What about the defense?

[RS12]

Lee has been awol since Philly. Carr is stealing Jerry's money. Mo cant tackle. Church is STer. Wilcox ix a box safety.

 

[Tenkamenin]

Tom is known for getting the ball out quick and I was quite surprised on how we disrupted his rhythm in the first half. If we make it to the playoffs healthy we will be a nightmare.

 

[MRV52]

Defense played really well. Look at the field position we had most of the game. Patriots offense had 1/2 field to work with all game long and we held them to 30 with no offense whatsoever.

 

[Romo_To_Dez]

The defense must force turnovers. Everything else is irrelevant if they can't get turnovers. Remember in 2010 and 2013, how bad our defenses were? Well in 2010, after Pasqualoni took over, they were still terrible but at least forced a ton of turnovers to help Garrett get the strong finish to the season. And in 2013, the Kiffin defense was awful but they were near the top of the league in turnovers forced, which gave them a chance.

You can give up points and yards but if you force 2 turnovers a game, it is the great equalizer. Those dropped INTs vs. the Falcons and Saints change EVERYTHING!

The Defense should get more turnovers still unless they return it for a pick six then it's still up to the Offense to be able turn those turnovers into points. If the D gets turnovers but the Offense goes 3 and out after they got the ball back or if they settle for FG's then it's still on the Offense for losing the game. Against the Pats the Defense did every thing they could to keep the team in the game in the first half.

But as I said you can't expect that any defense in the NFL is going to be able to hold Brady down for the entire game. The Offense could only score six points yesterday and it's nearly impossible to hold a Brady lead Offense to under six points unless it's a great all time Defense. Going to be difficult for any team to win a game against a top QB if the O can't get TD's.

 

[Rogerthat12]

If you can't understand how the offense going 3 and out all the time and giving the Patriots the ball around their own 40 yard line all day is a major reason the defense isn't able to finish the game strong then you should quit watching football.

Losing T.O.P. in games can absolutely kill you. It often does kill you.

The only way you get away with scoring 6 points and winning is if you have an all-time great defense.

This defense is good. It's not great and it's certainly not all time great.

TOP is only significant if you are scoring points, Dallas led the overall TOP 33:12 to 26:48 but the distinction is the Patriots scored points.

TOP alone is meaningless, you have to score points, for example, 8 minute drive to come away with 3 points.

Also, for some teams like NE, TOP simply does not matter because they score quick and with efficiency.

TOP is a factor for ball control teams but they must score points and this in turn helps a bad or mediocre defense.

 

[RunDMC]

Don't know how anyone can sit there and blame the defense. You're going up against probably the best offense of this era and the defense help them to 3/10 on 3rd downs. That's 7 times they were able to get off the field and the offense was never gonna capitalize. You just can't win that way against the Patriots.

The defense did what everyone hoped they would which is provide pressure and hit Brady a lot. New England made some adjustments and the pass rush wasn't nearly as effective in the second half. That's not to say they were perfect. Tackling was poor. Safeties continue to struggle. Mo had his first bad game of the season.

They still didn't force turnovers, but we lost this game because of a complete liability at quarterback. Dude just can't make any plays. It's really sad. Weeden is just not an NFL quarterback. He literally does nothing well and everything poor to awful. You can't win when you get absolutely nothing from the quarterback position. The offensive line doesn't stand a chance with this guy under center. The run game is not gonna improve under we have an NFL caliber quarterback.

You just can't expect the defense to be able to hold the Pats down all game. Your offense has to give you something. The defense looked defeated in the second half. They knew it was over. They knew they couldn't beat this team with zero help from the other side of the ball. That's not to say the quarterback position is the only thing that needs to change. Leary and Free need to be benched. Start Collins at LG. Kick Martin out to RT. I would start Berny at RG.

 

[Sportsbabe]

with all the focus on the offensive struggles, rightfully so, no one has much talked about the defense. we have invested a lot and given the offensive fire power that's missing, I expected to win some games with low scores, yet this defense has been pretty bad. I don't care how you cut it. we gave up 30 points. we have been awful in the 4th quarter. I am not into moral victories. this defense looks bad. bad angles. bad tackling. lost. what's wrong with the defense?

