INGLEWOOD, CALIFORNIA - DECEMBER 06: Chase Winovich #50 of the New England Patriots during warm up before the game against the Los Angeles Chargers at SoFi Stadium on December 06, 2020 in Inglewood, California. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)
It feels weird to say given their ridiculous output in 2019, but the New England Patriots’ defense will have to drastically improve next season if they have any hope of returning to the playoffs.
The mental fortitude of a defense can largely be traced to how they get after opposing quarterbacks, and the Patriots were one of the worst in the league in that regard, ranking 27th in both sacks (29) and QB knockdowns (43), as well as 17th in total pressures (146).