Defenders that have owned the Patriots

[Schmo]

Belichick's the master of neutralizing the opposing team's best player on both sides of the ball. So, with the Dolphins about to put Suh's contact on a pile that includes Mike Wallace's, I breathed a sigh of relief. I understand that some people have a legitimate fear that he's going to decimate our roster with cheap shots. I'm not worried, as I would welcome seeing a player take up that much cap room only to be suspended.

Anyways, I got to thinking about Ngata, Suh, Mario Williams, Watt, and that BB and Brady hardly flinch when it comes to gameplanning around such players. So, what defensive players have given us fits in the Belichick Era, in single games or throughout their careers?

I'll start with Revis.

 

[Ivan]

Mike Singletary.

 

[Guts]

Cameron Wake recently has done some damage

 

[FourierSeries]

Ed Reed and Ray Lewis.

 

[JMC00]

Cameron Wake recently has done some damage

Completely invisible the last time.

 

[FrodoBagginz]

Justin Tuck

 

[Schmo]

Justin Tuck

He came to mind, but I asterisked that game in my head because of how dinged up our line was, on top of it being a great effort by the entire giants dline.

 

[primetime]

Aaron Schobel should be first off anyone's lips who was paying attention. Matt Light handled Dwight Freeney with ease and even handled Jason Taylor pretty well but Schobel just killed him. Schobel was a guy who was just totally underrated his entire career because he played for the Bills.

Both Takeo Spikes and London Fletcher always played well against them when they were with the Bills.

The one defensive guy on the Colts who gave them problems wasn't Freeney or Mathis, but Bob Sanders. Unfortunately for football fans, Sanders' career was cut short by injuries.

Shaun Ellis, one of the best 3-4 DEs of the first decade of the 2000s always gave them fits as well. Unfortunately, his cup of tea with the Patriots at the end of his career was disappointing.

Among active players, Wake and Randy Starks have both been problematic when they play the Dolphins. Starks is likely to get cut with Suh going to the Dolphins, and I wouldn't be surprised if the Patriots swoop in. He's only 31 and still played well last season.

 

[Brady_to_Moss]

not a defender...but scott chandler kills us..every dam time..a suck TE...ok back on topic!

 

[primetime]

Here's a list of all players with 2+ sacks against the Patriots in the Belichick era, bolded active guys, asterisked current free agents, italicized guys who played for the Patriots:

Aaron Schobel 14
Shaun Ellis 13
Jason Taylor 12.5
Joey Porter 11
John Abraham 9.5*
Cameron Wake 8
Chris Kelsay 5.5
Trevor Pryce 5
Robert Mathis 5
David Harris 4.5
Elvis Dumervil 4.5
Kyle Williams 4
Von Miller 4
DeMarcus Ware 4
David Bowens 4
Bryan Thomas 3.5
Dewayne Robertson 3.5
Will Smith 3.5
Haloti Ngata 3.5
Wallace Gilberry 3
Jason Jones 3
Chris Hovan 3
Jamir Miller 3
Terrell Suggs 3
Kevin Carter 3
James Farrior 3
Kenard Lang 3
Eric Hicks 3
Dwight Freeney 3*
James Harrison 3*
LaMarr Woodley 3*
Mario Williams 3
Calvin Pace 3
Ray McDonald 3
Yeremiah Bell 3
Antwan Barnes 3
Marcellus Wiley 3
Bertrand Berry 3
Marcell Dareus 2.5
Jerry Hughes 2.5*
Malcolm Jenkins 2
Baraka Atkins 2
Trace Armstrong 2
Koa Misi 2
Marcus Washington 2
Michael Strahan 2
Sam Cowart 2
Mike Rucker 2
Takeo Spikes 2
Tamba Hali 2
Mo Lewis 2
Jason Worilds 2*
Paul Kruger 2
Jayme Mitchell 2
Steve Martin 2
Stefan Charles 2
Daryl Gardener 2
B.J. Raji 2*
Ebenezer Ekuban 2
Raylee Johnson 2
Calais Campbell 2
Olivier Vernon 2
Kris Jenkins 2
Jared Odrick 2*
Justin Houston 2*
Brady Smith 2
Dannell Ellerbe 2
Randy Starks 2(*)
Chester McGlockton 2
Raheem Brock 2
Greg Ellis 2
Muhammad Wilkerson 2
Kellen Heard 2
Jevon Kearse 2
Trevor Scott 2
Shaun Phillips 2
Marcus Jones 2
Tom Johnson 2
Alex Brown 2
Jamaal Westerman 2
Kendrick Office 2
Tyrone Robertson 2
Sam Adams 2
Jared Allen 2
Whitney Mercilus 2
Shawne Merriman 2
Vonnie Holliday 2

