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Kyle Van Noy acknowledges Patriots defense must stay humble

By Patrick Morgan

FOXBOROUGH, MA - SEPTEMBER 22: Kyle Van Noy #53 of the New England Patriots pressures Luke Falk #8 of the New York Jets during the third quarter of a game at Gillette Stadium on September 22, 2019 in Foxborough, Massachusetts. (Photo by Billie Weiss/Getty Images)
FOXBOROUGH, MA - SEPTEMBER 22: Kyle Van Noy #53 of the New England Patriots pressures Luke Falk #8 of the New York Jets during the third quarter of a game at Gillette Stadium on September 22, 2019 in Foxborough, Massachusetts. (Photo by Billie Weiss/Getty Images) /
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Kyle Van Noy and the New England Patriots defense know they have something special going on this year… but they can’t let it go to their heads.

The New England Patriots defense is off to an incredible start this year. They’ve already made history by refusing to allow a rushing or receiving touchdown through the first three weeks of the season – a feat that’s never before been accomplished until now.

On top of that mind-blowing stat, here are some other highly-impressive facts and figures regarding the Patriots D:

  • Lead the league in yards allowed per game with 199.0 (second-best is nearly 100 yards behind them)
  • Lead the league in points allowed per game with 5.7 (second-best is more than a touchdown behind them)
  • Tied for the league lead in sacks with 13.0
  • Lead the league in interceptions with 6
  • Lead the league in defensive touchdowns with 2
  • Second in the league in passes defensed with 29
  • Lead the league in first downs allowed per game with 10.7
  • Lead the league in third down conversion percentage allowed at 13%

Add all of it up, and Bill Belichick’s men have a lot to be excited about and proud of this season so far.

Although according to NESN’s Doug Kyed, at least one leader on the Patriots defense acknowledged that it’s important for the team to keep their hot start in perspective. New England’s opponents through the first three weeks of the season are a combined 0-9, and though that shouldn’t diminish any of the Patriots’ accomplishments, it’s at least part of the reason why linebacker Kyle Van Noy said his team is staying humble and refusing to let outside praise get to their heads.

“No, I mean, I think any time — how can you — you can’t really hate too much,” Van Noy said of the reaction he and his teammates have received from their coaches. “Of course, they’re going to give compliments, but at the same time, if you mess up, they’re going to hate on you for that. It’s just staying humble and staying aggressive. I think we have the right group to do it. It’s still September. It’s still early. We know there’s a lot of football left. A lot of change is going to happen. We just have to keep our foot on the gas.”

Van Noy and the Patriots under Bill Belichick know not to look beyond their next opponent on the calendar, but we can do it for them in this instance. Sure, the Steelers, Dolphins, and Jets haven’t looked too impressive this season, but the Cowboys, Eagles, Ravens, Texans, and Chiefs most certainly have, and all five of those teams are still scheduled to combat the Pats in the future.

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The New England defense will need to maintain their high-end level of play to slow down all five of those potent offenses. If they can replicate their early-season success against the likes of teams like the Ravens and the Chiefs, then Van Noy and the Patriots stand a real chance of earning home-field advantage throughout the AFC playoffs this year.

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