FOXBOROUGH, MA - OCTOBER 27: New England Patriots Linebacker Dont'a Hightower #54 (Photo by Timothy Bouwer/ISI Photos/Getty Images)
The COVID-19 pandemic hit the entire NFL hard, but the New England Patriots really took it on the chin, as they lost starters like linebacker Dont’a Hightower, safety Patrick Chung, and right tackle Marcus Cannon due to opt-outs.
While the Patriots had enough depth to win seven games without these three, losing a starting safety, linebacker, and offensive lineman before the season started was a brutal blow that even the mighty Bill Belichick was unable to overcome.