As most expected ahead of the season, the Patriots' defense has picked up where it left off last year and continued its dominance through the first four games. While there is certainly room for improvement, there is a lot to like about the current group, who have already made a big impact, even in the games they lost.
There were concerns about certain parts of the defensive roster, particularly the pass rush, since the Patriots chose not to re-sign K'Lavon Chaisson in free agency and Harold Landry has been away from the team for months.
However, young defenders like rookie Gabe Jacas and Elijah Ponder have already exceeded expectations, adding optimism for the rest of the season. Then there are the ever-aggressive Christian Elliss and Dre'Mont Jones, who have played better than anticipated, making things even better.
The same can be said about the secondary, led by cornerbacks Christian Gonzalez and Carlton Davis, with Marcus Jones and safety Craig Woodson making some good plays.
It's putting New England's defense in the spotlight to the point that some notable analysts, most recently Justin Simmons, have brought attention to the group and even claimed they might be the most underrated defense in the league.
The Patriots' defense is starting to get a lot of attention for their performance this season
It's a strong statement, given that the Patriots are 2-2 after this week's win over the Bills.
But based on how they shut down Josh Allen for the most part, who didn't really make any explosive plays on Sunday, and kept James Cook from dominating and determining the game, the underrated label feels more than fitting.
"I think this is one of the most underrated defenses in the NFL." @jsimms1119 on the Patriots defense.#scoreboard pic.twitter.com/bI2UGxGKX0
— NFL on CBS 🏈 (@NFLonCBS) October 4, 2026
Is he wrong though?
The defense slowed down a high-powered offense on Sunday led by the MVP frontrunner, one of the league's best running backs, and a not-too-shabby receiving corps. The teams they have played this season couldn't do that, which is why the Bills were undefeated going into the game, so the Patriots deserve credit for accomplishing that.
On top of that, beating them in a hostile environment like Buffalo is no easy feat. Bills fans are a rowdy group known for throwing things at opposing teams, and they're beyond excited about their new stadium, which only adds to the already loud crowd reactions.
That's something we shouldn't overlook, especially after struggling against the Jaguars last week.
Even without Christian Barmore, one of their best defensive tackles, and Christian Gonzalez, their superstar cornerback, on the field for the game, the defense kept the Bills' offense in check. So you can only imagine how much better they would have fared with the full group, which they will hopefully be the next time they meet this season.
Clearly, their upcoming opponents will need to prepare better for what they can bring to the field, since the Bills didn't look like they did well enough leading up to Sunday's game.
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