FOXBORO -- Tom Brady was pressured 17 times by the Joey Bosa-Melvin Ingram combination in their Week 8 meeting with the Chargers last year, and the Patriots felt heat on 21 of Brady's 50 dropbacks that day.
The Patriots did enough offensively to win that week, but if Brady is under pressure on almost half his dropbacks in the Divisional Round, that won't bode well for their chances of advancing. So how can the Patriots slow down the duo of Ingram and Bosa?
Let's empty out the notebook to highlight a few of the methods Brady, Josh McDaniels and the Patriots offense may employ . . .
PUNCHER'S CHANCE
If Marcus Cannon and Trent Brown are going to be able to handle their one-on-ones on the outside, they can't forget to throw their hands. Cannon was injured (ankle) going into last year's meeting, but there was nothing wrong with his hands. He and Brown both have a powerful punch -- throwing their hands to initiate contact in pass protection -- when it's timed up well. It can stun athletic rushers like those of the Chargers. But if they forget, as Cannon did at times last year before leaving the game hurt, it'll be a long day. Expect the Patriots to provide their tackles help at points. Rob Gronkowski has been used as a pass protector effectively at times, chipping and releasing into the flat, and if he's guarded by man-to-man coverage that would effectively remove one player from the Chargers secondary. James White and Rex Burkhead could also be impactful chippers from either single-back or "Pony" alignments.
EXPECT THE UNEXPECTED
Talking to Patriots offensive linemen this week, it wasn't Bosa and Ingram's speed or power that continued to emerge as unblockable traits -- though, to be sure, both players are both fast and strong. It was their instincts that were the biggest concern. When Ingram breaks out his spin move, one that landed Joe Thuney face-first on the turf last year, he uses it in such a way that he's spinning away from the line's slide or his blocker's help. When Bosa speed rushes up the field, he knows the precise moments to throw on the brakes -- almost like a hockey player stopping suddenly -- to catch a linemen off-balance. That timing combined with his flexibility and agility are a daunting challenge that the Patriots tried to prepare for through their tape study this week.
FIRE THE MISSILES
Those "missile" motion runs the Patriots have utilized of late, with Brady handing to a receiver in fast motion around the end, could help slow down Ingram and Bosa because it'll force them to stay honest. If they aggressively pursue up the field during one of those missile reps, the Patriots will run around them with ease. If they sit back and the Patriots fake an end-around, they could hesitate and give Brady the extra split-second he needs to make a play. According to Pro Football Focus, the Chargers have allowed 53 yards on 11 jet-motion runs this season, and the Rams -- in the Chargers' only road loss of the season -- used it extensively in their matchup. Hand-offs, fakes, pitches off of the fakes . . . the Rams went to it 16 times and scored 28 points offensively against one of the top defenses in the league.
SCREEN TO ROLL
Another scheme the Patriots could use to slow down Bosa and Ingram would be to turn to their screens early and often. If the Chargers rushers want to get up the field, let 'em. The Chiefs got huge plays from their screen game against the Chargers late in the season. They gained 42 yards on two first-quarter screens before scoring on their third of the game that night. With so much north-south movement from the Chargers front, Chiefs backs ran free and easy on those calls. Could White and/or Burkhead do the same? The screen game has been up and down for the Patriots this year, but it may be a good day to show their screen variations as often as possible. Perhaps a missile-motion fake to move the defense one way, then a screen back to the opposite side?
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