# Ethan Hurwitz: Hurwitz pushes back on the idea that New England has the NFL's best defense, but says the unit is capable of finishing as a top-10 defense this season. He also argues Drake Maye's early struggles are temporary and that the passing game won't be whole until A.J. Brown returns.

**Claimed:** Sep 23, 2026
**Pundit:** Ethan Hurwitz — https://missedtakes.co/pundits/ethan-hurwitz
**Outlet:** Sports Illustrated — https://missedtakes.co/outlets/sports-illustrated
**How it reached us:** published in writing
**Original:** https://www.si.com/nfl/patriots/onsi/3-overreactions-after-patriots-week-2-win-time-to-worry-about-drake-maye

One checkable claim, graded on its own against what actually happened.

Nothing to score yet: this grades once the result is in.

Of the 1 unsettled call enough other pundits have weighed in on, this one lands above the rest of the room.

> I'm not discrediting the Patriots performances to this point, and they have the ability to be a top-10 unit in the NFL this year.

*(their words, quoted for attribution)*

## The claims

- **New England Patriots defense to be top 10 in the league**
  - Kind: Position Group Finish · About: New England Patriots
  - Verdict: not settled yet

## Who this take is about

- New England Patriots — https://missedtakes.co/nfl/teams/patriots

## What others said about the same people

- Nate Tice on New England Patriots: Tice picked the Bengals over the Texans in a low-scoring game, the Jaguars at Denver, the Bears over the Vikings, the Patriots over the Steelers and the Rams to edge the Giants, and his Hail Mary was the Cowboys scoring 40 on Washington. He also floated Abdul Carter as a possible All-Pro. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/b6211c80-3d1c-46b8-8a0c-151fc0ba92de (scored 100)
- Chris Broussard on New England Patriots: Broussard picked the Bills to beat the Chargers in a competitive, higher-scoring game, said the Chiefs will rout the Dolphins, and for upset alert parlayed the Patriots over the Jaguars and the Raiders over the Saints. He also restated his Cowboys-versus-Ravens Super Bowl matchup pick. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/dee7585c-6da6-4afc-9954-ff32cf8de4e3 (scored 0)
- Danny Parkins on New England Patriots: In the winners-only chips segment Parkins backed the Patriots over the Jaguars, the Bengals over the Steelers and the Ravens over the Cowboys in Brazil. He also said New England has a real shot at a top-10 defense and that Kayshon/Romeo Dobbs will be the Patriots' number one target. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/88f60b41-3824-4b00-b0f0-f434c55c539b (scored 0)
- Mark Wahlberg on New England Patriots: Wahlberg went game-by-game through the Patriots' schedule and predicted a 14-3 season, with losses only at Buffalo, to the Lions in Germany, and at Kansas City. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/14761919-29fa-4eda-a3d4-ba0f76f399c2 (scored 0)
- Nathan Jahnke on Efton Chism III: An unsigned PFF preseason recap makes numerous depth-chart, roster and usage projections across the league, based on Week 3 preseason playing time — including Roman Wilson winning Pittsburgh's third receiver job, Luke McCaffrey's roster spot being in danger, Charlie Kolar as the Chargers' top tight end, and Kendre Miller as the Saints' RB2. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/47566b48-8024-4960-b25c-11c03fe43543 (scored 100)
- Nathan Jahnke on Kyle Williams: An unsigned PFF fantasy preseason recap makes a series of depth-chart and roster-spot calls: Roman Wilson wins the Steelers' third receiver job over Germie Bernard, Robert Tonyan makes Pittsburgh's roster as the third tight end, Kyle Williams and Efton Chism III stick in New England, Mike Washington Jr. is the Raiders' primary backup back, Jalen Nailor stays a Raiders starter, Kaelon Black leads the 49ers' backup running back competition, and Charlie Kolar is the Chargers' top tight end with top-12 fantasy upside. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/e9e8a675-165c-4246-a19c-eec9f5dfccf4 (scored 100)

## More position group finish

The same kind of call, about other players and teams.

- Pat Fitzmaurice on Green Bay Packers: In a Week 4 waiver-wire column, Fitzmaurice made a few forward-looking roster claims: Rashod Bateman remains Baltimore's clear No. 2 receiver, Caleb Douglas should become Miami's top receiver when healthy, Fernando Mendoza will eventually take over for Kirk Cousins in Las Vegas, and Green Bay may have the league's worst offensive line. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/4716d512-a5ae-4755-82b9-794c55bb03ba (not settled)
- Nick Wright on Seattle Seahawks: Wright argued Justin Herbert has always been supporting-cast dependent rather than elite, said the Bills are the likely winner over the Chargers, and then gave straight score predictions for five Week 3 games, calling Seattle the best team in the NFL with the league's best defense. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/f0f98756-17d9-44ae-81c3-391a7ba9bc66 (not settled)
- Joshua Poniatowski on Baltimore Ravens: Poniatowski argues Zay Flowers will be a top-10 fantasy receiver the rest of the season, that Baltimore's new offense finishes top-five in scoring, and that Chuba Hubbard remains Carolina's lead back while Jonathon Brooks is out. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/b10d1e5e-43b1-4853-975f-f072b2b8bfeb (not settled)
- Adam Amin on Buffalo Bills: Amin suggested Buffalo may have the best offense in the NFL while explaining the Lions' defensive struggles. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/c976cf25-4234-42a4-995a-c2eaef90dde8 (not settled)
- Nick Wright on Seattle Seahawks: On his Week 3 pick show, Nick Wright gave straight-up final-score predictions for five games, calling blowouts by Seattle over Washington and Kansas City over Miami, a Jacksonville home win over New England, a narrow New Orleans win over the Raiders and a low-scoring Baltimore win over Dallas in Brazil. He also called Seattle the best team in the NFL with the league's best defense. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/afa6070a-4229-4b28-a922-31d609ad1adf (not settled)
- Connor "Boston Connor" Campbell on Seattle Seahawks: Connor called the Seahawks the league's best defense while defending Drake Maye. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/3590cdff-ed41-4641-b4ba-abc01c3ec752 (not settled)

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Accuracy is 0-100 against what actually happened. The naive guess is what a strategy requiring no knowledge would have scored on the same call — the difference is the skill, and it is what the MissedTakes Score averages.

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