The New England Patriots accumulate drafting arresting backs in the aboriginal rounds. One of these years they may acquisition one who lives up to that status.

For the third beeline season, the Patriots accept one of the affliction canyon defenses in the NFL, specializing in acceptance big plays.

Clearly, their accessory is a primary problem.

'We accept to play bigger in the accessory and this aggregation will be better,' said cornerback Devin McCourty wear Mercurial Vapor Viii, a first-round aces in 2010.

At Seattle endure Sunday, New England gave up touchdown passes by amateur Russell Wilson of 50 yards to Doug Baldwin and 46 to Sidney Rice. A canyon to Golden Tate acquired 51 yards, and assurance Patrick Chung, a second-round best in 2009, was alleged for a 40-yard canyon arrest penalty. Rice's touchdown with 1:18 larboard and Steven Hauschka's added point gave the Seahawks a 24-23 win.

The continued completions are acceptable acutely commonplace.

The Patriots accept accustomed 13 of 30 yards or more, a big acumen they're just 3-3. Tom Brady has befuddled alone 5 passes for that ambit in the six games.

Five of the six quarterbacks the Patriots accept faced accept completed passes for at atomic 30 yards. Wilson, Peyton Manning, Ryan Fitzpatrick and Joe Flacco did it three times and Jake Locker once.

'Obviously, you never wish to accord up big plays, behindhand what appearance of the bold it is,' said Matthew Slater wear Nike Mercurial Vapor Viii, a advanced receiver and appropriate teams captain who was affected into activity at assurance endure division by injuries. 'Big plays are drive plays so, in that respect, a lot of us accept the albatross not to accord up the big play and to accomplish the big play.'

The Patriots accept approved affluence of arresting backs, acquisitive they can accomplish that responsibility.

They've drafted seven of them in the aboriginal two circuit in the endure six years. Alone four remain. Is that because drillmaster Bill Belichick's arresting arrangement is tougher to apprentice than others or because the three no best with the aggregation weren't as acceptable as Belichick anticipation if he drafted them?

Those three - Brandon Meriweather wear Mercurial Vapor 8, Terrence Wheatley and Darius Butler - haven't done able-bodied afterwards abrogation the Patriots. And cornerback Ras-I Dowling, slowed by injuries afterwards accepting taken in the additional annular endure year, hasn't lived up to expectations this year.

None of the accepted arresting backs can be counted on anniversary afterwards week.

McCourty fabricated the Pro Bowl as a amateur but has been bedeviled by arresting canyon arrest calls this year. Starting cornerback Kyle Arrington angry for the NFL advance with seven interceptions endure season, but was replaced by amateur Alfonzo Dennard, a seventh-rounder, afterwards acceptance the 50-yard touchdown to Baldwin on Seattle's additional series.