Eric Canha-Imagn Images
What happened to the Patriots' once-dominant defense? Under Bill Belichick, the Patriots' defense has consistently been in the top five, but this year they've fallen back to the middle – and in some ways, they look like a bottom-tier defense compared to their glory years. Despite retaining many of the players and coaches who contributed to its previous success, the unit was unable to maintain its previous standards.
A key factor in the decline is the absence or limited availability of key players. Ja'Whaun Bentley, Kyle Dugger, Jabrill Peppers, Christian Barmore and the loss of Matthew Judon in the trade have all contributed to a lack of cohesion. Dugger, Peppers and Bentley, who were among the team's top tacklers, either missed time or were used in a reduced capacity. These absences have forced the team to rely heavily on depth players who, while familiar with the system, have not been able to perform at the same level.
Adding to the frustration is that the team has improved in some areas, most notably with the addition of Christian Gonzalez. The cornerback has quickly developed into an All-Pro caliber player and is a significant improvement over the secondary units of previous seasons. Nevertheless, the defense as a whole seems to have taken steps backwards.
The Patriots are now in a position where they not only have to address offensive issues in the offseason, but also their defense. The inability to finish games like this week against the Colts highlights the urgent need for reinforcements on both sides of the ball. What was once the backbone of the Patriots' success has become a problem area, and the team must find a way to reclaim its defensive identity.
