DENVER — The cash and cap space used to sign Patriots defensive tackles Milton Williams and Christian Barmore was money well spent.
The Patriots are bound for Super Bowl LX, and it’s fair to say they got there on the strength of their defensive line by stopping the run and forcing mistakes out of opposing quarterbacks by bringing unrelenting pressure.
Barmore forced a punt late in the first half of the Patriots’ 10-7 win over the Broncos with a key second-down sack on quarterback Jarrett Stidham. Williams led the team in pressures and registered two QB hits.
But it wasn’t just high-priced investments that paid off for the Patriots. The defensive line is only as strong as the sum of its parts, and behind Williams and Barmore are players who elevated their play when they put on Patriots uniforms.
“I feel like every week we show who we are, and we still don’t get no respect,” Williams said, channeling his inner Rodney Dangerfield. “So, I mean, we had the No. 1 O-line today. So, we’ll see what somebody say about that when y’all watch the tape and go see what we did today.”
Patriots defenders walked into the locker room after Sunday’s win, chirping about the Broncos having the No. 1 offensive line in the league.
Going against that group, which includes All-Pro left tackle Garrett Bolles and All-Pro right guard Quinn Meinerz, the Patriots allowed just 55 rushing yards on 19 carries for less than 3 yards per attempt. They consistently pressured quarterback Jarrett Stidham, starting in place of Bo Nix, and limited him to 133 yards with a touchdown, an interception and a lost fumble in a 17-of-31 performance.
Barmore and the rest of the Patriots’ defensive line weren’t intimidated by the Bolles or Meinerz’ postseason accolades.
“Our coach (defensive line coach Clint McMillan) tell us all the time, All-Pros don’t mean (expletive). Excuse my language — it doesn’t matter. Our coaches tell us every time. They’re All-Pros, so they’re the targets. That’s the mission.
Added Barmore: “I feel like we got the best D-line in the league.”
It’s not just Williams and Barmore who stepped up for the Patriots, though the rest of the group is more unheralded.
Heading into training camp, it appeared depth was going to be an issue behind the two star defensive tackles. Nose tackle Khyiris Tonga signed a low-cost, one-year deal in free agency this season and became a key cog in the Patriots’ defense and as a part-time nose tackle. Defensive tackle Cory Durden, who continued to provide pressure in the 10-7 win, was originally signed to the Patriots’ practice squad in August before getting added to the 53-man roster and eventually emerging as a starter. And fifth defensive tackle Leonard Taylor III is still on the practice squad but was elevated for his fifth straight game after showing what he could do Thursdays in practice when scout-team players are allowed to shine.
Taylor made one of the Patriots’ game-clinching plays when he blocked a field goal from Will Lutz that would have tied the score with 4:46 remaining in the fourth quarter.
It’s a testament to the team’s coaches and front office that they could find so many players who are playing the best football of their careers in Patriots uniforms.
And the Patriots knew they would need to get in Stidham’s face to win.
Barmore said getting pressure on Stidham was the defensive line’s No. 1 goal heading into Sunday’s game.
“I think it was a big thing, a big emphasis this week to make sure we get in his face, make him see ghosts and stuff like that,” rookie outside linebacker Elijah Ponder said after the game.
Stidham was clearly flustered with pressure bearing down. The Patriots pressured him on 43.25% of plays, and they did it by continuing to send the house. The Patriots blitzed on 40.54% of plays, which is 14% above the NFL average, per Sumer Sports.
It was the same approach the Patriots took in playoff wins over the Chargers and Texans, when they made starting quarterbacks Justin Herbert and C.J. Stroud also look like backups.
It wasn’t just the interior offensive line bringing pressure on Stidham. Outside linebacker K’Lavon Chaisson had two QBs hits, linebacker Christian Elliss had a strip-sack, and Ponder also registered a QB hit.
The Patriots can only blitz so often because of the strength of their secondary.
Cornerback Christian Gonzalez allowed a 52-yard catch to wide receiver Marvin Mims on the Broncos’ second offensive series before locking his side of the field down for the rest of the game. He helped clinch the win by intercepting an errant Stidham pass intended for Mims with just over two minutes left in the game. Gonzalez earned Pro Bowl honors, but that was his first interception of the season.
Cornerbacks Carlton Davis III and Marcus Jones both made key plays late in the game to help keep the Broncos from scoring. And rookie safety Craig Woodson nearly picked off Stidham early in the game and helped assist the front seven with stout tackling in the box.