The defense isn't bad... Church Wilcox Carr and Claiborne are bad. Always have been....always will be.

 

[bayeslife]

Lee has been awol since Philly. Carr is stealing Jerry's money. Mo cant tackle. Church is STer. Wilcox ix a box safety.

Sean Lee is PFFs highest rated linebacker last I checked.

 

[ClamChowdah]

with all the focus on the offensive struggles, rightfully so, no one has much talked about the defense. we have invested a lot and given the offensive fire power that's missing, I expected to win some games with low scores, yet this defense has been pretty bad. I don't care how you cut it. we gave up 30 points. we have been awful in the 4th quarter. I am not into moral victories. this defense looks bad. bad angles. bad tackling. lost. what's wrong with the defense?

30pts is a good total to hold this Patriots offense to in 2015, The Seahawks gave up 28 in the Super Bowl and that was one of the best 10 defenses of all time.

You can't play shutdown defense anymore in the NFL, you can't touch these recievers nowadays, what do you hope to hold the Pats offense to?

 

[CowboysFaninHouston]

The defense did well yesterday they were gassed in the second half because we couldn't keep our offense on the field for more than 2 minutes.

Perception. We had the ball for 33 minutes.

what about NO game? what about Atlanta game?

 

[CowboysFaninHouston]

The defense was physically and emotionally tired. For the first half they spent all of their physical energy keeping us in the game. They sacked brady and held them as best as any team can " hold brady". Tom was hit so many times, the announcers put up a stat: 10 drop backs- 3 sacks 3 hurries and 3 hits. With the offense so putrid and inept eventually the D lost hope. This "mental fatigue" combined with physical fatigue of being on the field so long led to our demise. If the offense puts up 20 yesterday we could have won

then we don't have a mentally tough defense. that's another fault with them. sorry I can't let the defense off the hook. they are allowing 42% 3rd down conversion. that's awful. you have to get off the field. and there is a time for defense to step up. specially when the offense is dealing with so many injuries. give up hope? then I need 26 new defensive players with mental toughness that can play through adversity.

and btw, I repeat this again. our TOP was 33 minutes to 26 minutes for Patriots.!!!!! physically tired? why?

 

[CowboysFaninHouston]

If you can't understand how the offense going 3 and out all the time and giving the Patriots the ball around their own 40 yard line all day is a major reason the defense isn't able to finish the game strong then you should quit watching football.

Losing T.O.P. in games can absolutely kill you. It often does kill you.

The only way you get away with scoring 6 points and winning is if you have an all-time great defense.

This defense is good. It's not great and it's certainly not all time great.

I repeat again. we had the ball for 33 minutes in the game. the defense has to carry this team given the offensive injury woes. this defense needs offenses help....where is defensive accountability. offense can't carry this team all the time as it has over the past few years.

 

[RunDMC]

I repeat again. we had the ball for 33 minutes in the game. the defense has to carry this team given the offensive injury woes. this defense needs offenses help....where is defensive accountability. offense can't carry this team all the time as it has over the past few years.

The defense did carry them in the first half. You can't expect any defense to be able to hold a team like New England down the entire game. The offense couldn't even get in the end zone. How do you expect to win like that?

 

[AdamJT13]

The "defense was tired" excuse is convenient when the offense struggles, but it's rarely true.

Yesterday, the defense was on the field for only 55 plays. The offense kept going three-and-out in the first half, but the defense still held its own. Allowing 13 points to New England in a half -- when the Patriots had seven possessions and excellent field position -- was more than adequate.

In the second half, though, the defense allowed an 80-yard touchdown TD drive on the opening possession. There was no reason for ANY defense to be "too tired" immediately after halftime after being on the field for less than 14 minutes and only 31 plays in the first half.

After the Pats' TD, our offense went on a drive that took 8:31 off the clock -- giving the defense PLENTY of time to rest. But what happened? The defense allowed a 90-yard TD drive the next time it took the field.

