The New England Patriots finished 2024 at 4-13, equalling the worst record for that franchise since going 2-14 in the 1992 season. There were a multitude of reasons for the 2024 debacle, but the Patriots defense — which has long been one of the team’s main strengths — was definitely one of them. New England was not the worst defense in the NFL, but it did place 22nd out of the 32 teams in points allowed per game, with an average of 24.5.
Patriots owner Robert Kraft fired first-year head coach Jerod Mayo within hours of the team’s final regular season game on January 5, and almost immediately began the process of interviewing for a new one. High on Kraft’s list was the Detroit Lions’ defensive coordinator Aaron Glenn, who ran a defense that placed seventh overall allowing just 20.1 points per game and played a major role in leading the Lions to a franchise record 15-2 season, and the No. 1 seed in the NFC playoffs.
But that all came crashing down on Saturday night for the Lions, who suffered a humiliating exit in the divisional round — the Lions first playoff game after a Wild Card week bye — when they were soundly beaten by the No. 6 seeded Washington Commanders, 45-31.
Leave a Reply