New England Patriots must do a better job protecting Tom Brady

All of the hits that New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady has suffered this season appear to have started to add up.

So far, the 2017 season has not gone as expected for the New England Patriots. Through five games, they have a 3-2 record, but they haven’t looked all that good.

A lot of the blame has been directed toward the defensive side of the ball. For most of the season so far, the defense has struggled to slow anyone down. However, the offensive line for the Patriots has also been a big issue.

Last season, one of the greatest strengths for the Patriots was their offensive line. The Patriots were able to have one of the best overall lines in the NFL, and that certainly helped Tom Brady have a great season. In his career, when Brady is properly protected, he can make defenses pay.

This season, Brady has played great. However, he is getting hit a lot, and those hits are starting to add up. According to Ian Rapoport, Brady has an AC Joint sprain in his non-throwing shoulder.

Through five games, Brady has been sacked 16 times already this season, as the slightly more than three sacks per game average has to change.

Luckily, it appears like Brady will be ready to go for what has all of a sudden became a big game against the New York Jets. With both teams have 3-2 records, this game is a lot more meaningful than anyone would have imagined a few weeks ago.

With Brady being banged up, the Jets will likely try to put as much pressure on him as possible early on. New York’s offense might lack talent, but they certainly still have a pretty good defense led by Leonard Williams and Muhammad Wilkerson.

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Considering that Brady is a bit banged up, it will be important for the Patriots to protect him against the Jets. Whether that means the offensive line stepping up of quicker routes by the wide receivers, something has to be done or Brady might not make it through the season.