The New England Patriots lost the coin toss to the Pittsburgh Steelers but did not receive the opening kickoff. Instead, the home team opted to take the football and went on to march 75 yards on the first series of the game to go up 7-0. However, it did not take the Patriots long to reply. In fact, it took Tom Brady and company just three plays to even the score thanks to a 63-yard touchdown by wide receiver Chris Hogan:
Chris Hogan to the house!
— Pats Pulpit (@patspulpit) December 16, 2018
( @nfl) pic.twitter.com/IzmnxhkVea
The touchdown pass — New England’s longest offensive play of the season — tied the game at seven and was a beautifully designed play by coordinator Josh McDaniels. Tom Brady faked the hand-off twice before launching a deep pass to a wide-open Hogan. The wide receiver originally lined up on the offensive left side but crossed the field when Brady hit him in stride for the 63-yard score.
The misdirection at the beginning caused confusion, as did wide receiver Josh Gordon’s presence: Pittsburgh triple-covered him, leaving Hogan wide open.
The Steelers triple-covered Josh Gordon on Hogan's touchdown.
— Pats Pulpit (@patspulpit) December 16, 2018
They zero-covered him. pic.twitter.com/jvxT97rphg