 

[primetime]

Every player with 2+ INTs in the Belichick era (note the surprising number of LBs), I bolded active guys and asterisked current free agents and italicized players who played for the Patriots:

Nate Clements 4
Antoine Bethea 3
Sammy Knight 3
Takeo Spikes 3
Greg Wesley 3
Deon Grant 3
Charles Tillman 2*
Victor Green 2
London Fletcher 2
Eric Brown 2
Donnie Edwards 2
Vontae Davis 2
Bob Sanders 2
Aaron Glenn 2
James Darling 2
Cato June 2
Antonio Cromartie 2*
Denard Walker 2
Patrick Surtain 2
Darren Sharper 2
Deltha O'Neal 2
Darrelle Revis 2*
Mike Adams 2*
Jason Taylor 2
Bryant Westbrook 2
Nick Harper 2

 

[patsfan-1982]

I cant think of one guy that just owns the pats but if a had to pick a pass rusher and a DB. Dumervil cause I think of anyone that has got to Brady as much the last few years and at DB I will say Ed Reed

 

[patsfan-1982]

Here's a list of all players with 2+ sacks against the Patriots in the Belichick era:

Aaron Schobel 14
Shaun Ellis 13
Jason Taylor 12.5
Joey Porter 11
John Abraham 9.5
Cameron Wake 8
Chris Kelsay 5.5
Trevor Pryce 5
Robert Mathis 5
David Harris 4.5
Elvis Dumervil 4.5
Kyle Williams 4
Von Miller 4
DeMarcus Ware 4
David Bowens 4
Bryan Thomas 3.5
Dewayne Robertson 3.5
Will Smith 3.5
Haloti Ngata 3.5
Wallace Gilberry 3
Jason Jones 3
Chris Hovan 3
Jamir Miller 3
Terrell Suggs 3
Kevin Carter 3
James Farrior 3
Kenard Lang 3
Eric Hicks 3
Dwight Freeney 3
James Harrison 3
LaMarr Woodley 3
Mario Williams 3
Calvin Pace 3
Ray McDonald 3
Yeremiah Bell 3
Antwan Barnes 3
Marcellus Wiley 3
Bertrand Berry 3
Marcell Dareus 2.5
Jerry Hughes 2.5
Malcolm Jenkins 2
Baraka Atkins 2
Trace Armstrong 2
Koa Misi 2
Marcus Washington 2
Michael Strahan 2
Sam Cowart 2
Mike Rucker 2
Takeo Spikes 2
Tamba Hali 2
Mo Lewis 2
Jason Worilds 2
Paul Kruger 2
Jayme Mitchell 2
Steve Martin 2
Stefan Charles 2
Daryl Gardener 2
B.J. Raji 2
Ebenezer Ekuban 2
Raylee Johnson 2
Calais Campbell 2
Olivier Vernon 2
Kris Jenkins 2
Jared Odrick 2
Justin Houston 2
Brady Smith 2
Dannell Ellerbe 2
Randy Starks 2
Chester McGlockton 2
Raheem Brock 2
Greg Ellis 2
Muhammad Wilkerson 2
Kellen Heard 2
Jevon Kearse 2
Trevor Scott 2
Shaun Phillips 2
Marcus Jones 2
Tom Johnson 2
Alex Brown 2
Jamaal Westerman 2
Kendrick Office 2
Tyrone Robertson 2
Sam Adams 2
Jared Allen 2
Whitney Mercilus 2
Shawne Merriman 2
Vonnie Holliday 2

I forgot how good Aaron Schobel was vs the pats

 

[reneluar]

In milehighreport they said Von Miller LOL

http://www.milehighreport.com/mhr-film-study/2014/10/31/7137709/von-miller-the-patriot-killer

Even with the Broncos 0-5 against Patriots when he plays.

 

[TheFlyingWedge]

Terrance Knighton owned our O-line in the afc championship last season - unfortunately, he'll probably be out of our price range to sign as a free agent.

