Like it or not: This is the D we are taking into the playoffs

[A man named Brady]

The thing is , I trust this defense to get the big stop at the end of the game more then the defenses in recent past. They could never get off the field when it mattered in crunch time

 

[Tunescribe]

Our best defense is bad weather. Pray for wind and snow.

 

[Rob0729]

Is this sarcasm? The rest of the league, including Jacksonville was able to.

Yeah, the Browns aren't 4-8 because their offense is unstoppable.

 

[unoriginal]

According to a WEEI post game story, the Patriots went with the Jones/Vellano combo almost the entire game (as well as the new Kid, Siliga). IMHO the Jones/Vellano combo is just not a stout run stopping unit.
If this is what BB is going to go with from here on out than I think a porous Run D should be expected sometimes. Just is what it is.....

This was likely a "prove-it" game for Siliga, since the reason they brought him up was because another team was going to sign him. Don't think he did too well, saw a lot of one-on-ones with the center and not a lot of movement. What you want to see is double-teams and not a lot of movement.

Hopefully he showed enough that the Pats continue to develop him instead of going back to the street or to Forston.

 

[PatsDeb]

Me no like...

 

[RIpats88]

its really not a bad Defense...bad run defense sure but I feel more confident going into the playoffs with the 31st ranked run defense and the 9th ranked pass defense than one of the top run defenses/ 31st ranked pass defense in 2011.

what did Moreno running all those yards really get Denver?

 

[patsfan-1982]

yes this defense is not great because of the injuries but the pass rush is still worlds better then last years because of chan jones and when Talib, Dennard. Gregory and McCourty are all starting they are a good secondary,

the big problem is the run defense and LB coverage but IMO this team has just as good a shot at getting to and winning the SB as any playoff team dose

 

[PatsDeb]

Our best defense is bad weather. Pray for wind and snow.

Did anyone else sit there during the Chiefs/Broncos game and wonder how the heck we beat Manning & Co.? Then I remembered the great equalizer - sustained 25 MPH winds into the face of Manning for most of the game...

 

[Halifax_Pats_Fan]

Seems to me we have been having this discussion for a while around here.

I agree, we need to get better. Why is it taking so long?

Some posters may say ...well we won the game and that is what matters...agree, winning is what matters. If we want to win in February, a solid defense matters.

We have who we have for this year, there is some potential.

We can only hope they get hot down the stretch...

 

[Patsfan_22]

Gregory and Dennard will be back for the playoffs hopefully. The defense really does suck but I mean you can't really blame them, there are just too many injuries right now.

No other defense in the league has lost this many pieces, imagine the 49er defense without Justin Smith, Patrick Willis, Donte Whitner and Eric Wright. It's a shame because the defense was playing so well at the beginning of the year.

I'm just hoping we resign Talib and get better luck next year, I'm excited at possibly how good the defense will be with all the experience these rookies are getting...

 

[Archeryaddict12]

Gregory and Dennard will be back for the playoffs hopefully. The defense really does suck but I mean you can't really blame them, there are just too many injuries right now.

No other defense in the league has lost this many pieces, imagine the 49er defense without Justin Smith, Patrick Willis, Donte Whitner and Eric Wright. It's a shame because the defense was playing so well at the beginning of the year.

I'm just hoping we resign Talib and get better luck next year, I'm excited at possibly how good the defense will be with all the experience these rookies are getting...

Don't right this team off from a SB win this year. They can do it this year.

 

[JMC00]

Gregory and Dennard will be back for the playoffs hopefully.

Gregory played some today.

 

[SalemPats]

It is what it is. In all seriousness next year we will be ridiculous. We'll have a healthy defense that went from a young group to a veteran solid one. That will give Brady more 3 and outs and more points. I'm already excited

 

[RayClay]

It is what it is. In all seriousness next year we will be ridiculous. We'll have a healthy defense that went from a young group to a veteran solid one. That will give Brady more 3 and outs and more points. I'm already excited

9-3 headed for the playoffs doesn't excite you?

 

[BradyFTW!]

Yes, clearly Jones and Vellano are not starter-caliber DTs. We've known this for well over a month now. Yes, this means we're going to get gashed in the running game. But hey, teams have won Super Bowls with bigger Achilles heels. I sure as hell don't like it, and I'm willing to bet that what knocks us out of the playoffs will be some combination of interior line play, DTs getting pushed back against the run, and Spikes/Hightower/Arrington in coverage. But as long as there's a chance, just have to hope for the best.

 

[Archeryaddict12]

It is what it is. In all seriousness next year we will be ridiculous. We'll have a healthy defense that went from a young group to a veteran solid one. That will give Brady more 3 and outs and more points. I'm already excited

How about we work on winning these next 7 games and getting a ring. Then we can worry about our 23-0 amazing Super Bowl dominating win next year with Brady throwing 60 Tds and running the ball for 30tds.

 

[VrabelJr]

The defense has a lot of big pieces missing:

Wilfork – best 3-4/4-3 NT/DT in the NFL
Kelly – top ten 4-3/3-4 DT/DE in the NFL
Mayo – top five 4-3/3-4 OLB/ILB in the NFL
Dennard – top five RCB in the NFL

All things considered Texans had 264 passing yards, 121 rushing yards and under 27 minutes TOP. We had probably our worst defensive game of the year and it probably would have been our best back in 2011 so I wouldn’t make more out of it than need be, we made stops when we had to and got out there with a win. The Texans record is misleading they’re not as bad as it indicates and that QB has been pretty impressive since taking over.

Quite gratuitous in your rankings there, sir.

Barring defense, these injuries can't get any worse. Errr, I mean: barring injuries, this defense can't get any worse. There's some people being asked to fill some pretty big shoes. Four more games can only help.

 

[alvinnf]

IMO , Spikes is playing like a 3 down player. Sure he can get beat, but he is a playmaker out there. Hightower, not so much. Other than question marks with the LB core, as someone said already, their ability to play man will make or break em.

 

[RayClay]

For all the people waiting for that perfect, unblemished team next year, next year never comes.

It will be just another year with unexpected injuries, problems etc.

If you don't think so, remember we just added "one of your top offensive threats turns out to be a secret mass murderer" to the list.

There is only next game and this year, that's all there ever is.

 

[RayClay]

IMO , Spikes is playing like a 3 down player. Sure he can get beat, but he is a playmaker out there. Hightower, not so much. Other than question marks with the LB core, as someone said already, their ability to play man will make or break em.

Really? I think he looks injured.