Patriots Will Be Without Gonzalez, Barmore Sunday Vs. Bills
Two defensive starters are out for Sunday's trip to face the Bills, and that's going to show up on film.
Per ESPN, the Patriots are heading into Sunday's game against the Bills without starting cornerback Christian Gonzalez and defensive tackle Christian Barmore, both sidelined by shoulder injuries.
Film room
That's two losses in the same week — one on the perimeter, one up front — and neither is a small thing against a team that can beat you through the air or on the ground. Gonzalez is a corner you build a secondary around; lose him and somebody else is getting tested deep all afternoon. Barmore holds up the interior; lose him and your run fits get messier and the edge rushers lose a little help up front.
Whoever steps into those spots needs to play clean, assignment-sound snaps. You don't get credit for effort on a missed fit — you get it done or the chain moves.
That's the real Patriots news out there right now. The rest of what's floating around — a betting card, a pass-interference rules debate, a Week 4 picks column that mentions New England in passing — isn't worth the whiteboard space.
