The New England Patriots are one win away from their first trip to the Super Bowl since 2019 after another dominant showing from the defensive line in the divisional win over the Houston Texans. While quarterback Drake Maye accounted for three TDs, the defensive front really stole the show, sacking Texans QB C.J. Stroud three times and holding the Houston run game to just 48 yards.
One player who has been absent from the defensive front is rookie fourth-round pick Joshua Farmer, who has missed four games after a hamstring injury in the Dec. 21 win over the Baltimore Ravens placed him on injured reserve. However, he was practicing on Wednesday, per the Patriots Wire's Sophie Weller, which also marks the first day he has been eligible to return from IR.
The Patriots have performed well with or without Farmer, but if he is able to get cleared ahead of Sunday's AFC Championship against the Denver Broncos, or the Super Bowl if New England is able to get there, he has already proven to be someone the Patriots can use as part of their rotation.
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Farmer has appeared in 13 games this season, recording 15 tackles, one tackle for loss, one fumble recovery, and one batted pass. Furthermore, he has made three starts, playing a total of 224 defensive snaps and 17 on special teams. He has had no more than two tackles in one game and has yet to record a sack, but he at least has some experience in this rotation throughout the season and could be a key rotation piece for New England as it tries to keep its stout defensive front healthy and rested up.
In the two playoff wins alone, the defense has allowed 448 total yards and forced six turnovers. Any Super Bowl aspirations for the Patriots, though, rest specifically on the defensive line. Led by Milton Williams, Christian Barmore, Harold Landry III, and K'Lavon Chaisson, the pass rush has combined for nine sacks, 70 pressures, and 13 QB hits. As impressive as they have been, Denver will pose the biggest challenge of the postseason so far, as its offensive line is tied for the fewest sacks allowed (23) this season, which will force the Patriots' front to be at its absolute best.
As Pro Football Focus notes, Farmer's overall grade (49) is ranked 104th out of 134 qualified interior defenders. While that alone is not enough to get a solid read on Farmer's performance up to this point, it isn't exactly ideal. However, he has only started three games, so there is not a lot to go off of, either, in comparison to some of the other interior defenders.
With backup QB Jarrett Stidham set to make his fifth career start, Denver will undoubtedly try to get its run game going against a Patriots team that has given up at least 100 rush yards in seven of its last eight contests. Considering the continued struggles of New England's offense line and Denver's league-leading 68 sacks, how the Patriots' defensive front plays will likely dictate the outcome.
Farmer is still in the early stages of his career as he gets accustomed to playing in the NFL, but he has played enough snaps this season to be someone the Patriots can turn to for some extra depth. Even if he is not able to return for the AFC Championship Game, he could be in line to at least be available to return for the Super Bowl if New England can overcome Denver's solid front on both sides to get there.