September seems like a long time ago. However, it was merely two months ago that the Patriots were on a pace to have a historically bad defense. As was the case in years past, they were surrendering yards. However, now, they were also allowing points at a record pace. Miscommunication issues doomed the Patriots early on and the injury to star linebacker Don’ta Hightower looked to be the nail in the coffin for the Patriots.
Latest Patriots News
- New England Patriots: Taking Stock Of The Post-Brady Era And Looking For Hope In 2023
- Nitpicks & Nitwits: Ol’ Ugly Rears Its’ Head Again
- NFL 2022: AFC Midseason Report Cards
- New England Patriots Game Preview: Defense vs. Indianapolis Colts’ Offense
- New England Patriots Game Preview: Offense vs. Indianapolis Colts Defense
Then, all of a sudden, the Patriots became one of if not the best defensive team in the league. Through four weeks, the Patriots allowed 128 points as they stumbled to a 2-2 record. Now, since week five, the Patriots have allowed an average of 13.4 points per game, the best mark in the NFL during that time. Not surprisingly, they haven’t lost a game in that stretch. After allowing the 128 points during the first four weeks, they are on pace to allow just over 150 over the final 12 games. A remarkable in-season turnaround.
Scor | Scor | Defe | Defe | Defe | Defe | |||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Week | Day | Date | Rec | Opp | Tm | Opp | 1stD | TotYd | PassY | RushY | ||
1 | Thu | September 7 | L | 0-1 | Kansas City Chiefs | 27 | 42 | 26 | 537 | 352 | 185 | |
2 | Sun | September 17 | W | 1-1 | @ | New Orleans Saints | 36 | 20 | 20 | 429 | 348 | 81 |
3 | Sun | September 24 | W | 2-1 | Houston Texans | 36 | 33 | 23 | 417 | 292 | 125 | |
4 | Sun | October 1 | L | 2-2 | Carolina Panthers | 30 | 33 | 28 | 444 | 304 | 140 |
Provided by Pro-Football-Reference.com: View Original Table
“Team defense,” said Belichick on the team’s defensive turnaround. “Good team defense, or better team defense, tackling, not giving up big plays, playing better in situations, third down, red area. We’re trying to do a lot of things better bit by bit. There’s still a lot of work to do, but we’ve made some improvements; tackling.”
Getting back to the fundamentals certainly helped the Patriots who were searching to find their identity early on. Somehow, the loss of their best defensive player in Hightower should have sunk the team. However, it forced them to evolve. All of a sudden, forgotten man, David Harris, is making a huge impact on defense. After returning from injury, Stephon Gilmore has played like a man deserving of the huge contract he received in the offseason. Then, of course, there are guys like Eric Lee. Lee was a Bills practice squad member just a few weeks ago, now, he is sacking the quarterback, getting interceptions, and being an overall disruptive defensive player.
“Every year we start from scratch,” said defensive coordinator Matt Patricia. “We start in the spring and we try to build from there. I would say the season in general changes week to week or month to month, however, you want to look at it, and coming out of training camp it’s going to be different than what it is for the first month. The second month will be different than what it is the first month and I think it’s a process for us to try to improve. We’re always going to start with the fundamentals.”
