The Patriots had three big problems with their third-down defense last year, which slid from 12th in the league (37.1 percent) in 2009.
They were last in the league in three different areas: conversions of 10 or more yards (31.5 percent) and 4 to 5 yards (60 percent), and had a league-high 35 third-and-1 situations.
In ’09, the Patriots ranked 25th (24.1 percent), 11th (40.6 percent), and tied for fifth (21) in those categories.
Greg Bedard
Good stuff from Bedard on the new defensive looks we might see tonight. Recommended reading!