Baiting the Quarterback

The cat-and-mouse game between a quarterback and the defense is one of the best things about football. What I wouldn’t give to sit in on a film session between Peyton Manning and Bill Belichick as they break down the different ways they tried to play off of and fool each other (Maybe we’ll get to see some of that on the ManningCast this fall).

For now, though, you’ll have to settle for my breakdowns. At very least, this first play comes to you courtesy of a Bill Belichick defense.

In Week 7 of last season, the Patriots stunned the Bills with a 29-25 last-minute victory. New England’s defense made the first big play of the game when safety Jabrill Peppers picked off Josh Allen on Buffalo’s first offensive snap. While watching live, this seemed like it was just a poor read and decision by Allen:

But based on post-game comments from Bill Belichick and Jabrill Peppers, that wasn’t exactly the case.

Peppers:

“That was a play I recognized on tape. Just had to play the proper technique and catch the ball.”

Belichick:

“We got hit on that play against them last year and worked on it in practice and he played it well.”

Translation: We baited him into making that throw.

The play Belichick and Peppers were referring to was a “sail” 3-level stretch concept. During their first matchup of the 2022 season in Foxborough, the Bills utilized it off of play-action on their second offensive snap of the game, picking up 19 yards in the process:

They hit this play a few more times during their two games in 2022 out of different formations and personnel groupings.

The Patriots were ready for the Bills to attack with it again in their first matchup of 2023.

This time, Buffalo would run it on first down out of a different look. Here, it was a 3x1 formation with 2 in-line tight ends to the strong side and the #3 receiver running the sail instead of the #2:

The Bills would again run the concept off of play-action. The Patriots played 3-deep, with Peppers as the flat-defender to the strong side:

The #1 receiver knocked the top off the coverage, taking the cornerback with him downfield. That left Peppers as the conflicted defender tasked with covering both the sail route and the flat:

Notice how Peppers kept his hips turned towards the sidelines as if he was ready to play Kincaid in the flat. Allen saw that and made up his mind to throw to Knox behind him: