With the first quarter of the 2019 regular season in the books, who have been the standouts for the New England Patriots on defense so far?
Trying to select individual MVPs right now on a New England Patriots defense this phenomenal is a little bit like trying to decide your favorite “Friends” episode, or trying to pick the best Beatles song of all-time. A thoroughly-compelling argument can be presented for numerous options, and although it’s a fun exercise to consider, it’s also one that’s sure to provoke plenty of healthy debate and dissension.
The only real undeniable truth in these examples is that just like “Friends” and The Beatles, the Patriots defense this season is an utter pleasure to take in (unless you’re a fan of the Steelers or the three other squads in the AFC East).
New England currently ranks first in the NFL in yards allowed, points allowed, sacks, and interceptions this season. They became the first defense in NFL history to not allow a touchdown through three regular season games. They still haven’t allowed a passing touchdown through four regular season games. Largely thanks to the defensive dominance, the Patriots have the third highest point-differential in NFL history after the first quarter of the season.
All of this is to say that this defense is very, very, very good. With proper kudos and respect to the Buffalo Bills and the Chicago Bears, the NFL’s best defense is its top-ranked defense in every major statistical category, and that unit resides in Foxborough under the watchful eye of head coach/defensive coordinator Bill Belichick.
For the purposes of this article though, let’s narrow down a large and worthy pool of candidates to select the three defensive MVPs for the Pats at the quarter-mark of the season.
3. Kyle Van Noy
Kyle Van Noy might have ranked even higher on this list if he’d been active for the first game of the year against the Pittsburgh Steelers. Arguably the most important defensive player during the Patriots’ 2018 playoff run and Super Bowl 53 victory over the L.A. Rams, Van Noy was absent for the season opener as he and his wife welcomed the birth of their first child.
It’s no big deal though from a football perspective, because Van Noy has more than made up for that game over the past three weeks. He used the Miami game to shake off some rust before reasserting himself on the national scene in Weeks 3 and 4 against the New York Jets and the Buffalo Bills, respectively.
The sixth-year linebacker out of BYU was particularly impressive last Sunday against the Bills on the road. He led the team in tackles with eight – six of which were solo and two of which went for a loss. He also had three quarterback hits, two sacks, and two forced fumbles… not to mention he essentially sealed the win for the Pats when his pressure on Bills backup QB Matt Barkley resulted in an errant throw and Jamie Collins’ game-icing interception.
For his efforts, the NFL rewarded him with the distinction of being named AFC Defensive Player of the Week, per the team’s official website. As New England’s press department points out: “It is the first time that Van Noy has earned the NFL award and marks the Patriots’ first AFC Defensive Player of the Week award since LB Dont’a Hightower was honored after Week 6 of the 2016 season.”
It very well could be just the tip of the iceberg this season for Van Noy, who looks like he could have a career year in 2019.
2. Devin McCourty
Now in his 10th season in the NFL, safety Devin McCourty has had a blistering start to the year. He has four interceptions through four games of action – one pick in each – and as a result, leads the entire league in that category.
Moreover, McCourty now already has the third-most interceptions he’s ever had in a single season, and he has the most interceptions in a season since he made the full-time switch from cornerback to free safety back in 2012. With one more pick, he’ll tie his total from that 2012 season; with three more picks, he’ll tie the career high he set for himself as a rookie… all the way back in 2010, when he was still a bright-eyed and bushy-tailed first-round pick out of Rutgers.
Somewhat amazingly, McCourty actually publicly mulled retiring after last season during Super Bowl Opening Night media sessions. While his twin Jason – who himself is having quite a fine season in his second year with the Pats – laughed off his brother’s remarks and called him a “drama queen,” it’s still remarkable to consider what No. 32 is doing this year as a 32-year-old who wasn’t sold on coming back for Year 10.
Obviously the gaudy interception total and streak is what’s going to nab all the headlines, but even when McCourty hasn’t ended up with the ball in his hands, he’s been excellent in pass coverage playing center-fielder for the Pats. As an official selection for ProFootballFocus’ First-Quarter NFL All-Pro team, McCourty reportedly ranks second in the NFL in overall grade among safeties (behind the Bills’ Micah Hyde) and is tied for first in coverage grade with the Jets’ Jamal Adams.
Even if the interceptions don’t continue to pile up as the season drags on, McCourty should receive heavy consideration to make his first Pro Bowl since 2016. He’s only received an invite twice before (2010 and 2016), but this could be the year that changes… not that he’d ever end up playing in the actual game anyway.
1. Jamie Collins Sr.
On a defense that has surprised a lot of people through the first quarter of the 2019 regular season, Jamie Collins Sr. ranks as the most surprising individual player.
Ignominiously exiled to Cleveland after reports surfaced of Collins freelancing on defense and taking occasional plays off, all it took was two-and-a-half years with the Browns for the former second-round pick out of Southern Mississippi to realize how good he had it up in New England with Bill Belichick. Just nine days after he was released by Cleveland, Collins re-upped with the Pats on a one-year prove-it deal.
And boy, oh boy, has he proven it so far.
Collins leads the team in tackles through the first four games with 23, 17 of which he’s single-handedly responsible for. He also leads the team in sacks with 3.5, leads the team in tackles for loss with 7.0, ranks second on the team in passes defended with four, ranks second again in interceptions on the team with three, and is tied with Stephon Gilmore for the team lead in defensive touchdowns with one each.
The interceptions total is already his career high; with two more sacks, he’ll tie his previous career best in that category as well.
He’s also the only other Patriot to make ProFootballFocus’ First-Quarter NFL All-Pro team, who note that Collins “ranks second among all off-ball linebackers in overall grade (86.4) with plus grades defending the run, playing in coverage and rushing the passer.”
ESPN’s Bill Barnwell also included Collins in his quarter-season awards column, listing the linebacker as the league’s third-best offseason acquisition. Barnwell points out that Collins has been “all over the place” for the Pats on the field, but he especially gives Collins props for his success as a blitzer.
Of course, Collins has done so much more this season beyond just getting pressure on opposing quarterbacks. He looks rejuvenated in his second stint with New England, and his overall effort and motor on the field is finally starting to align perfectly with the ridiculous level of talent and ability he has as a pure football specimen.