Former New England Patriots nose tackle Vince Wilfork did not hold back when discussing the team’s defense last season. He claimed the defense was so bad at times that he turned the television off.
There’s no arguing against the defensive struggles of the Patriots last season. They ranked in the bottom half of the league in total defense with the team allowing an average of 343.4 yards per game. They also gave up 24.5 points per game with opposing offenses scoring over 40 points against them twice and at least 30 points six times.
“A lot of games I turned off because of that,” Wilfork told Mass Live’s Karen Guregian. “…It was inconsistent (with the 2024 Patriots). I didn’t see that enough. And the guys that were supposed to make plays, wasn’t making plays. So, it was just something that I wasn’t used to seeing, and I just couldn’t believe it.”
The defense dealt with injuries throughout the season and players being in and out of the lineup. That ultimately hurt them down the stretch. They were also incredibly inconsistent, as Wilfork pointed out.
He would know considering he’s been a part of some of the Patriots’ best defenses over the years. Here’s hoping the team can reverse the trend in 2025 under newly-hired head coach Mike Vrabel and defensive coordinator Terrell Williams.
