Jason McCourty shared a humorous anecdote about Patriots’ 2018 game plan vs. Aaron Rodgers

As usual, a Bill Belichick-era Patriots defense was detail-oriented.

Patriots defensive backs Devin and Jason McCourty during the 2018 season. AP Photo/David Banks

October 3, 2024

4 minutes to read

Jason McCourty’s story about the Patriots facing Aaron Rodgers: While the current iteration of the Patriots has been difficult to watch at times in 2024, it wasn’t that long ago that New England was still competing at a championship level.

And in 2018, Bill Belichick’s team (and Brian Flores’s defense) faced off against Aaron Rodgers, then still a member of the Packers. Former New England cornerback Jason McCourty recalled the matchup in a recent segment on ESPN’s “NFL Live” while discussing how to play against the future Hall of Fame quarterback.

While explaining a point about the importance of Rodgers’s pre-snap cadence against a Flores defense (the former Patriots assistant is now the Vikings’ defensive coordinator), McCourty dug into some enjoyable Patriots details.

Played in November of 2018 at Gillette Stadium, the Patriots initially thought they had a read on Rodgers and the Packers. Along with implementing a defense that had a lot of pre-snap movement, New England defenders had specific Rodgers instructions.

“We looked at Rodgers and were like, ‘All right, when he takes his hands out of his [hand] warmer, that’s when we’re going to go,” McCourty explained.

He cited a play early in the game when his brother, safety Devin McCourty, faked dropping into coverage and blitzed at the last second. The result was an errant incompletion for Rodgers.

But as the game went on, McCourty admitted that Rodgers started to figure it out. This included a play when he was himself burned for a deep completion. The ex-Patriots cornerback had a humorous take.

“Fifty yards later, I’m getting beat, and I’m looking at my brother and every other person [on the defense]: ‘Y’all all blitzed, y’all can’t get home? Hit his arm! Do something!”

“This was back in 2018 where we were going with this [maximum] blitz look and doing all these things,” McCourty continued. “Now the difference nowadays is [Flores] isn’t playing man-to-man behind all of that. He’s playing a lot more zone in that Vikings defense.”

Asked about the apparent tell with Rodgers — waiting for him to take his hands out of his hand-warmer — McCourty said that the clever quarterback caught up to it later in the game, though it worked “early on.”

“There was a point in the fourth quarter where Rodgers is back there. He has his hands in his hand-warmer. He takes them out. My brother, Devin McCourty, and Duron Harmon sprint to the half. Aaron Rodgers starts laughing at us. I’m lined up at corner, I’m like, ‘Damn, come on out fellas, he got us.'”

ESPN co-host Laura Rutledge eventually reminded McCourty that the Patriots ultimately won the game, 31-17.

“We did win the game. I made a few plays,” McCourty said. “I know that [one] play was a bad play, but I made a few plays in the game.”

Trivia: According to Pro Football Reference, Jason McCourty’s highest total of interceptions against one team over the course of his career was three vs. the Jets. Two of the interceptions against New York came in the same game in 2012. Can you name the Jets quarterback that day?

(Answer at the bottom.)

Hint: Originally a Jets first-round pick, he went on to play for the Eagles, Cowboys, and Commanders.

Scores and schedules:

The Revolution lost to the Houston Dynamo 2-1 on Wednesday. New England technically remains alive in the playoff race, but the defeat all but ends any realistic postseason chance.

Tonight, the Bruins play the Kings in Quebec City at 7 p.m. in a preseason clash.

Tomorrow, the Celtics begin the preseason with a game against the Nuggets in Abu Dhabi at noon EST.

Also tomorrow, the Connecticut Sun host the Minnesota Lynx for Game 3 of the WNBA semi-final matchup at 7:30 p.m. The best-of-five series is tied 1-1.

More from Boston.com:

The Davante Adams trade rumors: A Patriots AFC East rival remains in the hunt for the talented wide receiver.

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— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) October 2, 2024

On this day: In 1990, the Red Sox clinched the American League East crown with a dramatic 3-1 win over the White Sox. The pivotal moment came right at the end, with a game-saving catch from outfielder Tom Brunansky. Sean McDonough’s call was (and remains) brilliant.

Daily highlight: Lionel Messi helped Inter Miami clinch the MLS Supporters’ Shield with a 3-2 win over Columbus on Wednesday partly thanks to this perfectly placed free kick.