During last Sunday's Buccaneers vs Patriots tilt, there was one truly baffling play. We saw replays, but the announcers didn't really explain what happened.





Tom Brady seemed to miss two wide open receivers (Julian Edelman & Kenbrell Thompkins) running deep. Using NFL Game Rewind (which I can't endorse enough), I decided to look at the All-22 game film and figure out what happened: In the second quarter,seemed to miss two wide open receivers () running deep. Using(which I can't endorse enough), I decided to look at the All-22 game film and figure out what happened:





Stevan Ridley as lone RB

as lone RB Michael Hoomanawanui (L side) and Zach Sudfeld (R side) at TE

(L side) and (R side) at TE Thompkins and Edelman at WR

Brady to sell the stretch play fake to Ridley (like something straight out of the



Thompkins and Edelman would go deep, while Sudfeld and Hoomanawanui would run crossing patterns underneath.



The play was designed forto sell the stretch play fake to(like something straight out of the Peyton Manning-Colts playbook ) then spin around to look down field for open receiver.andwould go deep, whileandwould run crossing patterns underneath.

Tom Brady sells play-fake, looks down field

Brady goes to second look

Thompkins and Edelman wide open

CONCLUSION: There were two wide open guys down the field, but, with the way the play developed, there was little chance to get them the ball.





EDIT: Brady confirmed after the game that the play was intended to get Sudfeld open. The two deep receivers were supposed to stretch the field and leave underneath open.





What Brady didn't anticipate was that one or both deep guys would get so open.





No worries though, the Patriots scored not long after this.

The Patriots lined up with:sells the play fake and his first look is toin the deep middle of field., running a deep skinny post, is just getting picked up by the deep safety at just this moment.Meanwhile, running a straight jet, has already gotten past his man.runs a crossing drag to right sideline as a safety valve forBecausewas covered and Brady senses pressure from the blind side, he looks to a secondary targetHe sees that, running a crossing pattern, gets a step on his man toward the sideline.Whatdoesn't have time to see - nor act upon - is bothandgetting wide open deep. (The safety coveringfalls down trying to turn.)overthrowsand the play ends up an incompletion.