"I'm talking about slow starts. Yes, the Patriots have taken care of the Saints, the Panthers, the Browns, and the Titans over the last month-plus, but the common denominator in those games? All four opponents scored opening-drive touchdowns. The Patriots are not going to play Cam Ward, Spencer Rattler, and Dillon Gabriel every week. They still face Josh Allen, and there's a chance that, when they go to Baltimore, Lamar Jackson will be healthy. You're not going to get away with that against those guys."
"Some pundits are starting to buy in on the Patriots taking the AFC East crown from Buffalo this year. While the Patriots are leading the division, Buffalo - which thumped Carolina in Week 8 - isn't going anywhere. And if the Patriots are going to fulfill those predictions - or even get to the playoffs - they've got to get off the field on defense early in games. You can't fall behind the eight-ball against better quarterbacks like Allen and Jackson."
The Patriots have a five-game winning streak, their longest since 2021, but persistent slow defensive starts remain a major issue. Four recent opponents scored opening-drive touchdowns, exposing a recurring failure to get off the field early. The current stretch of wins has come against weaker signal-callers, and the team still faces elite quarterbacks such as Josh Allen and potentially a healthy Lamar Jackson. The offense produced only three first-half field goals against Cleveland, increasing pressure on the defense. Coaching staff acknowledges the need for faster defensive starts and cleaner play to sustain divisional contention and playoff aspirations.
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