Patriots vs. Eagles: New England Needs to Continue Utilizing the Play Action

Tom Brady and the New England Patriots offense is at their best when they're demonstrating a balanced attack. In fact, that could be said just about any football team that has ever played a game. 

If you have a dominant quarterback but you establish a running game, you're almost impossible to beat—it's really that simple. 

Against the Kansas City Chiefs this past Monday night, the Patriots were able to establish a respectable ground game, which eventually opened up the passing game by utilizing the play-action pass. 

The Patriots are at their best when they utilize the play action, which means the team needs to be balanced offensively—it's that simple. 

New England's opponent this weekend may not be one of the NFL's top-ranked defenses, but the Philadelphia Eagles have arguably the league's best cornerback tandem with Nnamdi Asomugha and Asante Samuel. 

There is no doubt the Eagles are likely going to blitz Brady frequently as they'll be able to play with less man in coverage due to the fact that Asomugha and Samuel are just that good. 

So, what do the Patriots need to do? They need to establish a running game, which will then open up the play action.

Last week against the Chiefs, the Patriots thrived on the play action. In fact, according to a report done by ESPN, Brady completed seven of his nine passes off the play action while averaging 15 yards per attempt and scoring both of his touchdowns that way. When the offense did not use the play action, Brady was eight of 18 with a yards-per-attempt average of 5.5. 

This is simple math, anyone who can count can figure this one out: Brady is ultimately impossible to stop when he can use the play action. 

As both of Brady's touchdowns came off the play action, the most memorable one was the 52-yard strike to Rob Gronkowski. 

On that play, the Patriots came out in a basic single-back shotgun formation with three split as Gronkowski was lining up as the slot. 

At the snap of the ball, Brady and BenJarvus Green-Ellis do a solid job of selling the play action, freezing the linebackers for just enough time for Gronkowski to gain a free release. 

As Gronkowski has the free release, the linebacker is simply too slow to drop into his coverage and is already a couple steps behind him. Brady, doing what he does best, immediately identifies the blown coverage and Gronkowski's separation. 

What's the result? Gronkowski is wide open and scores on a 52-yard throw and catch, giving the Patriots their first score of the night. 

I cannot preach this enough: The New England Patriots need to continue to be a balanced football team as they can thrive via the play action. 

New England doesn't necessarily have a deep-threat wide receiver, but that's no problem—establishing a ground game will open up the pass, it will keep opposing defenses honest. 

Entering Week 12's heavyweight matchup between the Patriots and Eagles, I will assume New England will continue to be more balanced offensively, like it was against the Chiefs and the New York Jets the past few weeks.

As I have said multiple times: The Patriots are at their best when they can utilize the play action. 

For more articles like this, check out PatriotsPlus.net.