New England Patriots - NESN.com
The New England Patriots gave up 747 total yards in their first two games, raising concerns that their defense might consistently struggle to stop big plays.
Bleacher Report’s Brad Gagnon has concerns about the Patriots defense since it has allowed several plays of 20 yards or more.
“The Patriots have a lot of problems, including issues with penalties, missed tackles, and placekicking,” Gagnon wrote Friday. “But what stands out is the fact they’ve surrendered a league-high 13 20-plus-yard plays in two games. The defense has allowed an AFC-high 6.6 yards per play, thanks in part to all of those home runs.”
One reason New England may be giving up big plays is its inability to tackle effectively. The Patriots have missed a league-high 25 tackles this season, according to Pats Pulpit’s Bernd Buchmasser.
The Patriots may soon welcome back star cornerback Christian Gonzalez, who has missed the last two games due to a hamstring injury. His return could help stabilize the secondary.
However, if New England doesn’t improve its tackling, it won’t matter who is playing defense, as it won’t be able to stop big plays from happening.
