TAMPA, Fla. -- When it comes to the issues that have contributed to the New England Patriots' disappointing 2-2 start, a trip inside the boxing ring best explains it.
Sometimes a fight is lost by a series of jabs, hooks and strategic maneuvering that wears an opponent down. Other times, it can be as simple as one knockout punch providing a stunning blow that is too much to recover from.
The Patriots so obviously fall into the latter category that it doesn’t take an advanced course at Belichick University to figure it out. Until they stop giving up big plays on defense, they will continue to live on the edge.