The New England Patriots finished the preseason with a 2-1 record. Although they had two great wins against the Commanders and Vikings, their blowout loss to the Giants revealed the team’s biggest concern.
I understand the starters hardly play and the games don’t count; however, these games matter for players on the verge of making the roster. History has shown that the team with the best depth ends up hoisting the Lombardi Trophy
Through three games, it's evident that the Patriots lack that, specifically on defense.
Patriots’ Biggest Flaw is Depth
For the last two years, the Patriots lacked talented players on both sides. Heading into the offseason, the Patriots made it a priority to change this by surrounding Drake Maye with skilled players. They did just that, spending more than any team in free agency.
While this year’s Patriots are far better than they were last year, they still lack quality depth players. This was apparent in their loss to the Giants, where they gave up 320 passing yards and 111 rushing yards.
Secondary and D-Line Lacks Depth
No question, the Patriots’ defense is their strongest unit, and their defensive starters are exceptional. However, the majority of their depth players weren’t great in the preseason.
The secondary is stacked with Christian Gonzalez, Carlton Davis III, and Jabrill Peppers. After that, there’s a big drop off. In the game against the Giants, rookies Kobee Minor and Brandon Crossley, along with second-year player Miles Battle, received the majority of the snaps at corner.
While Crossley had a solid game, both Minor and Crossley gave up a touchdown. These three have been unimpressive in preseason play and must improve when their time comes, given Davis III and Gonzalez’s injury history.
The second-unit defensive line was also concerning, as Bradyn Swinson and Joshua Farmer, who were both touted as good pass rushers in this year's class, failed to get to the quarterback in three games. Anfernee Jennings was one of the few standouts from the preseason, yet his name has been thrown around in trade rumors.
Hopefully, as the season progresses, these younger players will progress, but it needs to happen quickly, as injuries are bound to happen.