-
Ep 103: Tom Brady Retires, Sean Payton To Broncos, Super Bowl Primer
by Full Press Coverage on February 5, 2023 at 3:49 pm
Scor | Scor | Defe | Defe | Defe | Defe | ||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Week | Day | Date | Rec | Opp | Tm | Opp | 1stD | TotYd | PassY | RushY | |||
5 | Thu | October 5 | 8:25PM ET | W | 3-2 | @ | Tampa Bay Buccaneers | 19 | 14 | 26 | 409 | 319 | 90 |
6 | Sun | October 15 | 1:00PM ET | W | 4-2 | @ | New York Jets | 24 | 17 | 23 | 408 | 334 | 74 |
7 | Sun | October 22 | 8:30PM ET | W | 5-2 | Atlanta Falcons | 23 | 7 | 21 | 343 | 223 | 120 | |
8 | Sun | October 29 | 1:00PM ET | W | 6-2 | Los Angeles Chargers | 21 | 13 | 16 | 349 | 192 | 157 | |
9 | Bye Week | ||||||||||||
10 | Sun | November 12 | 8:30PM ET | W | 7-2 | @ | Denver Broncos | 41 | 16 | 17 | 339 | 221 | 118 |
11 | Sun | November 19 | 4:25PM ET | W | 8-2 | @ | Oakland Raiders | 33 | 8 | 21 | 344 | 235 | 109 |
12 | Sun | November 26 | 1:00PM ET | W | 9-2 | Miami Dolphins | 35 | 17 | 15 | 221 | 154 | 67 | |
13 | Sun | December 3 | 1:00PM ET | W | 10-2 | @ | Buffalo Bills | 23 | 3 | 16 | 268 | 85 | 183 |
Provided by Pro-Football-Reference.com: View Original Table
Last season, the Patriots had a stout defensive unit that improved towards the end of the season. The 2017 version is following a similar path. Albeit without guys like Hightower and Rob Ninkovich, who retired before the season. It took the Patriots a bit longer than normal to find their way on defense. The silver lining during the horrid start to the season was the belief that this team had far too much talent to be this bad. Now, we are seeing how talented they are. Talented enough to be one of the top defensive units in the game.
“I think for us, again, these guys do a great job understanding it’s a process,” added Patricia. “So there’s an [understanding of] ‘hey look, this is what it is this week. It’s got to be better next week and everybody just bear down and let’s keep working’ and that’s the great thing about it is the work attitude that they come in with every day – that ‘hey look, this a hard game. It’s hard every week.”
– Ian Glendon is the Editor-In-Chief of Full Press Coverage and the AFC East Division Editor. He covers the NFL. Like and follow on Follow @iglen31 Follow @FPC_Patriots and Facebook.
-
Ep 142: Former Washington Quarterback And Super Bowl Champion Doug Williams Joins The Showby Full Press Coverage on February 3, 2023 at 10:19 pm
Former Washington quarterback and Super Bowl champion Doug Williams joins […]
-
Ep 141: Andy Reid, Eagles, And Conference Championship Weekend w/ Joe Bannerby Full Press Coverage on January 27, 2023 at 5:36 pm
Clark and Ira are joined by former Eagles President Joe Banner to talk […]
-
Ep 137: Hall Of Fame Discussion w/ John Turneyby Full Press Coverage on December 30, 2022 at 5:33 pm
Football historian John Turney of Pro Football Journal joins Clark and Ira […]
-
Ep 136: Remembering The Longest Game Ever Played With Larry Littleby Full Press Coverage on December 24, 2022 at 1:09 am
On the 51-year anniversary of the longest game ever played (Chiefs vs. […]
-
Ep 135: Hall of Fame Semifinalist Jahri Evans Joins The Showby Full Press Coverage on December 16, 2022 at 3:51 pm
Former Saints guard and 2023 HOF Semifinalist Jahri Evans joins Clark and […]
-
Ep 134: Remember AFL/NFL Star John Hadl with Nick Canepaby Full Press Coverage on December 8, 2022 at 2:39 pm
Former Hall of Fame voter, Nick Canepa, joins Clark and Ira to discuss the […]
-
Ep 133: Hall Of Fame Semifinalist Henry Ellard Joins The Showby Full Press Coverage on November 30, 2022 at 4:28 pm
Former Rams and Redskins wide receiver, Henry Ellard, joins Clark and Ira […]
-
Ep 132: Pro Football Hall of Fame Class of 2023 Semifinalists w/ Rick Gosselinby Full Press Coverage on November 22, 2022 at 6:15 pm
Clark and Ira are joined by Pro Football Hall of Fame voter Rick Gosselin […]
