The Patriots' Surprise Onside Kick Is Their Answer To Losing The Coin Toss

By Matt Dolloff (@mattdolloff)

BOSTON (CBS) -- Aside from having Tom Brady perform the coin toss as he did before Super Bowl XL, the Patriots may have figured out the perfect strategy to combat the potential of losing the opening flip. And even if they never do it again, it's on film and they have forced their opponents to prepare for it.

After winning the opening coin toss at Gillette Stadium, the Washington Redskins elected to kick the ball to Tom Brady and the Patriots to start the game. It's not ideal to just give Brady the ball to start off, but the alternative is giving the Patriots a chance at executing one of their favorite Sunday activities: the double-score before and after halftime.

The Pats have an uncanny ability to score as the first half clock ticks down to zeroes and then score on their first possession of the second half. It's one of the most common ways they destroy inferior opponents - and gain a huge advantage over worthy ones.

But the Pats' recent string of good luck ran out on Sunday, as for the second game in a row the Patriots lost the coin toss - which they had suspiciously been winning at a nearly impossible rate. And the Redskins took away the the Patriots' double-score by deferring - but the Patriots were ready for that, and their plan almost worked to perfection.

After Julian Edelman scored on a blistering opening drive, the Patriots went to kick the ball back to the Redskins as they normally would - but Stephen Gostkowski suddenly tapped the ball to the right for the onside kick. The Redskins appeared ready for it and one of them had the ball in his hands, but it squeaked loose and Jonathan Freeny fell on it to give the Patriots a successful onside kick recovery.

Unfortunately, Edelman fumbled the ball back to Washington before the Patriots could get their second touchdown on that drive. But the plan essentially worked anyway, because Kirk Cousins threw an interception on the very next play to give the ball right back to the Patriots. They scored to go up 14-0. They said "Screw you, we're getting our double-score anyway," and basically pulled it off with a brief bump in the road.

So now, the Patriots have their plan to combat opponents who defer to them after winning the opening coin toss. Obviously, they won't go for the surprise onside kick after every opening drive - unless they do because that's exactly what you're not expecting - but it's another wrinkle in the Patriots gameplan that future opponents now need to prepare for during the week.

Belichick has now placed doubt in the minds of NFL coaches who may have believed they had it all figured out by just deferring. Inexperienced, intimidated coaches may overthink things and take the ball, just to avoid the embarrassment of giving up an onside kick. But the mere threat of the play could just be yet another example of the Patriots lurking in their opponents' heads.

It's also likely likely that Belichick also has the Patriots prepared to change the play when the opponent gears up for the onside kick. Just a chip shot over their heads that Matthew Slater recovers before anyone is within 5 yards of him. That would be the ultimate.

It's just another chess vs. checkers situation for Belichick, as the Patriots continue to either catch opponents napping or make them lose sleep preparing. It doesn't matter if the Patriots ever run the surprise onside kick again - the threat is there, and opponents need to be aware.

Matt Dolloff is a writer for CBSBostonSports.com. His opinions do not necessarily reflect that of CBS or 98.5 The Sports Hub. Read more from Matt here. Follow him on Twitter @mattdolloff and email him at mdolloff@985thesportshub.com.