National Football League

Patriots no-huddle offense could tire Chiefs

Published Nov. 20, 2011 2:40 p.m. ET

foxsports

The New England Patriots no-huddle offense gives the defense no time to take a break.

So the Kansas City Chiefs better get plenty of rest before Monday night's game.

''Anyone that is 300 pounds and has to run play after play and doesn't get a break is going to get tired,'' Patriots left guard Logan Mankins said.

New England has operated without a huddle on about 25 percent of its plays this season. The ball isn't always snapped quickly since Tom Brady takes time to read the defense and get signals from offensive coordinator Bill O'Brien. But the defense has little time to make substitutions, leaving it with tired players or the wrong ones for the expected play.

In the Patriots last game, a 37-16 win over the New York Jets, they led 16-9 when they got the ball with 7:36 left in the third quarter. They ran six straight plays without a huddle, gaining 37 yards, before Brady, in the shotgun formation after huddling, threw a 5-yard touchdown pass to Rob Gronkowski.

On their next possession, they picked up 38 yards on six consecutive plays without a huddle, moving the ball to the Jets 27-yard line. They huddled for the remaining four plays of the drive, finishing with Brady's 8-yard scoring pass to Deion Branch for a 30-16 lead.

Brady completed all three of his passes without a huddle for a total of 39 yards against the Jets.

That win gave the Patriots (6-3) sole possession of first place in the AFC East with an easy schedule remaining. The Chiefs (4-5) are coming off a 17-10 loss to the Denver Broncos but are just one game behind AFC West leader Oakland.

The decision to run a play without a huddle depends on the game situation, not a pregame strategy.

''It's not something you would come into the game and say, `we're going to run this all game,' '' Branch said. ''You think about the Jets game. It just happened. It was during the course of a series and (the coaches) said, `Let's go.' ''

For the offense, the process is more organized than it might seem.

O'Brien is allowed to use the sideline-to-helmet radio to talk to Brady until 15 seconds remain on the 40-second play clock.

''The mechanics of just huddling basically on the ball, which is really just what we're doing, is fairly, I wouldn't say easy, but there's not a lot of mechanics to it,'' O'Brien said. ''I wouldn't say that we've used it any more than we've used (it) in the past. Again, it's just something that our players have executed well to this point, for the most part.''

It helps that Brady is so adept at diagnosing defenses and changing a call to one that, he feels, has a better chance of succeeding.

He also has dependable receivers like Gronkowski, Branch, Aaron Hernandez and Wes Welker, who leads the NFL with 72 receptions, to execute those plays.

''Tom looks like he's playing at as high a level as I've seen him play,'' Kansas City coach Todd Haley said. ''He's got a lot of good - some veterans, some young developing - players that look like they all have a chance to be really, really good. What Welker is doing to this point is phenomenal.''

The Chiefs haven't faced a no-huddle play in their last two games.

So Tamba Hali, who has six sacks, and his defensive linemates, aren't used to the pace of that attack. But it also can wear down the Patriots offensive linemen.

''It's nice to do it occasionally when it's working good. We like it,'' Mankins said. ''The (defensive) line, I think they get more tired than we actually do because they have to chase the ball. But it does get pretty tiring in there. You don't have the rest between plays like in the huddle.''

And it doesn't always work.

''If we execute well, whether we huddle or whether we don't huddle, we're going to be able to score points,'' Brady said. ''If it works, you stay with it. If it doesn't work, you move on.''

The Patriots put their faith in the no-huddle offense from the start of the season. In a 38-24 win over the Miami Dolphins in the opener, they used the no-huddle on 27 of their 71 plays. Brady was 12 for 18 for 180 yards without a huddle.

Don't expect the Chiefs offense to run many no-huddle plays, not with unproven Tyler Palko making his first start with Matt Cassel sidelined with an injured throwing hand.

Palko has played in four NFL games, throwing 13 passes.

''It's exciting,'' he said. ''Getting a chance to get your first start and, obviously, it being Monday night football, makes it that much more exciting.

''Everybody is watching - friends and family and all that stuff. At the same time, this is my job and the guys on the team are expecting me to execute and go out and do my job and have nothing change from when Matt's gone down and me stepping in.''

The Patriots should have plenty of time to substitute players when Palko huddles up, but he adds a dimension that could tire defensive linemen. He can scramble.

''He's just a very elusive quarterback,'' New England defensive end Andre Carter said.

The Patriots defense has experience with the no-huddle offense even when opponents don't use it. During the week, they practice against it when Brady reels off play after play with little time for a breather.

''Communication is a big, big key when they go no-huddle. That's something we practice with our offense all the time because that's what they do,'' defensive tackle Vince Wilfork said. ''I don't think any defense likes a no-huddle.''