New England Patriots: 3 Players that must shine vs. Eagles in Week 11
3. Patriots defense
For a majority of the season up to this point, New England has held one of the top defensive groups in the NFL, while holding opponents in check for a majority of contests week in and week out.
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In the Week 9 defeat on the road against the Baltimore Ravens, however, the Patriots ended up allowing a high-powered Ravens offense go off for 37 points, which is the most points New England has allowed an opposition to score thus far in the 2019 campaign.
In the loss to Baltimore away from Foxborough, New England was able to accomplish holding the Ravens in check for the most part in the passing game. Baltimore, behind quarterback Lamar Jackson, finished with 163 yards through the air while New England grabbed 268 yards through the air on its side of the field.
In the running game, though, the Ravens took it to the Patriots and held a clear advantage en route to handing the defending champions their first loss of the year. New England recorded just 74 yards on the ground, while giving up a total of 210 rushing yards to Baltimore in the ground game.
Entering the 11th week of action this weekend, the Patriots defense still ranks high among various NFL stat categories to this point in the campaign, ranking first in points allowed per game (10.9), first in yards given up per game (249.3) and has recoded a league-most 19 interceptions.
Against Philadelphia on Sunday, New England and its dominant defense needs to return to form and hold Eagles quarterback Carson Wentz and the rest of the offensive unit in check to grab its ninth victory of the season.