I was at the game and let me tell you what was happening downfield

[hondo in seattle]

On 11/20/2025 at 9:24 PM, Einstein said:

The one stinky part of watching from a comfy couch (which I prefer) is that you don’t get to see the whole field.

 

You don’t get to see what the QB is looking at.

 

Being at the game, you can. I was there. Where is what I saw: 

 

1) It is tough to describe in words (because people think you’re exaggerating when you’re not) how covered our receiving options were. Texans players were step for step locked in on our receiving options. There were entire series where I don’t think our receivers had an INCH of separation.

 

2) Allen was watching this unfold and has NO WHERE to throw to 99% of the game, and to make matters worse, he was being pressured non-stop. 28 total pressures, I believe was the final number.

 

3) What does superman do when he is being pressured and his receivers can’t get open in a normal (or expedited) amount of time? He scrambles to buy them more time to get open.  But by doing so, he gets sacked - deep. Fans who don’t understand what is happening yell “just throw the ball away!” not realizing that this option simply makes it a punt on 4th and 7 instead of a punt on 4th and 20. It also means you don’t have any super hero plays, like his 3rd and 12 scramble. At one point in the game the Texans fans next to us said “there is nothing he can do” … they were right.

 

4) Brady, for most of the game, kept calling deep crossers, option routes, and traffic beaters. I was pulling my hair out because Allen didn’t have enough time as it was, and Brady had receivers running routes that take 3-5 seconds. On the last 2 drives he finally connected a few neurons and reverted to a shorter route tree and exploited what Houston wasn’t covering (the flats and quick hitters). Magically the offense starting moving the ball.

 

5) Last thing: I think defenses have figured out Brady’s progression scheme. They seem to be leaving coverage after Allen checks off an option in his progression. This sometimes makes an option look open but Allen is no longer looking at them so it doesn’t matter.

 

You will see this when the ALL-22 comes out. It was very frustrating. 

 

 

 

 

Thanks for posting this, Einstein.  It only amplified my concerns about Brady.  

 

Our downfield passing game is probably the weakest part of our offense.  Our receivers don't separate and Brady hasn't demonstrated any genius at scheming guys open.

Downfield passing is probably the strength of the Texan defense.  Their secondary is very good and their DL can generate pressure without tons of blitzing.  

 

So why were we watching Josh drop back, scan the field, and get clobbered?  What was Brady thinking?

 

We all knock Brady for being too conservative, but this was a game when he should have dialed up lots of runs (instead of 19 rushes by RBs versus 34 passes) and short, quick passes where the ball is out of Josh's hand in 2.0 seconds.  

 

Unless I'm missing something, it was one of the dumbest game plans I've ever seen.