FOXBOROUGH — The upcoming trip to Munich will give the Patriots’ defense a chance to show its performance in last Sunday’s 45-27 loss to the Packers at Gillette Stadium was more of an aberration than a marker of where the unit stands.
The 45 points were the most surrendered by the Patriots at home since 1970.
“We have something to prove every week, but obviously after giving up 45 points that’s nowhere near who we are,” said safety Kevin Byard. “We have to get back to who we are and we’re very eager to prove that this week.”
Linebacker Robert Spillane said the Patriots are at a critical point in the season. Sunday’s clash with the Lions is the 10th and last before the bye week. A win would keep the Patriots (5-4) above .500; Spillane said there’s a big difference in the NFL between being 6-4 and 5-5.
The defense hopes to answer questions the blowout loss raised about its effectiveness.
“I’m really excited to see our defense go out there with a chip on our shoulder, knowing that people are counting us out, knowing that people are going to say whatever they want,” Spillane said. “We’re going to go out there and trust each other and work together to be connected as 11 on every play.”
The Lions could pose another tough test. They are top-five in both points (27.8) and yards (379.8) per game. Running back Jahmyr Gibbs leads the league in carries (177) and is tied for second with nine rushing touchdowns.
“It all starts with Jahmyr Gibbs,” Spillane said. “He’s an elite athlete out of the backfield. He’s the No. 1 player to touch the ball in the NFL, so they get him the ball in a variety of ways.
“But, the easiest thing to do is just give him the ball 7 yards deep in the backfield and let him do what he does best, which is to run with it where they’re not. So we know we’ll be 11 people at a point of attack at all points with him.”
Lions wide receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown is fifth in catches (61), and Jameson Williams is averaging 16.7 yards per catch. Quarterback Jared Goff has 15 touchdown passes against two interceptions.
“Great skill players, speed, physical,” said Patriots coach Mike Vrabel. “The defense has played really well the last three weeks, and they stay aggressive on fourth down. They stay aggressive on special teams. So, certainly it’ll be a huge challenge. They don’t turn the ball over offensively at all.”
Gilliam, Brown return
Receiver A.J. Brown returned to practice on Wednesday after missing the past two games with a knee injury. Vrabel confirmed Brown will travel with the team to Germany, but indicated it didn’t necessarily mean Brown would be available to play.
“There’ll be a lot of guys that’ll go to Germany that won’t be active,” Vrabel said. “I don’t know who those are.”
Fullback Reggie Gilliam also returned to practice, starting the 21-day clock on his activation from injured reserve. And the Patriots added rookie tight end Tanner Arkin to the practice squad after releasing him earlier this week.
Numbers game
Running back Rhamondre Stevenson is expected to miss Sunday’s game. Vrabel said there’s a chance Stevenson could land on injured reserve, but he did not want to speculate.
NFL teams can bring up to eight players back from injured reserve during the regular season. Gilliam is the fifth Patriots player to, along with Brown, offensive tackle Marcus Bryant, receiver Mack Hollins, and guard Greg Van Roten.
Receiver Romeo Doubs, guards Alijah Vera-Tucker and Mike Onwenu, safety Dell Pettus, and linebacker Kahlil Jacobs are among the players still on injured reserve.
The injuries have been a factor in the team’s performance, but they aren’t an excuse, Hollins said.
“If I had wheels, I would be a bicycle,” Hollins said. “Jokes aside, it’s just hard to say, ‘Hey, if we were healthy we could do this.’ Well, we’re not. We have the guys we have and that’s who has to come to battle.”