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New England Patriots Bye Week Check-In: Pass Defense

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By @ConnorFultonRS

Brandon Browner New England Patriots

Greg M. Cooper-USA TODAY Sports

It’s a stress-free weekend for New England Patriots fans. Let’s take this opportunity to assess each phase of the team as players rest up for next week’s showdown with the Indianapolis Colts. Previously, we looked at the states of the passing and running offenses. Now, let’s go to the other side of the ball and examine the pass defense.

Because they have been playing with such large leads over the past few weeks, the Patriots have given up a bunch of yards through the air; they currently rank 19th in total passing yards surrendered (2,116) and 15th in passing yards allowed per game (235). These numbers are misleading, as the revamped New England secondary has lived up to the hype and is performing at an elite level.

Let’s start with the cornerbacks, where interestingly, three offseason additions stand atop the depth chart right now. Darrelle Revis is playing like he is wearing Gang Green, blanketing Alshon Jeffery and Demaryius Thomas in consecutive weeks while also leading the Pats in interceptions with two picks. Sidekick Brandon Browner has injected physicality into the pass defense, suffocating Brandon Marshall and Julius Thomas in the past two games, and nabbing his first interception as a Patriot in the process.

After Revis and Browner, Malcolm Butler has made his presence felt. The undrafted rookie and training camp standout earned an astonishing 36 snaps last week against the Denver Broncos and held his own against Emmanuel Sanders. Evidently, Bill Belichick feels better putting Butler into the action before Logan Ryan and Alfonzo Dennard, who have both seen their roles decrease even though they are very capable cornerbacks as well. And as usual, veteran Kyle Arrington has been outstanding in the slot.

Behind this group of excellent corners are safeties Devin McCourty and Patrick Chung. D-Mac has continued to put himself in the conversation for best safety in the league, and Chung has been playing the best football of his life when he isn’t covering the likes of the Broncos’ Thomas. In addition, the pass defense gets plenty of help from speedy linebackers Jamie Collins and Akeem Ayers, as well as the playmaking Rob Ninkovich.

After surviving the league’s fourth-ranked aerial attack last week, the ante will most certainly be upped in Week 11 when the Patriots face Andrew Luck and the NFL’s best passing offense. The San Diego Chargers and Detroit Lions, who rank eighth and 13th in passing yards, respectively, will also present some trouble to the Pats’ secondary. However, look for Revis, Browner and the rest of the pass defense to only improve as the snow begins to fall in Foxboro, Mass.

Related Content:

Offseason Additions Are Fueling New England Patriots’ Hot Streak

New England Patriots Bye Week Check-In: Passing Game

New England Patriots Bye Week Check-In: Running Game

Connor Fulton is a Patriots writer for RantSports. Follow him on Twitter @ConnorFultonRS, or find him on Google.

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