The New England Patriots desperately need things to begin bouncing their way, as the 2026 season has gotten off to a rocky start thus far. The team ranks 31st in points per game, and while the defense has held their own, the struggles on offense are dominating headlines.
Quarterback Drake Maye looks like a shell of his former self despite coming in second in the NFL MVP voting, and while the offense tries to figure out what the heck is wrong, the defense is now approaching 'banged up' territory.
In a major divisional showdown against the Buffalo Bills in Week 4, the team is going to be without two key defenders, making this test even tougher.
New England Patriots won't have two key defenders on Sunday against the Bills
Head coach Mike Vrabel, on Friday, ruled out cornerback Christian Gonzalez and defensive tackle Christian Barmore for Week 4:
CB Christian Gonzalez (shoulder) and DT Christian Barmore (shoulder) will not play against the Bills, per Mike Vrabel. pic.twitter.com/yQhF7tXgEc
— Mike Reiss (@MikeReiss) October 2, 2026
Gonzalez had played in all three games thus far, already racking up five defended passes. According to Pro Football Reference, he's only allowed a passer rating of 51.6 in coverage, which would be the best mark of his career. One of the best CBs in the NFL, Gonzalez' loss is going to be major for the defense.
This could open up more opportunities for Bills quarterback Josh Allen to thrive in the passing game, especially since Buffalo is at home. Barmore has also played in all three games thus far. He's racked up one tackle, one tackle for loss, and three quarterback hits.
I guess the bright side here is that the defense has been so strong to start the season, that the unit might be able to survive not having Gonzalez or Barmore for a week or two, but this would have to mean that the offense needs to get back on track starting now.
Fortunately, we're still very early on in the season, so things have plenty of time to turn around, but in a matchup that already felt like a tough mountain to climb before the injuries, now officially not having two foundational pieces on defense is going to make this game rather tough.
The Patriots risk falling three games behind the Bills with a loss in a season that already feels like it's spiraling out of control. Both Gonzalez and Barmore did not practice all week, and it's currently unclear how many games, if more than one, the duo will miss.
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