New England Patriots

Rodney Harrison: ‘Teams are no longer afraid to play the Patriots’

NBC Sports analyst Rodney Harrison shows reporters his Super Bowl ring last year. USA Today Sports

Is the Patriots’ mystique gone?

After starting the season 10-0, the New England Patriots have lost 4 of their last 6 games. On Sunday, the Pats lost to a Miami Dolphins team that was playing out the string. They looked fairly terrible doing it.

Sunday night, former Patriot Rodney Harrison had some strong words of concern for his former team.

“Teams are no longer afraid to play the Patriots,’’ Harrison said on NBC’s Football Night in America, where he is an analyst. “The offensive line is just getting physically beat up.’’

That last comment was in reference to the pressure New England quarterback Tom Brady faced all day. Brady was hurried, sacked, and injured on one play.

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“I’m very worried about the Patriots,’’ Harrison added. “They need Julian Edelman back. I’ve said this before, I think he’s more important than Rob Gronkowski to that offense.’’

Edelman is expected to return in time for the playoffs, which begin for the Patriots on Jan. 16, after the bye.

h/t NESN

Photos: Patriots-Dolphins in pictures

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