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Comeback thrills aside, nobody in the NFL has been worse defensively than the Patriots

COMMENTARY

After Houston Texans rookie quarterback Deshaun Watson torched the Patriots on Sunday for 301 yards passing, 41 more on the ground, and two touchdown passes in only his second professional start, New England cornerback Malcolm Butler likened his performance to one of the league’s most dynamic performers behind center.

“That’s an upcoming Cam Newton,” Butler said after the Patriots’ dramatic 36-33 comeback win over the Texans, a game during which the New England defense surrendered 417 net yards to a Houston team that came into the game having scored only 20 points total over its first two games.