Football Film Room Monthly Newsletter
February Recap
This month at Football Film Room…
What Does Aaron Rodgers Have Left?
“I think you have to put his season in the context of the fact that he’s a 40-year-old player who’s coming back from a really significant injury. I think people forget that when they look at his season.”
Should These Top-Tier Head Coaches be on the Hot Seat in 2025?
John Harbaugh, Mike Tomlin, Sean McDermott, and Matt LaFleur are four of the best coaches in the NFL. But history is working against each of them in a serious way.
Super Bowl LIX Recap: Chiefs Offense vs. Eagles Defense
On paper heading into Super Bowl LIX, it seemed like the Eagles had an advantage over the Chiefs just about everywhere. But there was no way they were going to actually overwhelm and dominate Kansas City, right? We’re talking about Andy Reid, Patrick Mahomes, and the 2-time defending champs here.
Super Bowl LIX Recap: Eagles Offense vs. Chiefs Defense
The Eagles completely dominated Super Bowl LIX, at one point leading 34-0 and then 40-6. As I wrote the other day, the story of the game was really about how their defense completely smothered Patrick Mahomes.
Don’t forget to become a Founding Member and get access to our Playbook with links to over 60 offensive and defensive breakdowns organized by concept (e.g. passing game, running game, situational, coverages, pressures, etc.).
The Eagles Defense is Built to Handle the Chiefs
Top to bottom, Vic Fangio’s Eagles Defense is a well-coached unit. They’re defined by the way that they keep offenses in front of them. After all, Philadelphia allowed the fewest 20-yard pass plays in the NFL this season.
How the Eagles Run Game Creates Big Plays
Saquon Barkley and the Eagles’ run game have been special this season. They’ve been the backbone and sustaining part of their offense while also providing an explosive element that is a threat to take it to the house from anywhere on the field.
Always Bet On Pressure From Steve Spagnuolo in Big Moments
The Bills weren’t the first team to experience pressure from Chiefs Defensive Coordinator Steve Spagnuolo in the biggest moment of a game. They won’t be the last, either.
Mesh
“Mesh” is one of the best concepts for attacking man coverage. It creates traffic in the middle of the field, resulting in defenders getting picked, rubbed, or being forced to hesitate/divert their path. That leads to separation and yards after the catch.
Mesh Traffic
The Mesh and Mesh Rail examples I provided in my previous breakdowns are some of the most common versions of the Mesh concept in general. But there’s another variation of the play that tends to be used for short-yardage and goal-line situations.
The Double Post
The double-post route concept is commonly used throughout the NFL and is an especially great way to attack in the red zone.
Attacking with the Post-Wheel
One of the best route concepts in football is the post-wheel. It can be run against a multitude of coverages (man and zone), and there are so many different ways to dress it up, keeping the defense off the scent.