This defense looks pretty good, except for when it absolutely has to be.Ĭameron Jordan: The Saints’ six-time Pro Bowl defensive end has 48 sacks since the start of the 2017 season, but he’s still searching for his first this season. An inability to get a necessary stop was similar to the ending of the season-opening loss to the Dolphins. As good as Judon was, the reality is that the defense couldn’t get off the field on the Saints’ clinching 13-play, 75-yard touchdown drive in the fourth quarter. Of course, it didn’t turn into anything, and no one is especially interested in silver linings after this one. If the Patriots ever thought they had a fleeting fraction of a smidgen of a gasp of a chance to win, it probably was early in the fourth quarter, when Judon sacked Saints quarterback Jameis Winston on third and 12 on the Saints 12-yard line with the Patriots down a manageable 21-6. He played with his usual energy, tallying 2½ sacks, 2 tackles for a loss, and 3 quarterback hits. Matthew Judon: The edge rusher is one of the few Patriots offseason signings who has lived up to his billing (and salary) so far. Jackson, Deonte Harris, Patriots’ right tackle)
(Players suggested in Unconventional Preview : J.C.