Patriots DC Unveils Surprising Plan for Giants QB Jaxson Dart
Keeping Jaxson Dart static and in the pocket will be the priority for the New England Patriots when they host the rookie quarterback and the New York Giants on Monday Night Football in Week 13, but interim defensive coordinator Zak Kuhr has a surprising plan for how to deal with Dart’s mobility.
Speaking ahead of the game at Gillette Stadium on December 1, Kuhr highlighted the threat Dart poses with his legs, “He’s just the ultimate competitor. You can see that on film. He’s taken those hits … I think that’s the competitiveness in him. But he’s accurate, elusive, a great scrambler, and keeps his eyes downfield. He’s got a lot of good qualities,” per MassLive.com’s Karen Guregian.
Dart’s talents on the ground are well-known, so it’s would make sense for the Patriots to assign a spy to track the first-year signal-caller if he breaks contain and flees the pocket. That’s the conventional wisdom, but Kuhr has other ideas, explaining, “You’d like your front to have good, coordinated rush lanes, where you don’t have to attribute a guy to him like that. But we have to be able to adjust depending what happens throughout the game.”
Opting against spying Dart, who’s ready to go after battling back from a concussion, is a risk for the Patriots, but there’s good reason to believe Kuhr’s strategy can work. Especially since the Pats have already dealt well with another moving playmaker at football’s most important position, a playmaker Dart is often compared with favorably.
Patriots Can Follow Josh Allen Plan vs. Jaxson Dart
The Patriots were able to control NFL MVP Josh Allen when they beat the Buffalo Bills in Week 5, so they should follow a similar plan against Dart. Allen is a popular comparison for Dart’s core talents and potential, giving the Pats a good idea about what they’ll be facing after only previously seeing Dart briefly during this preseason, a game the Giants won 42-10.
A better idea of the threat Dart can pose will come from a former Giants quarterback who’s been providing Kuhr with valuable intel. Combining that inside information with a thorough review of the game tape of the 23-20 win at Buffalo’s Highmark Stadium on October 5 will have the Patriots fully prepared for Dart.
He can expect Kuhr’s defense to build a wall around him with a relentless four-man rush. Defensive linemen won’t rush beyond Dart, nor crash inside, two things guaranteed to create free rushing lanes for a fleet-of-foot QB.
What the Patriots will focus on is containing and confusing Dart, the way they did Allen. The latter rushed for 53 yards on nine attempts, but Allen broke just one tackle and averaged only 2.3 yards after contact, per Pro Football Reference, because the Patriots swarmed on him in the open field.
They blitzed Allen six times, generating four pressures, forcing three hits and recording a sack. New England’s defense also snatched this interception by nickelback Marcus Jones.
Not assigning a spy meant the Patriots had the numbers to fill the passing windows and force Allen to throw into double coverage. The same approach can work against Dart, provided Kuhr’s subtle pressure plan and disguised coverages work.
Zak Kuhr’s Pressure Schemes, Edge Discipline Key to Stopping Giants
Kuhr has thrived while filling in for primary defensive coordinator Terrell Williams, who is dealing with illness, but there have been some concerns recently. Notably, against the Cincinnati Bengals in Week 12, when Chase Brown rushed for 107 yards.
Perhaps a greater worry is how Justin Fields ran for 67 yards and a touchdown for the New York Jets a week earlier. Fields is a good template for Dart, as a physical signal-caller who will attack defenses on option plays.
Dart has rushed 13 times for 58 yards off RPOs, according to Pro Football Reference, so the Patriots must remain disciplined. Particularly on the edges of their defensive front.
It won’t be easy when a key edge-rusher is a doubt because of a knee problem. Kuhr can compensate by designing his pressure packages to attack the edges and keep Dart boxed into the guard-center-guard gap.
Doing so will render the promising rookie less effective and keep the Patriots in control of a game they’re expected to win.
Vikings’ Brutal Loss to Seahawks Marks a Turning Point for Brosmer’s Future
Seattle — What was supposed to be a chance for a reset turned into a nightmarish reminder of how brutal the NFL can be. In his first NFL start, rookie quarterback Max Brosmer watched as the Vikings’ offense collapsed under pressure, leading to a humiliating 26–0 shutout defeat at the hands of the Seahawks. Instead of momentum, Minnesota leaves Seattle with more questions than answers.
Stepping in after their starter went down, Brosmer embraced the challenge. But the Seahawks’ defense — aggressive, disciplined, and unforgiving — refused to give him a chance. On a day when nothing clicked, the Vikings’ offense sputtered: just 162 total yards, multiple turnovers, and zero points. The void of scoring marked the first shutout the franchise has endured in nearly two decades, a blow to both pride and postseason hopes.
Brosmer doesn’t make excuses. After the game, he faced the media with rare honesty and accountability:
“I take this one on me,” Brosmer said. “I thought I was ready. I thought I had studied the defense, I thought I had prepared. But when it counted, I didn’t deliver. I made bad reads, I threw interceptions, and I cost my team.”
His tone was heavy — but real. In a league where accountability is often drowned in clichés, Brosmer’s words stood out for their clarity and regret. “I know I let my teammates down,”
From the first snap, the pressure was relentless. Seattle’s front line disrupted Minnesota’s protection scheme, forcing Brosmer into hurried decisions, sack after sack, and forced throws. On one crucial drive, after the Vikings recovered a fumble deep in Seahawks territory, they failed to capitalize — instead conceding a quick pick‑six that turned the game’s tide.
Missed reads, sloppy execution, and mental errors piled up. Every interception, every failed drive, pushed Minnesota further from redemption. By halftime, the scoreboard reflected the collapse: 10–0, Seahawks. The second half offered no solace — turnovers kept coming, and the Vikings offense never found any rhythm.
For a franchise already struggling with consistency, this loss is more than a bad outing — it’s a signal. A rookie quarterback making his debut under duress. An offense unable to respond under pressure. And a fan base looking for answers. For many, the questions are already forming: Can this team rally around Brosmer and rebuild? Or is this result a warning sign of deeper issues?
Yet even amid the wreckage, there’s a flicker of honesty, perhaps even resolve. Brosmer’s accountability could be the foundation for something stronger — if the team is willing to rebuild around trust, growth, and mental toughness. But talk doesn’t win games. Execution does.
Despite the blowout, Brosmer refused to disappear quietly. “I’m not giving up — not now, not ever,” he said. “I owe it to my teammates. I owe it to Minnesota.”
It’s a bold statement for a rookie who just endured one of the worst nights of his career. But in the ruthless world of the NFL, sometimes the hardest thing is showing up again. And for Brosmer, that’s exactly what he’s promising to do.
As the Vikings head home, bruised and scoreless, all eyes will be on how they respond. Because if this season ends in frustration, it won’t be for lack of honesty. It might be for lack of answers.
