The Patriots are rolling into their bye week on a 10-game winning streak following a 33-15 victory over the Giants on Monday Night Football.

Although there are always things to clean up, New England avoided taking a nap heading into its bye by thoroughly out–playing the struggling Giants in all three phases. From this perspective, the hallmarks of a good football team are those that are locked in, play with energy, and are built to withstand injuries, even to frontline players. On Monday night, the Pats brought the right mindset to a game that was a bit trappy. On Tuesday, head coach Mike Vrabel spoke about his message to the team of playing with an aggressive mindset heading into Monday night's matchup.

"I just felt like it had been a long week," Vrabel said of Thanksgiving week in the NFL. "I just felt like I wanted to remind them that it was important to have an attacking mindset, an aggressive mindset, to continue to find the joy throughout our team with each other, playing, watching each other, feeding off of each other, all three units. I think they appreciate it."

Along with having the right mental approach, the Patriots coaches deserve flowers for having backup LT Vederian Lowe and LG Ben Brown ready to start vs. a legit Giants pass rush. With rookies Will Campbell (knee) and Jared Wilson (ankle) out due to injury, QB Drake Maye was only under pressure on 25% of his drop-backs, the second-lowest pressure rate Maye has faced this season, while Lowe and Brown were only responsible for a combined five pressures. That's a testament to the program that Vrabel is building with a "next man up" mentality.

Based on the film, it didn't appear that the Patriots did anything out of the ordinary schematically to manage having two backups on the left side of the O-Line. New England has always aided its tackles with chips from the backs and tight ends, quick games, some moving pockets, and a good run-play-action balance to manage the traditional drop-backs, which was the play-calling mix once again for offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels. Maye did have his second-fastest average time to release of the season (2.85s), but he was still pushing the ball downfield, averaging 8.4 air yards per pass attempt (seventh-highest in 13 games).

Individually, Maye bounced back from an uncharacteristically down performance against the Bengals with a plus-four net rating in my charting (nine plus plays, five minus plays). There were a few nitpicky decisions down in the red zone, where the Patriots were 1-for-5, but Maye was mostly in complete command with zero turnover-worthy plays against the Giants. In particular, the Pats QB continued to pick apart single-high coverage, a season-long trend that carried over as he went 12-of-13 for 174 yards and a touchdown vs. the Giants single-high safety structures. On the season, Maye leads the NFL in total expected points added as his MVP campaign continues (+101.1).

To fine-tune for the stretch run, my quibbles with Maye and the offense were related to their red-zone struggles. Maye left some points on the field with two slightly off throws (ball placement), and he might've had a better third-down option on the Pats first opening drive.

Above, the Giants ran cover zero in the low red zone, where S Tyler Nubin (No. 27) becomes free to roam when TE Hunter Henry stays in to block. Nubin then falls into the slant window, forcing Maye to throw a low-percentage pass to WR Stefon Diggs on a corner route to the back pylon. Knowing that Nubin would come free based on the protection, Maye could've opened to the backside, where Boutte wins vs. 1-on-1 coverage.

Reading the field in the red zone can often be a final frontier for young quarterbacks. Given how well he's playing, it's easy to forget that Maye is a 23-year-old still developing in his second season. New England also ranks 30th in rushing success rate in the red zone (34.8%), so that's also contributing to their 24th-ranked red zone offense. It's difficult to throw the ball in tight quarters, especially when the defense knows a pass is coming – running the ball in is the cleanest way to score. As the stakes rise, it wouldn't be surprising to see the Patriots begin adding Maye's mobility into their goal-line repertoire for their postseason run.

Here is a breakdown of the Patriots defense and quick-hit film notes from the win over the Giants After Further Review.

Defense Review: Patriots Run Defense an Area to Work on During Bye Week

Speaking of fine-tuning for the stretch run, the Patriots run defense has been in a bit of a slump over the last month, coinciding with injuries to the interior of their defensive line.

The good news is that standout DT Milton Williams (ankle) and NT Khyiris Tonga (chest) are expected to return at some point this season. Tonga, in particular, could return after the Patriots bye week, and it would be huge to have the big nose tackle back. With Tonga on the field, the Patriots run defense is allowing just -0.01 expected points added per rush. Without their nose tackle, the offense's rushing production improves by +0.12 EPA to +0.02 EPA per rush. In theory, getting healthy and rested during the bye should help the Patriots run defense regain its form.

