The Patriots ruled out linebacker Robert Spillane and could be without three other front-seven defenders in Baltimore.
The New England Patriots could be without as many as six defensive starters on Sunday night against the Baltimore Ravens.
Inside linebacker Robert Spillane has already been ruled out, and his running mate Christian Elliss is listed as questionable. Head coach Mike Vrabel said that Jack Gibbens would step up in Spillane’s absence; if Eliss is out, early-down work will be handled by Jahlani Tavai while Marte Mapu picks up passing downs.
The Patriots could have two other losses in their front seven: defensive tackle Christian Barmore and outside linebacker Harold Landry, who are both questionable.
Barmore was initially listed as a non-injury related/other on this week’s injury report; according to Andrew Callahan, the Patriots have “managed his workload since the summer after he endured two bouts of blood clot-related symptoms last year.”
However, Barmore missed Friday’s practice with a knee injury and could be a major loss for a Patriots defensive line that has struggled to stop the run in recent weeks, especially with Milton Williams still on injured reserve.
Landry has been a consistent presence on the injury report wtih a lingering knee issue, per Callahan, but he has still appeared in every game this season. This week, though, he practiced much less than previous weeks, so there seems to be a legitimate chance of him missing Sunday night’s game. He and K’Laivon Chaisson both have more than 45 pressures this season, per Pro Football Focus; no other Patriots edge rusher has more than 10.
In fact, if Barmore and Landry are both out on Sunday night, New England won’t have a single defender with more than 13 pressures. The Ravens should have an advantage in the trenches despite a suspect offensive line, though random pass rushers have a knack for breaking out against Baltimore. Keep an eye on Khryis Tonga and Anfernee Jennings, who both boast pass rush win rates of at least 11.0%.
The Patriots’ secondary appears to be in better shape. Cornerbacks Carlton Davis and Marcus Jones both said they intended to play in Baltimore, per Pats Pulpit’s Bernd Buchmasser. Both are listed as questionable after only one limited practice on Friday, so they still may be game-time decisions with the desire to take the field.
Obviously, New England’s front-seven injuries should encourage the Ravens to run the ball all game, something Todd Monken has been more willing to do in the last few weeks. If Davis and/or Jones are absent, that will open up more opportunities in the passing game, but this offense’s bread-and-butter is still the ground attack.
Category: General Sports
