The New England Patriots decided to leave DT Alan Branch in Foxboro this week and to face the Tampa Bay Buccaneers with just two pure defensive interior players in Malcom Brown and Lawrence Guy. The decision is linked to “performance issues” and Branch’s lack of production on the field.
Branch had been the heart of the New England run defense over the past two seasons as the Patriots finished ranked 10th and 5th in run defense DVOA. This year, the Patriots have plummeted down to 22nd, the team’s lowest ranking since 2013.