Still, even before Tonga suffered a chest injury in Cincinnati, cracks in the Patriots sturdy run defense were beginning to show. Over the last four games, the Patriots are 25th in rush EPA allowed and last in rush success rate allowed. New England's next two opponents, Buffalo and Baltimore, both rank in the top-10 in rush EPA, as do the Colts (first) and Jaguars (sixth): the AFC is a run-first conference in many places this year. If the Patriots don't get their run defense in order, it could be a bigger issue in certain playoff matchups and key games after the bye.

On Monday night, the Giants gun runs featuring a read-option element were particularly effective. New York ran for 69 yards on 10 shotgun carries, adding +0.30 EPA per rush while gaining an average of 3.2 rushing yards before contact. The Giants ran schemes like the power-read option (RPO) shown above, where QB Jaxson Dart has the post-snap option to throw a screen or hand the ball off based on the numbers in the box.

Obviously, the Bills (Josh Allen) and the Ravens (Jackson/Henry) can press similar buttons against the Pats run defense in the next few weeks. The Giants also had some success with zone-lead schemes, running the ball to the weakside of the formation, which was Buffalo's preferred run of choice in their 249-yard rushing performance vs. the Steelers last week.

Although it hasn't been great over the last month, it's at least comforting that the Patriots run defense struggles could stem from the absences of Tonga and Williams. Hopefully, it's personnel and rest-driven, meaning it's easily fixable once everyone gets healthy.

Quick-Hit Film Notes From Patriots-Giants

Offense

- The Patriots tried a few new wrinkles to get their short-yardage run game going, including running two snaps from an unbalanced line where OT Vederian Lowe flipped sides to line up next to RT Morgan Moses. The Pats first unbalanced run was successful (8 yards on 3rd-and-1), but the second one was stuffed. They also ran a play out of the wildcat on 2nd-and-5 that gained four yards. OT Thayer Munford Jr. played six snaps as a jumbo tight end as well, so McDaniels is trying to dial things up.

- LT Vederian Lowe deserves a ton of credit for his performance, going 1-on-1 with Giants pass-rushers Abdul Carter and Brian Burns in 26 matchups. Lowe allowed three hurries in the first half, all to speed rushes (dip-rip). However, he settled in as the game wore on and didn't allow any pressure in the second half. He threw a great snatch-trap block to bring down Carter on one rep, and had a solid kickout block on a 3rd-and-1 conversion. Overall, you couldn't ask for any better from Lowe.

- LG Ben Brown was also really solid, mostly against Darius Alexander (14 snaps) and Roy Robertson-Harris (10 snaps). Brown allowed one pressure to Giants DT Dexter Lawrence and was called for a hold trying to block Carter's swim move when he rushed inside. Brown also had plus-run blocks on outside zone (11 yards) and had a great pull on a play-action drop-back that kept Maye clean to get a screen to Henderson that gained 12 yards. Like Lowe, this was a promising start for Brown at left guard – kudos to them both.

- RB TreVeyon Henderson has found his groove with three explosive runs: 13 yards on a GF counter (spinner), 11 yards on outside zone weak, and an excellent cutback on a duo scheme that hit for 26 yards. The rookie also had two really good dirty runs late to avoid contact in the backfield on a zone cutback (six yards) and grind out seven yards on duo. Plus, he caught a screen for 12 yards. The only blemish for Henderson was allowing a sack on a blitz pickup, but overall, he's becoming a dangerous weapon for this offense.

- TE Hunter Henry was steady again with two explosives on a 36-yard sail route and a 20-yard delayed boot/flat play. Henry also caught an 8-yard curl and a 9-yard dig through contact to move the chains on third down, and had a good lead block on a counter scheme (13 yards). Henry is a really, really good football player for this offense.

- WR Kyle Williams hit Giants CB Paulson Adebo with a great one-step stretch (crossover) release to get off the line of scrimmage against backside coverage on his 33-yard TD. Williams's release quickness is something that drew many pundits and scouts to his college tape, and it was on full display there as he beat Adebo clean off the line to create a passing window.

- WR Stefon Diggs caught his 13-yard reception on the juke series as the No. 3 receiver, working open against a favorable matchup vs. the linebacker in the inside slot. Although it was a huge day production-wise for Diggs, I love seeing him and Maye mastering HOSS.

