We all kind of take for granted that the Patriots have the best secondary in the league, or at least one of them.
I mean, that's what we all think. That's what we keep saying — and I've certainly said it.
Talent-wise, it's hard to argue. Cornerbacks Stephon Gilmore (reigning NFL Defensive Player of the Year), Jonathan Jones, J.C. Jackson and Jason McCourty are all among the top 40 players at their position in the NFL, and they're advanced analytics darlings. At safety, Devin McCourty is one of the league's best, and Adrian Phillips, Kyle Dugger and Terrence Brooks at least are giving the Patriots what they received from Patrick Chung by the end of the season. Joejuan Williams has done a nice job matching up against tight ends.
And they're certainly paid well. According to SpoTrac.com, the Patriots' secondary is the highest-paid unit across the NFL.
But what has this group actually proven on the field?
Last season, they lost to the best quarterbacks they faced: Lamar Jackson, Deshaun Watson and Patrick Mahomes. They did beat Ben Roethlisberger and Dak Prescott, but the Steelers were in Week 1 and the Cowboys were such a dumpster fire that they fired their offensive-minded coach at the end of the season. The other quarterbacks they defeated aren't making anyone's Hall of Fame shortlist anytime soon: Ryan Fitzpatrick, Josh Rosen, Sam Darnold, Josh Allen, Carson Wentz, Colt McCoy, Baker Mayfield and Andy Dalton.
It's true, you can only beat who's on your schedule. That's fine for team victories. But you don't get to enhance your reputation without playing and beating the best — and the Patriots' defensive schedule ranked 32nd in the league last season.
Oh, and don't forget that with something very real on the line — a first-round bye — and while playing at home, the Dolphins and Fitzpatrick tore through the Patriots' vaunted secondary with 320 yards — including a 75-yard, 13-play touchdown drive to win the game in the closing seconds to set the stage for a first-round playoff exit.
How can you be the best without shutting down the best, or even taking care of business against a rebuilding team?
Sunday's showdown against the Chiefs presents that kind of opportunity. It's kind of put up or shut up time for the Patriots' secondary, and they know it.
"It's a big opportunity for us to go out and show what we can do against those guys," Gilmore told reporters this week. "They have great speed. We're not going to back down. So it's going to be two good teams playing against each other. That's why you play the game. To go out there and compete against good teams."
(Adam Richins for BSJ)On paper, the Patriots did a nice job last season against Mahomes, as his 83.6 rating was his fifth-worst last season. But Mahomes was coming off his knee injury, injured his hand during the contest and seemed to be limited.
But the Patriots match up really well with the Chiefs, and they should — they spent a lot of dough to be at that level.
However, it's one thing to say and believe the Patriots are the best secondary in the league — which most of us do — and another for them to prove it against the most dangerous offense in the game.
Sunday would be a great time to say it on the field.
