, the Patriots spent most of the day with a five-man defensive line and a single-high safety.

But the Texans made the Patriots pay when they ran vertical routes. Here, safety Devin McCourty turns his attention to receiver DeAndre Hopkins, letting Bruce Ellington get open down the seam for the touchdown.

Low Watt-age

The Patriots didn’t take any chances with defensive end J.J. Watt, giving him a double team throughout the game.

How’d Chris Hogan get so open?

Receiver Chris Hogan ran an out route, drawing the free safety over toward the sideline.

But Hogan ran a nifty double move, and when he cut back to the middle of the field, it was wide open.

Two is a crowd

On Hogan’s first touchdown, the Patriots had only two receivers out in the route.

And they also had only two receivers in the route on Brandin Cooks’s first touchdown.

Gronk decoy

Rob Gronkowski was often used as a blocker, like on Cooks’s first touchdown.

Offensive snap counts

	Chiefs (81)	Saints (76)	Texans (65)	Total (222)	Percentage
G Shaq Mason	81	76	65	222	100%
G Joe Thuney	81	76	65	222	100%
C David Andrews	81	76	65	222	100%
QB Tom Brady	81	76	65	222	100%
OT LaAdrian Waddle	8	0	65	73	33%
LT Nate Solder	81	76	64	221	100%
TE Rob Gronkowski	78	46	64	188	85%
WR Chris Hogan	73	65	59	197	89%
WR Brandin Cooks	67	65	58	190	86%
RB James White	43	30	32	105	47%
WR Danny Amendola	32	0	32	64	29%
RB Mike Gillislee	24	30	21	75	34%
TE Dwayne Allen	27	46	17	90	41%
FB James Develin	19	24	15	58	26%
RB Dion Lewis	6	14	12	32	14%
WR Phillip Dorsett	18	32	7	57	26%
TE Jacob Hollister	0	16	7	23	10%
OT Cam Fleming	0	4	2	6	3%
RT Marcus Cannon	81	76	0	157	71%
RB Rex Burkhead	10	8	0	18	8%

Defensive snap counts

	Chiefs (69)	Saints (65)	Texans (71)	Total (205)	Percentage
LB Kyle Van Noy	69	65	71	205	100%
S Devin McCourty	68	65	71	204	100%
CB Malcolm Butler	69	49	71	189	92%
DE Trey Flowers	69	62	68	199	97%
CB Stephon Gilmore	69	65	60	194	95%
LB Elandon Roberts	9	36	57	102	50%
S Patrick Chung	45	63	52	160	78%
DE Lawrence Guy	26	30	51	107	52%
S Duron Harmon	63	52	50	165	80%
DT Malcom Brown	49	34	46	129	63%
DT Adam Butler	21	45	46	112	55%
CB Jonathan Jones	3	27	42	72	35%
DE Deatrich Wise	18	28	34	80	39%
DE Cassius Marsh	24	31	31	86	42%
DT Alan Branch	42	6	21	69	34%
LB David Harris	2	1	4	7	3%
S Jordan Richards	42	16	3	61	30%
LB Marquis Flowers	0	0	2	2	1%
CB Eric Rowe	37	34	0	71	35%
LB Donta Hightower	35	0	0	35	17%
DE Harvey Langi	0	6	0	6	3%

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