-
Ep 131: 'Football Heaven' With PFHOF Senior Advisor Joe Horriganby Full Press Coverage on November 17, 2022 at 5:55 pm
Pro Football Hall of Fame Senior Advisor, Joe Horrigan, joins Clark and […]
-
Ep 130: Remembering John McVay With Hall of Famer Eddie DeBartolo Jr.by Full Press Coverage on November 13, 2022 at 1:42 am
Clark and Ira are joined by Hall of Fame owner Eddie DeBartolo Jr. to […]
-
Ep 271: NFL Championship Roundby Full Press Coverage on January 26, 2023 at 1:58 pm
-
Ep 270: NFL Divisional Roundby Full Press Coverage on January 19, 2023 at 1:31 am
-
Ep 269: NFL Playoff Previewby Full Press Coverage on January 12, 2023 at 4:13 am
-
Ep 268: Week 16 Fantasy Rankingsby Full Press Coverage on December 21, 2022 at 9:45 pm
-
(Episode 3.2) Offseason Talk with the "Command This!" Podcastby Full Press Coverage on February 1, 2023 at 3:04 am
George Carmi hosts Steve, Dev, and Phil as they discuss the Commanders […]
-
Ep 167: Super Bowl LVII Previewby Full Press Coverage on February 1, 2023 at 12:33 am
This season premiere featured a preview of the NFL's season finale. In […]
-
2/3 - Tom Brady Retires... For Goodby Full Press Coverage on February 3, 2023 at 2:20 pm
Ian and John react to Tom Brady's second, and likely final, retirement. […]
-
1/31 - Tom Brady and the 49ers, Aaron Rodgers Futureby Full Press Coverage on January 31, 2023 at 9:00 am
Ian and John discuss whether or not the 49ers loss in the NFC Championship […]
-
1/30 - Conference Championship Recap: Eagles, Chiefs Advanceby Full Press Coverage on January 30, 2023 at 10:35 am
Ian and John recap the Eagles and Chiefs victories on Conference […]
-
1/27 - Conference Championship Preview: Who is Going To The Super Bowl?by Full Press Coverage on January 27, 2023 at 9:50 am
Ian and John preview Conference Championship Weekend and give their picks […]
-
Talkamania Episode 230by Talkamania on September 6, 2022 at 11:43 pm
-
Talkamania Episode 229by Talkamania on August 5, 2022 at 3:37 am
-
Boot 2 The Face Episode 211 "Steel Reserve"by Boot 2 The Face on January 28, 2023 at 6:59 pm
We preview the Royal Rumble and other things in the week of pro wreslting. […]
-
Boot 2 The Face Episode 210 "No Monè, No Monè, No Monè"by Boot 2 The Face on January 19, 2023 at 12:55 am
Rucker and EJ are back discussing Rucker going to Impacts Hard to Kill […]
-
Ep. 92: Lamar University Head Baseball Coach Will Davisby Full Press Coverage on February 6, 2023 at 6:00 am
-
Kings at Pelicansby Broken Controller Media on February 5, 2023 at 8:00 pm
-
Nuggets at Timberwolvesby Broken Controller Media on February 5, 2023 at 7:15 pm
-
Raptors at Grizzliesby Broken Controller Media on February 5, 2023 at 6:30 pm
-
76ers at Knicksby Broken Controller Media on February 5, 2023 at 5:30 pm
-
Cavaliers at Pacersby Broken Controller Media on February 5, 2023 at 4:30 pm
-
Ep 103: Tom Brady Retires, Sean Payton To Broncos, Super Bowl Primerby Full Press Coverage on February 5, 2023 at 3:49 pm
-
Magic at Hornetsby Broken Controller Media on February 5, 2023 at 3:30 pm
-
Hawks at Nuggetsby Broken Controller Media on February 4, 2023 at 10:00 pm
-
Mavericks at Warriorsby Broken Controller Media on February 4, 2023 at 9:00 pm
-
1/6 - Damar Hamlin Update, Bills/Bengals, AFC Playoffs, Week 18 Picksby Full Press Coverage on January 6, 2023 at 3:11 pm
-
Winter Classic: Bruins Rally To Beat Penguins At Fenwayby Full Press Coverage on January 4, 2023 at 2:09 am
-
1/3 - Bills/Bengals Postponed; Bruins Topple Penguins In Winter Classicby Full Press Coverage on January 4, 2023 at 2:05 am
-
1/2 - Tom Brady, Aaron Rodgers, Week 17, Bills/Bengalsby Full Press Coverage on January 3, 2023 at 3:22 am
-
12/30 - New Year's Eve, Luka Doncic, NBA Talk, Week 17 Preview and Picksby Full Press Coverage on January 1, 2023 at 2:29 am
-
Aaron Rodgers, Packers Win Third Straight; Playoffs In Sightby Full Press Coverage on December 27, 2022 at 7:36 pm