Patriots Defense: Exactly How Poor Is It, And How Can It Be Fixed?

Share this: The New England Patriots traded away one of their most talented defenders in hopes it would fix their ailing defense. One game down, and the Patriots’ defense looks worse than ever. The Patriots’ loss in their first game of the post-Jamie Collins era brings to mind a scene from the Thanksgiving classic “Planes, Trains and Automobiles”. Del Griffith, played by John Candy, totals a car he rented, and Neil Page, played by Steve Martin, bursts out laughing, saying, “You finally did it to yourself!” One would imagine that’s how opposing coaches are looking at Belichick. Of course, Griffith actually used Page’s credit card to rent the car. So, there’s a good chance Belichick gets the last laugh, regardless. But how will he turn around his defense?

Brees totals 5 TDs as Saints rout Giants (AP)

NEW ORLEANS (AP)—On their own 12-yard line with 1:09 left in the first half, there was no way Drew Brees(notes) and the Saints were simply going to run out the clock. That’s not how their offense works, and the New York Giants weren’t putting up much resistance anyway. Only 34 seconds elapsed before a third touchdown drive of 80-plus yards gave the Saints a 21-3 halftime lead, and they were well on their way to a third-straight win, 49-24 over the slumping Giants. “What it comes down to is we have a lot of confidence and we play very aggressive,” Brees said. “Is there risk involved? Yes. When you do it as much as we do with the mentality we do, you make