Patriots' pass defense moves on without Chandler Jones
This isn't the best time for the Patriots to be without their best pass rusher - the next six quarterbacks they face have combined for 24 Pro Bowl appearances - but the rest of the defense will have to make up for the absence of Chandler Jones.
That starts Sunday, when Jay Cutler and the Bears visit Gillette Stadium.
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Jones is expected to miss significant time with a hip injury suffered in the Patriots' 27-25 win on Oct. 16 against the Jets. He leads the Patriots with 4½ sacks, and has 22 since the start of the 2012 season, his rookie year. The next-best individual sack total for a Patriot over that span belongs to Rob Ninkovich with 20.
'It's tough losing a guy like him with his ability that he does have, but I have confidence in the guys that we have,' Ninkovich said. 'I think collectively, as a D-line, we've got to have a better understanding of what our game plan is going into this game, how we'll attack these guys, and having whoever is in [Jones's] position play at a high level.
'That includes myself, stepping up and making more plays. I've got to take more responsibility on myself to make some big plays.'
The Patriots have played without Jones before, but not often.
He's missed just two previous games, and the Patriots won both, during the 2012 season: 49-19 at the Jets (forever known as the 'butt fumble' game), and 23-16 the next week at Miami. The Patriots combined for five sacks in the two games.
This six-game stretch figures to be much tougher, even though the Patriots are ranked No. 1 in the NFL against the pass, allowing just 208 yards per game. Barring injury, the upcoming six quarterbacks are Cutler (Bears are 10th in passing yardage), Peyton Manning (Broncos are 3d), Andrew Luck (Colts are first), Matthew Stafford (Lions are 13th), Aaron Rodgers (Packers are 20th), and Philip Rivers (Chargers are sixth).
That's a tall order, even with Jones. Without him, a secondary that's played well might not be able to cover long enough if the Patriots can't apply pressure to those quarterbacks.
'It's very important. We've all got to step up and play well,' said Ninkovich, who is expected to start on the defensive line against the Bears, along with Vince Wilfork, Chris Jones, and Dominique Easley, who likely will switch to end and take Jones's spot.
'It has to be done collectively, we've all got to make plays.'
Oh, brother
Speaking of Chandler Jones, he's one of three Patriots who have brothers in the NFL, along with Devin McCourty and Shane Vereen, who will face his sibling on Sunday, since Brock Vereen is a rookie safety with the Bears.
So, McCourty was asked, what's it like having a brother in the NFL?
'I would first say the McCourtys are the best brothers,' he said. 'A lot of the guys are close in age, and that helps when you're trying to do something and live out your dream. It starts with good genes and being blessed by God.'
Would the McCourtys be interested in a wrestle-off to see which brother set is best?
'You'd have to watch out for the Joneses, they just might call Jon,' McCourty said, referring to Jon 'Bones' Jones, the UFC light heavyweight champion. 'Anybody else, we'd welcome the challenge.'
Familiar territory
The Bears have two players on their roster with local college ties. Long snapper Jeremy Cain is in his eighth NFL season out of UMass, and cornerback Al Louis-Jean is a rookie from Brockton and Boston College.
Michael Whitmer can be reached at mwhitmer@globe.com.
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