Five touchdowns allowed in five red-zone trips. That's not variance. That's not bad luck. That's a defensive breakdown so severe that Zak Kuhr, the Patriots defensive coordinator, is essentially admitting the scheme and technique need a complete reset. And he's right to be direct about it.

Here's what matters: Kuhr identified two specific fixes—changing up looks and improving technique. Not "we need more talent in the secondary." Not "our pass rush isn't getting home." No. He's saying the defense is showing its cards and executing poorly on the ones that do work. That's coachable. That's also damning.

Red-zone defense is about discipline and disguise. Offenses know where they're going when they're 20 yards from pay dirt. The margin for error shrinks to almost nothing. If cornerbacks are consistently beaten one-on-one or safeties are in the wrong gap because the scheme telegraphed it, no amount of talent fixes that. The Patriots allowed five touchdowns in five trips—a 100 percent conversion rate—which suggests their defensive identities are predictable or their fundamentals at the point of attack are breaking down, maybe both.

The good news: this is fixable in a way that a personnel shortage isn't. Better technique means film study, repetition, and coaches holding guys accountable. Changing looks means Kuhr and his staff drawing up more disguises pre-snap so offenses can't get comfortable. Those are within reach this week.

The bad news: if the Patriots don't correct this immediately, you're looking at a season where opposing offenses will scheme for red-zone situations specifically. Defenses that can't hold up in the most critical moments of a game don't win close contests. And in Mike Vrabel's system, discipline is supposed to be the foundation. Getting exposed in the red zone is the opposite of that.

Kuhr's candor is actually refreshing. He's not hiding behind stats or making excuses. He's saying the defense has problems he can solve. The question is whether they solve them before the next trip to the red zone.

Based on reporting from Bluesky (@mikereiss.bsky.social).