With a far worse group of talent this season, the Patriots still managed to be in the top 10 in scoring defense this season. It was a triumph of coaching and scheme over lack of talent, which is why the defense couldn't get it done against the better offenses, when the coaching just wasn't sufficient to cover for the absence of quality players. Cripes, how do people explain why the re-insertion of Sanders into the starting role made the defense look so much better despite all the claims that he's not a good player? "Bend but don't break" is just fine.