 

[primetime]

Finally, the players with 2+ passes defensed in the Belichick era, active bolded, free agents asterisked, Patriots starred

Terrence McGee 9
Aaron Schobel 7
Darrelle Revis 6*
Quentin Jammer 6
Drayton Florence 6
Leodis McKelvin 6
Brian Urlacher 6
Sam Madison 6
Troy Polamalu 5(*)
Aaron Glenn 5
Jason Taylor 5
Dwight Lowery 5
John Lynch 5
David Bowens 5
Kerry Rhodes 4
Nate Clements 4
Ike Taylor 4
D.J. Williams 4*
Ray Mickens 4
Andre' Goodman 4
Stephon Gilmore 4
Corey Fuller 4
Charles Woodson 4
Cortland Finnegan 4*
Marcell Dareus 4
Julius Peppers 4
London Fletcher 3
Patrick Surtain 3
Eric Smith 3
Vontae Davis 3
Marcus Coleman 3
Kyle Wilson 3
Antonio Allen 3
Ed Reed 3
Antonio Cromartie 3
John Mobley 3
Sean Smith 3
Calvin Pace 3
Glover Quin 3
Domonique Foxworth 3
Aaron Beasley 3
Travis Daniels 3
Marcus Trufant 3
Tory James 3
Brian Dawkins 3
Kelly Herndon 3
Chris Crocker 3
Mike McKenzie 3
Todd Lyght 3
Ray Buchanan 3
Jamal Williams 3
Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie 3
Bryan Robinson 3
Ryan Denney 3
Lamar Campbell 3
Yeremiah Bell 2
Donte Whitner 2
Takeo Spikes 2
Antoine Winfield 2
Jairus Byrd 2
Donald Strickland 2
Sam Cowart 2
Sammy Knight 2
Rashean Mathis 2*
Derrick Brooks 2
Andre Dyson 2
Alex Molden 2
Ray Lewis 2
Reggie Corner 2
Jabari Greer 2
Mike Adams 2*
Lance Schulters 2
Brian Williams 2
Jerametrius Butler 2
Chris Kelsay 2
Champ Bailey 2
Donnie Abraham 2
Lito Sheppard 2
Aaron Williams 2
David Thornton 2
Joey Porter 2
Deltha O'Neal 2
Ken Lucas 2
Nnamdi Asomugha 2
Jerry Azumah 2
Eric Wright 2
Robert Mathis 2
Adam Jones 2
Sam Garnes 2
Keiwan Ratliff 2
Chris Watson 2
Kyle Williams 2
Marcus Williams 2
Eric Brown 2
Derek Cox 2
Jerraud Powers 2
Lewis Sanders 2
Jack Williams 2
Lardarius Webb 2
J.R. Reed 2
Samari Rolle 2
Daylon McCutcheon 2
Shaun Ellis 2
Kelvin Hayden 2
Mark Simoneau 2
Adrian Wilson 2
Kevin Thomas 2
Earl Little 2
Hank Poteat 2
Sheldon Brown 2
Lenny Walls 2
Bertrand Berry 2
Jamar Fletcher 2
Terry Fair 2
Janoris Jenkins 2
Jamaine Winborne 2
Shane Burton 2
Terrell Suggs 2
Sam Brandon 2
Tyrone Poole 2
Dat Nguyen 2
Eddie Pleasant 2
Richard Sherman 2
Emmanuel Lamur 2
Jason Ferguson 2
Shareece Wright 2
Shawntae Spencer 2
Vonnie Holliday 2
Bryant Westbrook 2
Trace Armstrong 2
Jared Odrick 2*
Randy Starks 2(*)
Shawne Merriman 2
Ebenezer Ekuban 2
C.J. Mosley 2
Jeremy Mincey 2
Vaughn Booker 2

 

[primetime]

I forgot how good Aaron Schobel was vs the pats

In addition to being the leader this millennium in sacks against the Patriots, he's also second in passes defensed after Terrance McGee. Schobel was a really incredible player who just never got his due.

 

[Schmo]

In milehighreport they said Von Miller LOL

http://www.milehighreport.com/mhr-film-study/2014/10/31/7137709/von-miller-the-patriot-killer

Even with the Broncos 0-5 against Patriots when he plays.

I live in denver, and broncos fans are a different kind of stupid (the whole Elway, drag-a-woman-around-by-her-hair 'brand' makes me sick) . Miller is another example of a great player that turns invisible when he faces us. I loved the segment that was done with Gronk highlighting the play where Miller got destroyed 1-on-1 out wide.

 

[nabwong]

Jason Taylor. I'm glad he's retired.

 

[letekro]

No love for Sam Madison and Patrick Surtain?