New England Patriots: Malcom Brown shines against Jets

FOXBORO, MA - JANUARY 14: Malcom Brown
FOXBORO, MA - JANUARY 14: Malcom Brown

The New England Patriots were able to escape New York with a win over the Jets. One of the reasons why was because of the performance of Malcom Brown.

One of the major storylines for the New England Patriots this season has been the poor play of their defense. While their passing defense has taken a lot of heat, the run defense hasn’t been that great this season either.

Against the Jets, the Patriots had to be prepared to stop the run. New York always tries to establish the ground game against the Patriots, as it helps keep Tom Brady and the dangerous Patriots offense on the sideline.

So far this season, the Patriots have struggled against the run, and one of the reasons why has been the ineffectiveness of Alan Branch. Last season, Branch played excellent for the Patriots. However, that has not been the case so far this season.

In the win against the Jets, Branch did get some snaps after being a healthy scratch, but it was Malcom Brown who really impressed at defensive tackle. Brown was able to total 44 snaps, two runs stops, two quarterback pressures, and one sack in the win against the Jets.

Even though the Jets were without Powell, the Patriots were able to dominate their rushing offense. Matt Forte and Elijah McGuire were non-factors in the running game, and the Patriots forced the Jets to throw the ball. One of the main reasons for that was the play of Brown.

Moving forward, having Brown playing at a high level will be important for the Patriots. Due to the struggles of Branch this season, the Patriots need a player to step up in the middle of their defense. If the game against the Jets was any indication, Brown might be ready to be the guy at defensive tackle for the Patriots.

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The Patriots will have a big game coming up against the Atlanta Falcons on Sunday Night Football. With the Falcons’ ability to run the football, Brown will certainly be a player to watch.

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