Fansided

5 reasons the Patriots are dangerous regardless of QB concerns

By John Buhler

Sep 22, 2016; Foxborough, MA, USA; New England Patriots head coach Bill Belichick looks on from the sideline during the fourth quarter against the Houston Texans at Gillette Stadium. The Patriots won 27-0. Mandatory Credit: Greg M. Cooper-USA TODAY Sports
Sep 22, 2016; Foxborough, MA, USA; New England Patriots head coach Bill Belichick looks on from the sideline during the fourth quarter against the Houston Texans at Gillette Stadium. The Patriots won 27-0. Mandatory Credit: Greg M. Cooper-USA TODAY Sports /
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Sep 11, 2016; Glendale, AZ, USA; New England Patriots linebacker Jamie Collins (91) tackles Arizona Cardinals wide receiver Michael Floyd (15) at University of Phoenix Stadium. The Patriots defeated the Cardinals 23-21. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports
Sep 11, 2016; Glendale, AZ, USA; New England Patriots linebacker Jamie Collins (91) tackles Arizona Cardinals wide receiver Michael Floyd (15) at University of Phoenix Stadium. The Patriots defeated the Cardinals 23-21. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports /

2. Defense-first football franchise

Every head coach favors one side of the ball over the other. People tend to forget that Belichick is a defense-first head coach because of Brady’s 15 years of success under center. The proof that Belichick is a defense-first head coach is that New England is never bad on that side of the ball.

Belichick is unbelievable at drafting, cultivating, and replacing players in his defensive front seven. He knows that the game is won and lost in the trenches. His defensive front-seven is usually one of the very best in football annually.

His secondaries are pretty good, too, as New England rarely gives up the big play on vertical routes. Belichick never puts his defensive players in positions that they can’t succeed in. The overall effect is that the Patriots are never blown out. Their offense may struggle at times, but the defense always gives New England a chance at victory.

Belichick knows that he can lean on his defense when having to start a fourth-string quarterback because when has he not leaned on his defense? Maybe the Brady to Moss years and that’s about it. If the Patriots can limit the other team’s offense to less than 20 points, then New England has a chance to win no matter who is starting under center.

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