- WR Kayshon Boutte got open in some big spots on his goal-line fade touchdown and a 13-yard stop route that set up Williams's touchdown. He also caught a 10-yard stick/out and a 9-yard slant. He continues to be steady for the Patriots on the outside.

- WR DeMario Douglas was the inside receiver on double digs, catching a 15-yard pass in the Patriots two-minute drill before the half. He also caught a 9-yard squirrel route, a personal favorite, but he did miss a block on the edge of a duo scheme that led to a run stuff.

- C Garrett Bradbury played through an illness and was mostly solid, but the Patriots got stuffed on a 3rd-and-1 run when Lawrence pressed Bradbury into the backfield. Still, Bradbury only allowed one hurry and had two plus run blocks on the move, with a nice frontside reach block (11 yards) and a second-level climb (9 yards).

- RG Mike Onwenu is rounding into form for the stretch run with two consecutive good games. Onwenu had a terrific frontside reach block on a 9-yard zone run and got enough of the edge as a puller on Henderson's 13-yard counter run. The Pats right guard also only allowed one hurry in pass protection – he's been really good the last few weeks.

- RT Morgan Moses allowed two pressures, one to a nickel blitz where he should've blocked out, and was on the scene for a red-zone run stuff on a draw. Still, Moses had a great combo block on a 3rd-and-1 conversion and a good down block on a 7-yard run. The bye week should do the 34-year-old some good – he has done his part for the Pats this season.

- RB Rhamondre Stevenson had a nice 8-yard run on 3rd-and-1 and bounced outside on a duo scheme for seven yards. He also took a wide-open check-down for a 36-yard gain. However, you'd like to see Stevenson be more decisive on the downhill schemes and see some of the off-tackle bounces that are available. Stevenson is at his best when he's decisive.

- QB Pressures: Henderson (sack), Lowe (three hurries), Brown (hit, hurry), Moses (two hurries), Bradbury (hurry), Onwenu (hurry).

Defense

- The Patriots played solid pass defense outside of sending the house on 1st-and-10 from their own 30-yard line (Slayton 30-yard TD). New England ran cover-zero three times, but two of them came late on the Giants final possession, with play-caller Zak Kuhr putting those away after Slayton burned them on the long TD. The play-action coverage was mostly sound as well, with some nice wrinkles to cover shot plays out of cover-three and quarters. Giants QB Jaxson Dart missed a few opportunities, getting stuck on his initial read, where the backside receiver was coming open if Dart had moved through his progressions.

- DT Christian Barmore continued his strong campaign by tying for the team lead with three total pressures. Although he wasn't credited with a run stuff, Barmore pressed or anchored vs. double teams on three different occasions on the front side of run plays, allowing his teammates to close from the backside. Barmore got moved off the ball a few times on 3rd-and-short, as did most of the interior D-Line, but his double swipe pressure and play strength to play frontside blocks flashed throughout the tape, especially early on when the Pats set a physical tone.

- New England unveiled a new wrinkle with OLB Elijah Ponder working as a standup "spinner" rusher over the interior. It was a great adjustment to give Ponder more opportunities with Chaisson and Landry on the edge, while bolstering the interior pass rush. Ponder logged three total pressures, including a sack where he closed the interior of the pocket by wrapping around a pick from LB Jack Gibbens. Given the success they had with it, I'm sure we'll continue to see Ponder in the "spinner" spot, which he did on 13 snaps in Monday night's win.

- OLB Harold Landry III logged three pressures and a run stuff, with a good motor to chase down an RPO handoff from the backside and clean up on his sack when Dart extended a play-action drop-back. Although the right tackle tripped over his right guard, Landry logged a QB hit by showing some power in his bull rush to go through Giants RT Jermaine Eluemunor. Hopefully, the bye week will allow Landry III to rest his knee.

- OLB K'Lavon Chaisson had two quarterback hits with an inside spin move and closed the pocket as a looper on a stunt scheme. Chaisson has good juice to come off picks to wrap inside, logging pressure regularly on those stunt schemes in recent weeks. Chaisson also did well to peel off his rush to stuff a third-down inside screen early in the game. He has been a productive player for the Patriots this season.

