New England Patriots: Are Defending Super Bowl Champions In Real Trouble?

After 10 straight wins to start the season, the New England Patriots aren’t themselves these days for numerous reasons.

Dec 6, 2015; Foxborough, MA, USA; New England Patriots head coach Bill Belichick watches from the sidelines during the first half against the Philadelphia Eagles at Gillette Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark L. Baer-USA TODAY Sports

It’s very rare to see the New England Patriots lose a game as of late.

It is even more surprising to watch Bill Belichick’s team in the midst of consecutive losses.

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Bill Belichick’s squad has a very important encounter with the Houston Texans in the Lone Star State on Sunday night. After opening the season with 10 consecutive victories, the Pats fell to the Denver Broncos in overtime, 30-24, and were they stunned at home by the Philadelphia Eagles, 35-28.

In each contest, New England squandered 14-point leads. There has been no real rhyme or reason in terms of the issues on the defensive side of the ball. One week after giving up 179 yards rushing at Denver, the Patriots gave up only 248 total yards in the setback to the Eagles. Three of Philadelphia’s five touchdowns were courtesy of their own defense and special teams.

Still, the absences of linebackers Dont’a Hightower and Jamie Collins haven’t helped, especially when it comes to stopping the run.

Mandatory Credit: Kevin Hoffman-USA TODAY Sports

Dare we say it? It’s the New England offense that is having its issues and that is certainly to be expected. In recent weeks, the team lost highly-productive running back Dion Lewis (one of the best stories of the season) for the year and prolific wideout Julian Edelman has been out as well, missing the last three games and out Sunday night against the Texans.

In last week’s loss to the Eagles, Brady had the luxury of having wide receiver Danny Amendola back in the lineup after missing one game but he did not have perennial Pro Bowl tight end Rob Gronkowski at his disposal. He and fellow tight end Scott Chandler are both listed as questionable for the clash with Houston and it’s safe to say that the Patriots’ veteran signal-caller could use that duo in the worst way.

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Amazingly but not surprisingly considering the missing players, Brady has completed less than 55 percent of his passes in each of his last three contests. Over that span, he has thrown for seven touchdowns but has also been picked off three times. In his first nine games in 2015, the 16-year pro threw for 24 scores compared to only three interceptions.

The offensive line has also had its issues as well. Brady has been sacked a combined seven times the last two weeks and 29 times in 12 games this season. In 2014, the four-time Super Bowl champion was dropped just 21 times in 16 contests. Belichick has had to do his share of shuffling up front and all of that change has certainly hurt at times.

Still, with all of the injuries, no one has much sympathy for the Pats (or any other team) and Hightower knows it’s just part of the job.

“I feel like everybody kind of feels like that with injuries throughout the year,” said the young linebacker to Jeff Howe of the Boston Herald. “Right now, it’s just around that time, bodies banged up, getting toward the end of the season.

“It’s getting cold,” added Hightower. “Guys want to run the football. It’s more physical. It’s just part of football. The most you can do is just take care of your body and just try to thug it out.”

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It wasn’t long ago that we were talking about whether the Patriots were capable of going undefeated. Now there’s a sense that this club has lost a little bit of its mojo.

Of course, both Mo and Joe might be a little banged up these days anyway.

Then again, if you truly believe that the defending champs are in real trouble, you haven’t been watching for the last decade and a half. They usually find a way to get the job done.