NEITHER of those second-half drives should be blamed on our defensive players being "too tired." If they were, they simply aren't in good enough condition to play in the NFL.

 

[CowboysFaninHouston]

The defense did carry them in the first half. You can't expect any defense to be able to hold a team like New England down the entire game. The offense couldn't even get in the end zone. How do you expect to win like that?

again, this is not just about this past game. what about NO? what about Atlanta? this is not performance of a dominant defense. we are not getting turnovers. we can't get off the field on 3rd downs (42% and 25th in the league). 20th in pass defense (and brady had a moderate day). and the defense TOP is about 26 minutes.

this is not a good defense. we will see how hardy can make a difference. right now it looks like the past few years. either the offense has to carry the team or the defense can't be counted on.

 

[CowboysFaninHouston]

The "defense was tired" excuse is convenient when the offense struggles, but it's rarely true.

Yesterday, the defense was on the field for only 55 plays. The offense kept going three-and-out in the first half, but the defense still held its own. Allowing 13 points to New England in a half -- when the Patriots had seven possessions and excellent field position -- was more than adequate.

In the second half, though, the defense allowed an 80-yard touchdown TD drive on the opening possession. There was no reason for ANY defense to be "too tired" immediately after halftime after being on the field for less than 14 minutes and only 31 plays in the first half.

After the Pats' TD, our offense went on a drive that took 8:31 off the clock -- giving the defense PLENTY of time to rest. But what happened? The defense allowed a 90-yard TD drive the next time it took the field.

NEITHER of those second-half drives should be blamed on our defensive players being "too tired." If they were, they simply aren't in good enough condition to play in the NFL.

exactly. perception is what people have. they blamed all the 3 and outs, yet we had a 33 minute TOP. everyone complains about lack of offensive adjustments, the defense is just as guilty right now. our 2nd half defense is a joke.

 

[LocimusPrime]

Football is also a game of emotion and momentum. Where your defense works hard to keep the patriots below their season avg at halftime and sack brady more than he has ever been sacked, your offense needs to help. Its psychologically frustrating when you know your offense is futile. Sure they will keep playing, but trust me every team "hits harder" when they have still have hope. Yeah yeah we can say they are professionals but professionals are still human. They are not exempt from natural feelings such as : despair, frustration, hopelessness.

Your mouth can smile but your happiness or sadness can only be seen in your eyes. These players can say all the right things and pretend to be playing hard but i see frustration.

 

[foofighters]

Perception. We had the ball for 33 minutes.

what about NO game? what about Atlanta game?

Oh...they weren't good for those games but missing pieces are now coming. Do you expect the number one D with second stringers out there?

 

[Dave_in-NC]

The "defense was tired" excuse is convenient when the offense struggles, but it's rarely true.

Yesterday, the defense was on the field for only 55 plays. The offense kept going three-and-out in the first half, but the defense still held its own. Allowing 13 points to New England in a half -- when the Patriots had seven possessions and excellent field position -- was more than adequate.

In the second half, though, the defense allowed an 80-yard touchdown TD drive on the opening possession. There was no reason for ANY defense to be "too tired" immediately after halftime after being on the field for less than 14 minutes and only 31 plays in the first half.

After the Pats' TD, our offense went on a drive that took 8:31 off the clock -- giving the defense PLENTY of time to rest. But what happened? The defense allowed a 90-yard TD drive the next time it took the field.

NEITHER of those second-half drives should be blamed on our defensive players being "too tired." If they were, they simply aren't in good enough condition to play in the NFL.

Their coaching staff made adjustments. Some thing ours wont ever do, effectively at least.

 

[AdamJT13]

Their coaching staff made adjustments. Some thing ours wont ever do, effectively at least.

Ours just "keeps grinding" at the same thing over and over. When you're severely outmanned, you have to try something different. All of that "top secret" practice stuff from last week turned out to be nothing. We just did the same old stuff, over and over, playing for third downs and field goals.