My Top Three Plays from the NFL Playoffs
Written by: Kyle Stout
I love this time of year for NFL football. To me it feels like the last few years of the playoffs, especially the late round matchups, have been some of the best I can remember watching. They’ve been characterized by close games that go down to the wire, big time matchups, explosive plays, and heated rivalries. One of the reasons I love the playoffs so much is it’s win or go home. This means that it is a great opportunity to see some of the most creative play designs from some of the best minds in our game today. I must admit, with two kids I probably did not catch every play and every game. Sometimes I even have to record games and go back and watch them. But, here are three of my favorite plays from the NFL Playoffs so far!
Play #1 Detroit Lion’s Counter Bluff Reverse
Detroit Lions vs. San Fransisco 49ers 2024
The Detroit Lions have been one of the most creative gap scheme teams in the last two years. It is why Ben Johnson is one of the top names in the coaching carousel as we speak. In addition to that, one of the most widely adapted and tweaked plays of the 2023 season has been the different gap scheme reverses. In this play, the Detroit Lions are actually going to move their personnel around to get their athletic TE’s as the “Outside WR” to be the point of attack. The play starts with what appears to be a TE motion for pull, and when the TE reaches the box, the ball is snapped and he pivots back out for the low defender. The lions use their twins WR to set the edge of the defense vs. the defensive end & playside LB. They follow that up with sifting the center and backside tackle through for the X who catches an orbit pitch up through the seam. “On the 7th day God created the GAP SCHEME!”
Play #2 Chiefs Mesh Variation
Kansas City Chiefs vs. Baltimore Ravens 2024
Mesh is a staple in many offenses and there is a plethora of unique variations that exist. It is typical to see the RB get involved in the mesh game, but most of the time it is doing two things: 1. The classic mesh rail putting the RB up the numbers, or 2. Getting the RB involved as one of the mesh crossers. What I really liked about this concept was how the play design influenced the apex defender. I loved the way it combined a post corner follow type of scheme. The influence this had is it really pulled the Apex defender out of the hole for the mesh coming through. Great 3rd & Medium call and design by “The Walrus” himself, Andy Reid.
Play #3 Houston Texans Naked Flood
Houston Texans vs. Cleveland Browns 2024
Houston was on complete fire in this game versus the Cleveland Browns. I left this game with 4-5 really solid ideas I really liked. The two best things to watch on the offensive side of the football are gap schemes done to perfection where the red sea just parts open, and a big time play action shot! The Texans on this play used a wide zone naked but one thing they did really well was mix in some pre snap motion to establish a slam player to set a hard edge on Cleveland's athletic OLB’s and DE’s. This helps clean up the backside for CJ Stroud; and give him the ability to set his feet in order to read the playside safety and work through his progression. The double move post corner was wide open for an explosive play.
