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It may have felt like garbage time against the Dolphins Sunday, but we all actually got to witness the depth the Patriots have on their defensive line. They picked up a season-high seven sacks against the Dolphins with undrafted rookie Justin Francis leading the way with three. Brandon Deaderick, a backup defensive tackle, got his first sack of the season in the finale. Trevor Scott (1 sack) got in on the action, as did Vince Wilfork (1 sack). The output was a welcoming sign considering one of the most consistent pass rushers, Rob Ninkovich, left the game with a hip injury.

https://www.patspropaganda.com/it-may-have-felt-like-garbage-time-against-the/

The situation could be similar to one last season, when top pass rusher Andre Carter went down with a season-ending quad injury in Week 15. Coincidentally, it was Ninkovich who stepped up in Carter’s place, recording three sacks and two forced fumbles over the final two regular-season games and three playoff games. Overall, the Patriots’ defense had 18 sacks over that five-game period, culminating in their appearance in Super Bowl XLVI. If Ninkovich winds up missing the playoffs, as Carter did, the Patriots could be better suited from a depth standpoint to handle the blow. Scott and Francis could be part of the mix, while Jermaine Cunningham, who had a quiet return from a four-game suspension on Sunday, also could factor in.

https://www.patspropaganda.com/the-situation-could-be-similar-to-one-last-season/

The Dolphins have hardly a world-beating passing offense, and the Patriots didn’t make it look any better than it is, which helped the defense as a whole. The coverage in the back end was a major contributing factor to the seven sacks of Miami quarterback Ryan Tannehill, the highest total in over five years. The Dolphins posted four passing plays of 20 yards or more, but three of those came in Dolphins territory. Few would say Sunday’s performance will translate into a tighter pass defense in the playoffs, but it was a step in the right direction after a rough outing in Jacksonville.

https://www.patspropaganda.com/the-dolphins-have-hardly-a-world-beating-passing/