To be fair to the defense, or at least to play thread devil's advocate, the defense looked pretty good through the first 3 weeks. I don't think it was as good as the people throwing out the "top 3 defense" or whatever stats made it out to be, but it was probably a top-10 defense or so.
Tonight, they gave up a ton of big plays. Mayo got blocked out of that 50 yard run by Knile Davis that turned field position from the Chiefs 10 to the Patriots 40, and the Chiefs scored a couple plays later after another big play from the least big play quarterback in the business throwing to a tight end. The drive before the half, they gave up a number of big plays too (though that drive would never have happened if Brady had just strolled across the 1st down line).
In the second half, the offense spotted them really bad field position which turned into 10 points. By that point, it was over, and then the offense gave them another 7 without the defense ever touching the field. So 7 points off a sustained drive, 10 points off big plays, 10 off turnovers with bad field position, 7 off a return, and 7 in garbage time. Tavon Wilson alone was probably good for 14 points for the Chiefs, which makes me wonder why he was playing. But, seriously, why was he playing?
It wasn't as bad as the 41 points makes it out to be. Still bad, giving up huge plays to an offense that's designed for sustained drives and eating up clock? Sure. But I don't think this defense is as bad as this thread is making it out to be.
Or, at least, I hope...
