What happened: New England opens the 2026 season in a rematch of February's 29-13 title-game loss. That defeat exposed protection problems even when the defense rushed only four.
Why it matters: Four-man pressure allows seven defenders to remain in coverage, shrinking throwing windows without sacrificing numbers downfield. Better protection would free New England to release more eligible receivers instead of retaining them as blockers.
By the numbers: The Patriots allowed pressure on 52.8% of dropbacks in the Super Bowl, while four-man rushes produced a 43.5% pressure rate.
What to watch: Watch New England's protection calls, release times and use of extra blockers Wednesday night.