- DT Cory Durden was second behind Barmore with 21 snaps at DT. His game was a bit streaky, with plenty of boom-or-bust moments. Durden had two run stuffs with a swim move and nicely discarded the center's fold block to make another stuff. He also forced cutbacks by flashing across the face of reach blocks on two separate occasions, which led to stuffs by teammates. However, Durden had some issues holding up against double teams on three separate occasions, including an 8-yard run on third down and a 9-yard run, both on zone-read schemes.

- DT Joshua Farmer had some good reps with a nice press-and-shed run stuff and a good edge-set that led to a blown-up zone-read (illegal man downfield). DTs Eric Gregory and Jeremiah Pharms Jr. were a bit more streaky, with Pharms losing his gap on an 8-yard run and Gregory struggling at times with double teams. Gregory did log a nice run stuff by avoiding a reach block in outside zone and overtaking the guard.

- Although there wasn't an injury announcement, LB Robert Spillane only played 36 snaps (67.9%), which is well below his usual workload – something to monitor when the Pats return to practice. Spillane had an unblocked run stuff and made a nice read to blow up a third-down screen.

- CB Christian Gonzalez was in complete control against Giants wideouts Darius Slayton and Wan'Dale Robinson, smothering a double move by Slayton late in the game. Gonzo also played his leverage perfectly on his PBU against Robinson, who broke out into Gonzalez's man coverage, and he had a nice stick as a cover-two flat corner on a short gain.

- CB Carlton Davis allowed an 11-yard slant to Slayton and missed a tackle on the sideline that led to a 16-yard completion, but Davis also had great coverage on Johnson for a near-INT and logged a 3-yard TFL on a tear screen into the flat. Davis has been coming on as of late, playing with more stickiness in man coverage vs. the Bengals and Giants.

- S Jaylinn Hawkins had an eventful game. He had good coverage to contest the catch point on a deep target to Johnson, jumped a crosser over the middle to take away a read on Landry's sack, and logged a QB hit on an overload blitz pressure. However, Hawkins also missed a tackle on Slayton's 30-yard TD and was called for unnecessary roughness on a helmet-to-helmet hit that gave the Giants a first down.

- Rookie S Craig Woodson had a solid run tackle to squeak through the line of scrimmage, saving a bigger play, and he played through the catch point well while covering Johnson on a fade route on third down (Hawkins penalty). However, Woodson couldn't evade a climbing offensive lineman in the open field on Singletary's 22-yard rush TD.

- LB Christian Elliss traveled over 32 yards at a max speed of 18.9 MPH on his throwback hit-stick on Dart along the sideline, a perfectly legal hit that set the tone. Elliss also had a nice zone drop popping out of a pressure scheme for a PBU, and a hurry on interior blitz, but was on the scene for runs of 22 (TD), nine, and seven yards with some late fills.

- LB Jack Gibbens allowed an 18-yard out in man coverage on Giants TE Theo Johnson, a tough assignment for the linebacker. He also logged a QB hit and a hurry as an interior blitzer and a run stuff. I continue to like Gibbens's physicality when he's attacking the line of scrimmage.

- LB Marte Mapu had two nice late-down reps with a forced incompletion on a zone-drop and good man coverage on Johnson to force a turnover on downs. Mapu is the Pats best man-coverage linebacker, and should get more chances to cover tight ends moving forward.

- It was good to see LB Jahlani Tavai back out there after missing last week's game due to personal reasons. Tavai had a nice run stuff. OLB Anfernee Jennings also had a stuff, crashing down on the backside of an outside zone run, but lost contain on the edge in the pass rush, leading to a 12-yard scramble by Dart.

- QB Pressures: Ponder (sack, two hurries), Landry (sack, hit, hurry), Barmore (three hurries), Chaisson (two hits), Gibbens (hit, hurry), Jennings (two hurries), Hawkins (hit), Elliss (hurry), Spillane (hurry). Run stuffs: Durden (2), one each (Pharms, Farmer, Gregory, Chaisson, Gibbens, Tavai, Spillane, Landry III, Jennings).

- Coverage: Team (Slayton's 30-yard TD), Davis III (7/4/30 yards/2 PBUs), Gonzalez (4/3/20 yard/PBU), Elliss (2/2/18 yards/PBU), Gibbens (1/1/18 yards), Landry III (1/1/6 yards), Woodson (1/1/5 yards), Pettus (1/1/4 yards), Hawkins (2/1/4 yards), Spillane (2/2/4 yards), Mapu (2/0/PBU), Jones (zero targets, might've been responsible for Slayton TD).

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