The unit scored 27 points, gained 498 yards and especially in the second half was able to control the tempo and rhythm. New England did that by successfully running the football and in turn setting up play-action passes down the field. This success, however, goes deeper than the stat sheet and the unit’s executionMatthew Slater Color Rush Jersey .It also used various forms of deception to challenge a defense that has shown plenty of inconsistency so far this season. The play-action game is one aspect of this, as head coach Bill Belichick explained in his weekly film breakdown: “Play-action is a way to create some openings if you can get them to buy into the fact that they think it’s a run and you’ve had success running the ball,” Belichick said.Play-action challenges a defense’s instincts and reaction, another method of deception used by the Patriots on Sunday attacks not just those two but also the general knowledge of a group: using one formation but running different plays out of it. One example of that is the 11-personnel formation “flood slot”. Illustration of Flood Slot formation from the Patriots’ 2004 offensive playbook.The Patriots ran this formation multiple times against the Jets and always had three wide receivers on the field — either Josh Gordon or Phillip Dorsett as the X, Julian Edelman as the Z, and Cordarrelle Patterson as the F — as well as Rob Gronkowski and a running back serving the Y and H roles, respectively. Four minutes into the game Ryan Allen Jersey , we and New York’s defense saw the formation for the first time:NFL Game PassNew England, with James White in the backfield, ran for 2 yards behind the strong side of the 1 flood slot formation. The modest gain, caused in part because of a breakdown up front and Patterson slowing down the pulling right guard on his way to the perimeter, did not stop offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels from using the formation again. The next time, however, it was used as a passing formation:NFL Game PassAgainst New York’s cover 1 look, the Patriots opted to run a play-action pass to Gronkowski out of the 0 flood slot look. With the linebackers taking a more cautious approach, the tight end was able to get free on a crossing route for a 15-yard gain. While the offense used the same basic formation as it did on White’s the first quarter run above, the play call was a noticeably different one.The Patriots continued using the flood slot formation later in the game as well in both running and passing situations. “I think any time that you can make one thing look like something else Danny Shelton Color Rush Jersey , that creates a conflict on the defensive side of the ball,” McDaniels said during a conference call earlier this week when asked about using formations to give his unit an advantage via deception. “If you can make a run look like a pass or vice versa, that’s certainly something that’s productive and can be useful for you.”“I would say there’s a lot of different things throughout the course of the game that you can use to try to make something look a little different,” the veteran play caller continued. “You’ve got sixty-some plays a game — you’re going to be able to hide certain things, and other times, you’re just going to line up and count on your execution being better than what the defense might be able to play on their side.”In the case of New England’s flood slot formation, the team combined run and pass concepts, pre-game motion, and play-fakes to create one look that can evolve in numerous ways. It helps that the Patriots have a quarterback in Tom Brady that has the experience and knowledge to make the right call on the field as well as a set of players able to a) not tip their hand prematurely and b) execute no matter what the ultimate call looks like.“If we can add something to [a play] — protect it, marry it with another play or two or three in the game plan so that the defense has to look at a lot of different things the same way — then that’s great Drew Bledsoe Jersey ,” McDaniels added. “I think you’ve got to always look to try to help yourselves as best you can by not giving away whatever it is you’re trying to run, and if that means we can marry some things together, then certainly we’re going to try to do that.”Ultimately, however, the whole concept of using deception through formations and play calls relies on the players themselves. “The most important thing [...] is that our guys know what to do and they can execute their assignments and be aggressive and play physical and fundamentally sound,” McDaniels said. “As long as they’re doing that, I think we feel like we give ourselves a good chance to have some success on that play.” TEAM TALKGame Preview: Patriots at Chiefs. Broadcast info, series history, tale of the tape, more.Paul Perillo tackles this week’s Ask PFW Mailbag: Basking in the Chiefs win.Conference Call Transcripts: Bill Belichick - Josh McDaniels - Brian Flores.Sights and Sounds: Week 6 vs. the Chiefs (3.52 min. video)From the NFL - Celtics head coach Brad Stevens sits down with Cynthia Frelund to discuss his involvement with the Patriots organization and his relationship with Bill Belichick. (2 min. video)LOCAL LINKSMike Reiss describes the Brady-to-Gronk connection Montee Ball Color Rush Jersey , at its best especially in crunch time.Ryan Hannable takes another look at how Rob Gronkowski got so open on those big fourth-quarter plays.Tom E. Curran praises the Patriots surging running game and creating big play-action opportunities in the process.Zack Cox’s Patriots Film Review: How New England’s defense stifled the Chiefs in the red zone.Matt Dolloff’s Film Room: Patriots’ big-play problems started with letting Patrick Mahomes escape the pocket.Glen Farley laments how inconsistency continues to plague the Pats’ defense.Nick O’Malley looks at how the defense is managing to harass quarterbacks despite being ranked dead last in sacks.Steve Atkinson (BostonSportsExtra) Takeaways from Pats vs. Chiefs. 1. Patriots-Chiefs felt like a playoff atmosphere.Zack Cox scouts the Bears and gives us four things to know about the Patriots Week 7 opponent: 1. Their vaunted defense looked mortal in Miami.Karen Guregian notes Bill Belichick sees similarities between the Chiefs and Bears offenses.Karen Guregian warns Tom Brady to be wary of a Khalil Mack attack in Chicago.Ryan Hannable looks at the very early AFC playoff picture to see where the Patriots stand.Alex Reimer is right, and (gulp) the voice of reason when he calls out the ridiculous wall-to-wall coverage of the Tyreek Hill beer-throwing incident, as sanctimonious and embarrassing.Ryan Hannable notes VP of football operations Troy Vincent doesn’t agree with Chiefs LB Breeland Speaks’ reason for not tackling Tom Brady. /For the record, I don’t either.NATIONAL NEWSMike Florio (ProFootballTalk) Belichick sees “carryover” from Chiefs to Bears offenses.Charles P. Pierce (SI) Patriots’ win against the Chiefs represents the epitome of football in 2018.Robert Mays (The Ringer) The Patriots are the AFC overlords—but the Chiefs could turn a rematch into ‘Rocky II’.Kevin Clark (The Ringer) Permanent parity: It’s time to get used to the weird, unpredictable, high-scoring NFL.Mike Freeman (Bleacher Report) 10-Point Stance: Welcome to the new high-scoring NFL. 1. Chiefs-Pats is everything the NFL wants football to be.Lorenzo Reyes (USA Today) NFL QB Hot Sheet: Five to watch this weekend, three trending up & three trending down. Brady included in first two categories.Analysis Team (Pro Football Focus) Ranking all 32 NFL teams’ pass-rush units after Week 6. Patriots rank 27th.Vote (NFL.com) Vote for Week 7’s top rookie. Sony Michel on the ballot.Mark Maske (Washington Post) NFL hopes it has found the proper balance on roughing-the-passer calls.Lorenzo Reyes (USA Today) NFL had ‘intervention’ with seven teams on concussion rates. “The NFL declined to specify which teams were part of the interventions.”Darin Gantt (ProFootballTalk) Beer-tossing Patriots fan charged with disorderly conduct. /Eh... he’s already banned from Gillette, no need to ruin the guy.David Steele (Sporting News) Week 7 NFL picks (straight up). Pats win 30-21.Vinnie Iyer (Sporting News) Week 7 NFL picks (against the spread). Pats-Bears (-3.5) Pats win 30-27 but fail to cover.