Matthew Judon, Josh Uche, and the Patriots protection brought on so many complications for the Colts

Young quarterbacks face a tricky process when squaring off with Bill Belichick and the New England Patriots.

Counting what Justin Fields did in Foxborough a couple of weeks in the past, first- and second-year quarterbacks have traditionally struggled towards a Belichick-led protection. Since 2003, quarterbacks of their first or second season have a mixed 4-42 report at Gillette Stadium.

This would possibly put into context simply how spectacular Fields was within the Chicago Bears’ win over the Patriots three weeks in the past.

But this was the setting that second-year quarterback Sam Ehlinger walked into on Sunday, when he and the Colts took on the Patriots on the highway.

He couldn’t duplicate Fields’ success.

Ehlinger and the Colts’ offense struggled, managing simply 121 complete yards and three factors in New England’s 26-3 win. Ehlinger, enjoying with out working again Jonathan Taylor, accomplished 15 of 29 passes for 103 yards and an interception. But because of the 9 sacks he took on the afternoon — and the 60 yards misplaced — the Colts completed the day with simply 43 web passing yards.

The duo of Matthew Judon and Josh Uche posed an issue for the Indianapolis offense all afternoon lengthy, as every go rusher got here away with three sacks on the day. Judon received the occasion began early, recording his first sack of the sport on the Colts’ first offensive play. Watch as Judon assaults the proper facet of the offensive line on the stunt, dipping to the within earlier than attending to the quarterback:

Judon would get to Ehlinger two performs afterward third down, however that sack was nullified attributable to a penalty.

He would nonetheless handle his second sack of the sport within the first quarter, as he received to Ehlinger on a 3rd down halfway by the primary:

That sack, with the Colts dealing with a 3rd down in New England territory, pressured Frank Reich to ship his punt group on the sphere.

After a pair of New England discipline targets gave the Patriots a 6-0 lead, the sport’s first massive play got here through particular groups. With the Colts trying to punt the soccer away to New England, cornerback Jonathan Jones broke into the backfield to dam the punt, and the Patriots recovered in unbelievable discipline place:

As you’ll be able to see from this replay angle, Jones begins the snap aligned over one of many punt protection gamers, however bursts into the backfield off the sting after which lays out for the block:

This replay angle can be value a glance:

New England capitalized with a brief landing go from Mac Jones to Rhamondre Stevenson:

The ensuing Indianapolis possession would see Uche be a part of the sack occasion. With Indianapolis dealing with a 3rd down, and needing an enormous offensive play to get again into the sport, Uche will get house off the sting for his first sack of the afternoon:

Uche’s second sack of the sport got here on the very subsequent Colts’ possession, and could be important. With Indianapolis trailing 13-0, they lastly put collectively a superb drive, and appeared to be in place to chop into New England’s lead. Facing a third and 6 on the New England 19-yard line trailing 13-0, Ehlinger dropped to throw. Again, nevertheless, Uche received house for a sack.

Why was this a important play? The ensuing discipline aim try was vast to the left, and the Patriots would finally take 13-0 lead into the locker room at halftime.

The second half was extra of the identical, and it started with the Colts in possession of the soccer, and Uche getting after the quarterback for his third sack of the sport:

Uche’s third sack of the sport set a new career-high for him, snapping the earlier finest from final season, when he sacked Zach Wilson twice in an early-season New England win over the New York Jets.

New England’s offense would fail to capitalize on their ensuing possession, as linebacker Bobby Okereke punched the soccer away from Jakobi Meyers, gifting Indianapolis nice beginning discipline possession for his or her subsequent possession.

They would accept only a discipline aim, nevertheless, because of Judon’s third sack of the sport:

That third sack tied his career-best single-game mark, set again in 2018 when he was with the Baltimore Ravens.

The New England protection was not achieved, as they might add one other massive play. Jones, not glad with simply the punt block, reeled in a deflected throw, returning it for the Pick-Six:

It was not an ideal recreation from the Patriots, nevertheless, because the New England offense struggled as effectively. Jones accomplished 20 of 30 passes for simply 147 yards and the landing, averaging simply 4.9 yards per passing try. There had been some vibrant spots from the New England offense, together with this 30-yard completion from Jones to tight finish Hunter Henry to assist arrange a Patriots’ discipline aim:

But the story of at the present time was the imposing Patriots’ protection, and New England’s continued success towards younger quarterbacks. After the sport, each Uche and Judon had been fast to reward the opposite:

With scoring down across the league, maybe that is the sort of season the place a protection may cleared the path. What we noticed from New England right this moment was very spectacular on the defensive facet of the soccer. With Judon main the league in sacks, and Uche — together with Deatrich Wise — each inflicting issues for opposing offenses, the Patriots may be placing collectively the proper elements for one of many league’s finest defenses.

New England entered play Sunday pressuring opposing passers on 28.9% of dropbacks this season, second solely to the Dallas Cowboys. New England additionally entered this week twelfth in scoring protection, averaging 20.4 factors per recreation, a quantity that can solely enhance after Sunday’s effort.

They had been additionally sixth in Total Defense DVOA, shifting up from ninth the earlier week.

The Patriots’ protection appears to be coming collectively.

If their offense can determine issues out…be careful.