The Patriots defense was driving down a bumpy road in a title-contending 2011 season when head coach Bill Belichick made a significant change.
The Patriots high-powered offense with quarterback Tom Brady led the Pats all the way to the Super Bowl with a 13-3 record in the regular season despite a pass defense that ranked 31st in the NFL, allowing 282 passing yards per game and a league-high 80 explosive passing plays over 20 yards. New England had significant injuries in the secondary, even leading to Julian Edelman and Matthew Slater playing roles as defensive backs during the regular season.