What happened: Safety Mike Brown, linebackers Erick Hunter, Darius Muasau and Namdi Obiazor, and tight end Cameron Latu each opened on all four of the New England Patriots' primary kicking-game units in Week 7, per Mike Reiss. The charting tracks which players take the field with the first unit across the four core special-teams phases.

Why it matters: Four-phase kicking usage secures active gameday roles for depth defenders and tight ends as New England navigates the regular season at 4-3 in the ninth seed. The Patriots previously leaned on Brown, Muasau and Obiazor across all four special-teams units earlier in October, while Hunter's workload solidifies his kicking-game role after returning to the 53-man roster in September.

What to watch: Watch whether Hunter and Latu retain four-unit kicking duties alongside Brown, Muasau and Obiazor when New England sets its active lineup for Week 8.