For the New England Patriots’ sake, let’s hope this is rock bottom for team in the Bill Belichick era following Tom Brady’s departure.

The AFC East champion Buffalo Bills (12-3) had their way with the Patriots (6-9) on Sunday, becoming the first team to sweep New England since 2000, handling the Patriots their first losing season since that year.

The 38-9 drubbing of the Patriots featured everything — an inept offense, poor defensive execution, Bills No. 1 wide receiver Stefon Diggs running wild, and a rash of injuries.

The offense, including the play of quarterbacks Cam Newton and Jarrett Stidham, will be the most-talked about topic this week, but there were a lot of problems with the defense on Sunday.

But let’s face it, this Patriots team was severely-undermanned, and it showed. They were blown out on the field. Considering it’s a new year, and this is coming days after Buffalo’s bludgeoning, we decided to infuse more of a big-picture feel into our analysis, with hopes for better defensive play in 2021.

Here is our defensive film review from Sunday’s game.

Most common formation: Nickel 2-4-5

DT — Adam Butler

DT–  Deatrich Wise Jr./Byron Cowart

EDGE (stand-up) — John Simon

EDGE (stand-up) — Chase Winovich

LB — Terez Hall/Anfernee Jennings 

LB — Adrian Phillips/Josh Uche

CB — J.C. Jackson

CB — Jason McCourty 

CB (slot)/S — Jonathan Jones

SS — Kyle Dugger

FS — Devin McCourty/Terrence Brooks/Myles Bryant

Interesting wrinkle

Already without three major cogs on defense (Stephon Gilmore, Ja’Whaun Bentley, Lawrence Guy), the Patriots then lost several other important defensive players to injuries throughout the game, forcing them to play 19 different players for at least 22 defensive snaps each (31 percent), often utilizing men out of position to skate by. The Patriots mostly shuffled between traditional and “Big” (three or more safeties) Nickel 2-4-5, Nickel 3-3-5 and Dime looks, while also leaning on their 3-4 formation.

Additional analysis

— As mentioned above, several other defenders left halfway through the game, including Terez Hall, Devin McCourty and rookie Josh Uche. Uche was well on his way to playing most of the game as an off-ball linebacker on early downs with some EDGE duties in clear pass defense situations. The rookie second-round pick was put on injured reserve after the game. It’ll be interesting to see where he slots into New England’s defense in his sophomore campaign. Like Dont’a Hightower, Uche has the versatility of play off-ball and on the edge. Even if Higthower returns, the Patriots may need additional linebacker help, as Uche’s pass-rushing skills will be needed. Terez Hall again had some trouble finding the right lanes to attack the run, and he continues to be a liability in zone coverage, but he plays hard, and may find himself back on the roster in 2021 as a situational-type player slated to learn more. Devin McCourty signed a two-year deal this offseason, and is still playing well, but it’s worth wondering if he and his brother Jason would consider retirement once more this offseason. 

— The team did alright early on versus the run, but the wheels eventually came off as injuries mounted. Adam Butler, who has been solid this season, had a bit of a rough outing up front, which includes his offsides penalties, but he did get the occasional pressure on Josh Allen. He remains a solid interior pass rusher. Butler is also free agent in the offseason, and although the Patriots would undoubtedly like to keep him, it’s worth wondering if he will price out, as New England needs to add multiple players up front. The team’s run defense has been gashed as of late. Akeem Spence and Nick Thurman were both reintroduced up front on Sunday. Spence has had some great moments as an interior presence this season, but Thurman is clearly a work in progress. In terms of being in the Patriots’ plans for 2021, Thurman is a 50-50 call since he is a developmental prospect, but in terms of Spence, it may be more likely that it’s Carl Davis, a true nose tackle, that returns as a veteran presence for the Patriots, in terms of midseason pickups. 

— Chase Winovich and John Simon each played 50 percent or more snaps as EDGE defenders. It’s clear Winovich needs some work as a three-down player, but his intensity (which showed on Sunday) and pass-rush ability make him close to a foundational player moving forward. Simon, who has been solid the last couple seasons in New England, is slated to be a free agent, and his play has dipped, so the 30-year-old might end up elsewhere. Even with Winovich and Uche as solid edge rushers slated to return in 2021, the team needs help there. 

— Kyle Dugger (43 defensive snaps, 60 percent) didn’t play all that much early on, but was then added into the rotation. Adrian Phillips (62 snaps, 86 percent), played more defensive snaps than any other Patriot on Sunday, beginning the game as a true strong safety before heading back into his pseudo-linebacker role. With Patrick Chung possibly returning and Dugger undoubtedly slated for more playing time in 2021, it’s worth wondering where Phillips fits into the defense next season. Still, he’ll definitely be back, as his versatility is apparent. 

— Elsewhere in the secondary, despite Stephon Gilmore’s absence, Joejuan Williams still struggled to get on the field (27 snaps, 38 percent) as a boundary cornerback until the game was almost fully out of reach. Those snaps were given to Jason McCourty. Undrafted rookie Myles Bryant (22 snaps, 31 percent) continues to get snaps in mostly Quarter personnel. When Devin McCourty went out, both Bryant and strong safety Terrence Brooks spent time at free safety in D-Mac’s absence, as well as slot cornerback Jonathan Jones, who has some experience in New England’s secondary as a safety. 

— Without Gilmore, J.C. Jackson — possibly the league’s best No. 2 CB — has struggled as the Patriots’ top cornerback. But then again, everyone struggles versus Bills receiver Stefon Diggs in 2021. Still, Jackson allowed a pair of scores to Diggs, and Buffalo quarterback Josh Allen failed to see Diggs beating Jackson for what could have been another long score down the right sideline. If Gilmore is to stay in New England in 2021, it certainly won’t be on the final year of his deal. The Patriots would have to work out an extension to pay him more, which may certainly be a case they’re considering after seeing Jackson as a CB1 this season. Jackson is a restricted free agent who should receive the first or second-round tender this offseason. It’s unlikely a team would pursue Jackson on a first-round tender, but a second-round tender may do it. The Patriots have some big decisions to make this offseason. Do they risk losing Jackson for a second-round pick while extending Gilmore? What about trading Gilmore for a second-round pick and tendering Jackson on a first-round level, then looking for another CB? What about doing everything in their power to keep both Gilmore and Jackson? Decisions, decisions. 

— We charted the Patriots in man coverage for 61 percent of Bills passing plays, with Cover 1 and Cover 3 being New England’s top options. The most-common man coverage assignments were J.C. Jackson on Stefon Diggs (18), Jason McCourty on Bills big-man receiver Gabriel Davis (18), Jonathan Jones on Cole Beasley in the slot (18), and Kyle Dugger on Buffalo tight ends (8).