When naming the top-five defenses in the NFL, ESPN’s Mina Kimes included the New England Patriots on her list.
She called the unit the “best tackling defense in the entire NFL.”
The Patriots placed fourth in overall defense, according to Kimes, on a list that had the Cleveland Browns as the top-ranked unit in the league. The New York Jets and Dallas Cowboys filled the second and third spots, while the Baltimore Ravens took the fifth spot.
The Patriots look to return a defense that ranked seventh overall in the NFL last season, with key players like cornerback Christian Gonzalez and defensive end Matthew Judon now healthy.