The defense comes to play throughout the entire season
The Patriots could win the Super Bowl if the defense comes to play throughout the entirety of the season. During the first half of the schedule last year, the Patriots were playing lights out. However, the competition was a little bit less in the first half of the schedule than the second half of the schedule.
Just for a refresher, the Patriots played four games against divisional opponents in the first eight weeks of the season. The two teams who were not divisional opponents were the Steelers, who New England beat soundly in the season opener, and the Browns who struggled mightily despite having Baker Mayfield and a talented offense.
Stéphon Gilmore alone had three interceptions over the course of his first eight games. The Patriots defense seemed to falter as the opposition got tougher. The Sunday night football game against the Baltimore Ravens comes to mind. So too, do games later in the season against Houston and Miami at home.
Even still, New England ranked first in the least yards allowed per game with 275.9. On the season, they gave up the second-least passing yards with 2,896. It certainly was not a bad year for them, but it seemed like they broke down in the second half of the season. If the Patriots defense can play as a well-rounded unit all season, then they could have a chance at winning the Super Bowl.
As the offense looks to undergo a makeover, the defense will be heavily counted on to keep them in games. With veterans at every position, the defense will need to be ready to play every single week.
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