Every week, the NFL produces spectacular plays.
Some result in touchdowns; some result in turnovers. And some go unnoticed by the box scores, forever lost except to those who watched them happen.
Each Wednesday, we pour through the All-22 film and find three impactful plays from the week prior and attempt to break them down, showing both the how and why.
Here’s the three we chose this week, including a sack, interception and a deep ball that sparked a rally.
All screenshots and film are courtesy of NFL+’s All-22.
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1.
George Karlaftis and Chris Jones team upThe Chiefs got their first victory of the 2023 season on Sunday, but with little thanks to their offense. Instead, it was a dominant defensive performance in Jacksonville, holding the high-powered Jaguars out of the end zone in a 17–9 victory.
Of course, Sunday also marked the return of All-Pro defensive tackle Chris Jones, who destroyed Jacksonville’s front for 1.5 sacks on the afternoon. On this play, we see how even when Jones doesn’t make the stat sheet, he’s still causing chaos.
This is third-and-6 for Jacksonville at the Chiefs’ 42-yard line on the opening drive. Here, Kansas City has Jones lined up wide over the right tackle, with defensive end George Karlaftis next to him over the guard. On the left side, Mike Danna (No. 51) and first-round pick Felix Anudike-Uzomah have their hands in the dirt.
Important to note are linebacker Nick Bolton (No. 32) and safety Justin Reid (No. 20), who are threatening blitz.
On the snap, both Reid and Bolton drop into coverage. Karlaftis takes a hard inside move while Jones attempts to win around the end. Jacksonville has no choice but to leave Jones one-on-one with rookie tackle Anton Harrison, while right guard Brandon Scherff is occupied by Karlaftis.
However, Karlaftis crashes toward the center, putting Scherff in no-man’s-land.
At this juncture, Jones is winning and Karlaftis has space inside while Danna uses a swim move to beat left guard Luke Fortner. Quarterback Trevor Lawrence must step up, but is doing so right into a collapsing interior.
The result is a half-sack for Danna and Karlaftis, the first of Karlaftis’s 1.5 on the afternoon. Kansas City utilized its best pass rushers in a two-man game on the right side for a key third-down play early on, and it paid significant dividends.
Nice job by the Chiefs utilizing their two best pass-rushers in Chris Jones and George Karlaftis last Sunday on the opening drive. Schemed up a look and executed.
— Matt Verderame (@MattVerderame) September 19, 2023
Shoutout to Mike Danna as well, who has been excellent early on. pic.twitter.com/DkNiu89GPi
2
Christian Gonzalez’s interceptionTwo games into his NFL career, Christian Gonzalez already has a sack and an interception. Not bad.
The Patriots have long done a nice job finding corners in the draft under coach Bill Belichick, ranging from Asante Samuel Sr. to J.C. Jackson. Gonzalez might be next in that line of success, and his theft from Sunday night against the Dolphins shows us why.
With 10:04 remaining in regulation, the Patriots trailed 17–10. On first-and-10 from the Miami 45-yard line, the Dolphins dial up a shot play. The design is brilliant, with All-Pro receiver Tyreek Hill crouching down behind the line before bursting into motion. The idea is to use Hill’s blinding speed with a head start.
New England, as it was much of the night, is protecting against the deep ball. The Patriots are in a two-deep look with Gonzalez as the safety on Hill’s side.
On the snap, the Dolphins fake run action and get New England’s linebackers to bite. Meanwhile, Hill pushes vertical down the boundary and blows past safety Jabrill Peppers (No. 5) who is aligned as a corner. With the Patriots playing zone, Peppers allows Hill to run past him before turning and attempting to regain ground in a futile effort. This leaves Gonzalez one-on-one with Hill.
Quarterback Tua Tagovailoa does what he should. He tests the rookie Gonzalez in a situation every corner fears. The problem? Gonzalez has great depth, and Tagovailoa throws the ball too far inside.
As the throw leaves Tagovailoa’s hands, Gonzalez turns to locate the ball. He also has a six-yard head start on Hill, giving himself a chance against the speed. Gonzalez then turns the other way to start toward the catch point.
In the end, Gonzalez shows no panic. He meets the ball at its apex, boxing out Hill to make a leaping interception. It’s the kind of play that shows why many thought he was the best corner in the 2023 draft.
What a tremendous play by Patriots rookie CB Christian Gonzalez.
— Matt Verderame (@MattVerderame) September 19, 2023
Most veteran corners would panic with Tyreek Hill flying at them, no help in sight. Gonzalez did the exact opposite, and got his first NFL interception. Star stuff. pic.twitter.com/TOq7PpRovV
3
Jalin Hyatt shows his speed, Daniel Jones uncorks oneIn Week 1, Hyatt did little against the Cowboys, frankly fitting in with the rest of the Giants. In a 40–0 loss on national television, the third-round rookie receiver was targeted once and was held without a catch.
On Sunday, facing the Cardinals, Hyatt was targeted just twice but made the most of his opportunity. On the first play from scrimmage in the third quarter and trailing 20–0, Giants offensive coordinator Mike Kafka dialed up a deep ball.
New York came out in 11 personnel (one running back, one tight end and three wide receivers) and Arizona matched with a nickel look. Hyatt is isolated on the left side with a condensed split, standing into the numbers. This would typically indicate an out-breaking route. Up top, tight end Darren Waller (No. 12) and receiver Darius Slayton (No. 86) are bunched inside the numbers as well.
On the snap, Arizona drops into quarters coverage. The idea is having two boundary corners responsible for a quarter of the field, while the safeties each take an inside quarter. Underneath are three zone defenders.
Waller runs a crossing route, and the Cardinals find themselves in trouble. Both safeties are staring at the tight end, which puts corner Marco Wilson (No. 20) in a very tough spot. He’s playing outside leverage, expecting help should Hyatt run toward the deep middle. Instead, safeties K’Von Wallace (No. 22) and Andre Chachere (No. 36) are looking inside, and the race is on.
Hyatt explodes past Wilson on the deep post, with nothing but grass ahead. Quarterback Daniel Jones hits his back step and unloads, throwing the ball 51 yards in the air and hitting Hyatt in perfect stride.
Wilson finally makes the tackle, but only after a 58-yard gain to the Arizona 17-yard line. Two plays later, the Giants got their first points of the season before staging a furious rally to beat the Cardinals, 31–28.
If New York turns its season into something, this was the play that got it going.
If the Giants make something of their season, this is the play that got them going. A deep connection between Jalin Hyatt and Daniel Jones. Also, credit to Darren Waller, who occupies both safeties here.
— Matt Verderame (@MattVerderame) September 19, 2023
Couldn't ask for a better call to start the second half, and Jones… pic.twitter.com/lGXJE1FPXb
