With the Patriots’ defense having rounded into form heading into the postseason, much of the focus from the media and fan base has remained on the offense, which ranked fifth in DVOA this season.
The unit’s identity involves more trust in the ground game than we’ve seen in years past — an approach that requires increased efficiency. And as stiffer competition lies ahead, there are certainly some areas in the offense that can be tightened up.
Infuse some unpredictability into goal line situations
The Patriots’ struggles in the red zone have been well-documented this season, but an interesting subclass of that deficiency lies in the unsatisfactory work they’ve done around the goal line — specifically in the ground game.