New England Patriots' War on Injuries Threatening Playoff Hopes

For the next week, we'll hear a lot of debate about whether the New England Patriots and head coach Bill Belichick made the right call by electing to kick in overtime instead of receive when they won the coin toss.

One thing, however, is not up for debate: The Patriots are feeling the pinch of all their injuries.

In their 26-20 overtime loss to the New York Jets, the Patriots were without both wide receivers Danny Amendola and Julian Edelman and both of their starting safeties, Patrick Chung and Devin McCourty. Linebacker Dont'a Hightower entered the game at less than 100 percent and was taken out of the game for a period of time in the fourth quarter. Left tackle Sebastian Vollmer was carted off in the first quarter.

The Patriots can't catch a break. And when they do, it's the wrong kind of break.

LaAdrian Waddle and Marcus Cannon at tackle. Keshawn Martin at wide receiver. Steven Jackson—signed off the street Tuesday—and Brandon Bolden at running back. Duron Harmon and Nate Ebner at safety. 

If there's ever a sequel to The Replacements, the 2015 Patriots might be the subject of the movie.

It's not a coincidence that the Patriots have played progressively closer games as the injury list has grown longer and longer. Ever since losing Edelman against the New York Giants, the Patriots have an average scoring margin of plus-7.2 points with a 2-3 record. Prior to Edelman's injury, the Patriots had an average margin of plus-14.9 with a 9-0 record. For those keeping score, that's more than double. 

Now does that mean the Patriots are losing only because of Edelman? No, but think about this week's game. Patriots quarterback Tom Brady was under duress nearly every time he dropped back to throw. Edelman doesn't play offensive tackle, but he does give Brady a quick target in the passing game to help him get the ball out when pressure is closing in.

Suffice to say, the Patriots offense could click right back into shape with Edelman's return. The same goes for Amendola.

Of course, the Patriots are now in the position of banking on that being the case thanks to their slew of injuries on the offensive line. They'd better hope Edelman and Amendola are the cure to their woes, because if not, the vertical passing game may not be there—because the pass protection probably won't be there, either.

There's also the possibility that Vollmer could be back in time for the playoffs, according to Karen Guregian of the Boston Herald.

The Patriots have adjusted their game plan in the past when injuries have struck, but there are only so many adjustments a team can make when its offense is comprised almost entirely of second- and third-stringers and rookies. Yes, Brady still has Brandon LaFell at wide receiver and Rob Gronkowski at tight end, but two weapons do not an offense make.

Even with all those injuries, the Patriots played a close game against the Jets, who have the look of a playoff team. It took until overtime for the Jets to put the Patriots away.

For a football team, it's all about playing its best at the right time. For the Patriots, it's going to be about getting healthy at the right time. If they get back Amendola, Edelman, McCourty and Chung in time for the playoffs, and if Hightower and others can lick their wounds and get back to full health, they should be fine.