What Happened to the New England Patriots defense?

After missing the playoffs for the first time since 2008 and finishing with a losing season for the first time since 2000, the New England Patriots overcame a rough beginning and finished 10-7 – capturing a wild card berth.

Rookie quarterback Mac Jones spent the early part of the season getting adjusted to the game plan and pro football in general. A 2-4 start was followed by seven consecutive wins.

The steady force in the team’s first 13 outings was a rejuvenated defense. The club allowed a mere 200 points – just 15.4 points per game – and surrendered just 21 offensive touchdowns. There were 32 sacks and an impressive 26 takeaways.

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So What Happened?

But something changed when the team went to Indianapolis for a Saturday night clash with the Colts. Then again, perhaps the defense was exposed a bit two weeks earlier in a win over the Titans. Tennessee ran for 270 yards in a losing effort. At Indianapolis, the Pats gave up 226 yards on the ground. A week later, Belichick’s team had no answer for the Bills. And after rolling the Jaguars, the Patriots went to Miami and allowed running back Duke Johnson to have his way.

Then came this weekend’s 47-17 loss at Buffalo in the wild card round. The Bills had gained 300 total yards and owned a 27-3 lead at intermission. Belichick’s squad surrendered 482 yards and seven touchdowns by evening’s end.

So during their 1-4 finish, the Patriots allowed 150 points and 16 offensive TDs. They came up with only four sacks and forced only four turnovers. They gave up at least 30 points in three of those games. In their first 13 outings in 2021, New England gave up 30-plus points only once. And that was in the overtime loss to the Cowboys.

With losses in four of their last five outings, the New England Patriots’ season ended in disappointing fashion. It was a season of positives for the most part but the defensive issues down the stretch must certainly leave a bad taste in more than a few mouths in Foxborough.