Three strikes puts ‘D’ on outs
Flowers, Chung, Rowe won’t play tonight
FOXBORO — The Patriots will be without three of their top defenders in tonight’s matchup with the Detroit Lions’ high-powered offense.
Defensive end Trey Flowers, safety Patrick Chung and cornerback Eric Rowe have all been ruled out. Flowers and Chung suffered concussions in the Week 2 loss to Jacksonville and did not practice this week. Rowe was limited all week with a groin injury.
Without Flowers, the Patriots struggled to generate a pass rush against the Jaguars. The Pats relied on Deatrich Wise and Keionta Davis as defensive ends on early downs, while Adrian Clayborn checked in for third downs and obvious passing situations.
The loss of Chung will be difficult to overcome, as well. This is unfamiliar territory for the Pats. Since re-signing in 2014, Chung has played 85 percent of the defensive snaps and has missed only one game (a Week 16 loss to the Jets in 2015). The Pats love to play a “big nickel” defense with three safeties, but they might need to rely on a traditional nickel package tonight without Chung in the lineup.
Jason McCourty took Rowe’s place as the No. 2 cornerback after Jacksonville scored on consecutive possessions to open last week’s game. He figures to get the start opposite
Stephon Gilmore tonight.
Rookie cornerback Keion Crossen, who is questionable with a hamstring injury, also traveled with the team. Crossen could make his NFL debut tonight.
After missing the Jaguars game with a lingering calf injury, offensive tackle Marcus Cannon made the trip to Detroit. He is listed as questionable.
Gordon makes trip
Josh Gordon made the trip to Detroit, but how much will he contribute in this game?
Listed as questionable with a hamstring injury, Gordon probably won’t play a full complement of snaps. But the Pats could have a limited package of plays designed for their new receiver.
A year ago, Phillip Dorsett played 18 snaps after spending only one week with the Pats.
Both Bill Belichick and Tom Brady remarked that Gordon worked hard to get acclimated throughout the week.
Belichick called Gordon a “smart kid,” noting that he’s “picked up a lot” since joining the Pats.
Golden opportunity
This won’t be an easy bounce-back game for a Patriots secondary that was thoroughly shredded a week ago by Blake Bortles and the Jaguars.
Yes, the Lions are a flawed team, but they have one distinct strength.
Quarterback Matthew Stafford can sling it, and he has one of the league’s best wide receiver units at his disposal.
“We have a standard around here, and we know we didn’t live up to that (against the Jaguars),” said Patriots cornerback Jonathan Jones. “We have an opportunity this week to go out there and correct that. So we’re looking forward to going out there and putting together a solid performance.”
As the team’s primary slot cornerback, Jones will be pitted against Detroit’s Golden Tate, arguably the toughest matchup for the defense. Tate has caught 90-plus passes in four straight seasons. He’s off to a fast start in 2018, averaging seven receptions for 94 yards through two games. With big-play downfield threats on the outside in Marvin Jones and Kenny Golladay, Tate is the one who keeps the chains moving.
Earlier in the week, Belichick noted that it’s “very challenging” to get Tate to the ground.
“Golden’s excellent with the ball in his hands,” Belichick said. “He’s good without the ball in his hands, too. He gets open a lot, runs very good routes, he’s a hard guy to cover, but then once he touches the ball, he’s strong, he runs through contact, he’s fast, he’s quick, he changes directions well and he has good vision.”
The Pats’ strategy for covering the Detroit receivers will go a long way in deciding the outcome of this Week 3 matchup. Gilmore is by far the team’s best cornerback. Belichick must decide if Gilmore should cover Jones or Golladay, or perhaps a combination of both.
It’s almost certain that Jonathan Jones will see his share of Tate in the slot.