The New England Patriots did not do a great job defending the run against the Houston Texans. The trio of running backs Lamar Miller and Alfred Blue and quarterback Deshaun Watson combined for 174 rushing yards on 33 carries for an impressive 5.3 yards per carry (YPC).The Texans were successful running the ball all day and their total rushing output wasn’t the result of a single run. They averaged 8.2 YPC in the first quarter Authentic Shaq Mason Jersey , courtesy of the 31-yarder by Lamar Miller, but they also averaged 3.8 YPC, 4.1 YPC, and 5.0 YPC in successive quarters, seemingly getting stronger as the game wore on.So what went wrong for New England? Did the run defense simply get tired?It’s important to give credit to the Texans that they never gave up on running the football and that is a crucial reason for their success. Even when the Patriots took a commanding 24-6 lead, Houston responded by running the ball on seven of their next 10 plays. The Patriots were expecting the Texans to start throwing the football in the face of that deficit and placed undersized defensive tackle Adam Butler on the field. Houston took that as an opportunity to pick up easier yardage and took the rushing yards the Patriots were conceding.This was a common theme all afternoon, although Butler wasn’t the only target. Houston averaged 7.30 YPC with Butler on the field, the second-most of any Patriots defender with more than 1 snap against the run. The biggest culprit was defensive end Keionta Davis, against whom the Texans averaged 7.94 YPC. The defensive line deserves the most scrutiny, too, because there wasn’t much differentiation among the linebackers. Dont’a Hightower and Kyle Van Noy had similar successes on the edge Womens Julian Edelman Jersey , seeing 5.04 YPC and 4.83 YPC against, respectively, while Elandon Roberts (4.17 YPC against) and Ja’Whaun Bentley (4.57 YPC against) had more success in the middle.It’s notable that DT Malcom Brown (5.71 YPC against) and DT Danny Shelton (5.33 YPC against) were not great, either, suggesting that the Patriots entire interior had a bad day. Brown’s and Shelton’s numbers are greatly skewed by Miller’s 31-yard gain- as are Van Noy’s, Bentley’s, and Hightower’s- and all five players had much stronger days outside of that play.Davis was on the field for that play, too, but even outside of that play the Texans averaged 6.50 YPC against Davis. No matter how you cut it, Butler and Davis were the two biggest targets.On the other side of the spectrum, the Texans averaged a mere 2.06 YPC when DT Lawrence Guy was on the field Authentic Ja'Whaun Bentley Jersey , 3.17 YPC when DE Deatrich Wise played, and 3.27 YPC when Trey Flowers was on the field. Perhaps this trio needs to be on the field more often during early downs.The Patriots run defense struggled in 2017, so any continued weakness in 2018 deserves to be highlighted. Adam Butler remains a valuable player on passing downs, but he needs to be protected when the other team runs the ball- and teams will certainly target him.And for all the value that Davis showed in the offseason, his trouble against the run should yield more playing time for Wise and Adrian Clayborn. New England did not do a great job defending the run against Houston, but I’m not yet ready to hit the panic button. The defensive front as a whole did a good job against the run outside of a couple lapses and missed tackles and should be able to get on track- so long as the coaching staff makes the necessary adjustments to hide Butler and Davis from the rushing game.New England Patriots links 8/24/18 - Despite prognostications of doom, Patriots getting along just fine TEAM TALKAndy Hart tells us six things he’ll be watching for in tonight’s preseason Week 3, Patriots at Panthers matchup: 1. Brady’s targets.Paul Perillo talks about the injuries impacting this year’s draft class.Gameday Eve Interview: Checking in with Phillip Dorsett. (2.03 min. video)Press Pass: The D-line on Carolina. (1.11 min. video)LOCAL LINKSKaren Guregian reports Alex Guerrero was seen taking the team flight to Carolina. /But what does this meeeaaaannnn?NBC Sports Boston passes along a couple of breathless reports that while Alex Guerrero was on the team plane, he will not be on the sideline during the game.Mark Farinella previews tonight’s ‘don’t call it a dress rehearsal’ matchup between the Patriots and Panthers.Kevin Duffy gives us five things to watch during Pats-Panthers. 1. New receivers.Mark Daniels lists what he’ll have an eye on: 1. Will Tom Brady continue to look like an MVP?Phil Perry tells us the Pats-Panthers storylines he’ll be tracking. 3. What’s the plan at RB?Ryan Hannable adds where his preseason attention will be tonight. 3. Does defense continue to build?Andrew Callahan gives us 5 players to watch, 3 questions to answer and which players are expected to be absent for tonight’s game. Who starts at nickelback? /Chad Kroeger.Matthew Geagan shares five things he’ll be watching for tonight. 2. Young LBs vs. Christian McCaffrey.David Albiani (FullPressCoverage) What to watch for: Preseason Week 3, Patriots at Panthers. 1. Will Gronkowski play?Devon Clements (PatriotsWire) 3 Points of concern for Patriots ahead of preseason game vs. Panthers. 1. How much playing time should Brady get?Ian Glendon (FullPressCoverage) What’s next for the Patriots after the release of Kenny Britt?Mike Dussault (PatsPropaganda) On Britt Authentic Trey Flowers Jersey , Dez and the remaining Patriots receivers.Matt Dolloff notes Chris Hogan and Julian Edelman both know what it will take for the young receivers to click with Tom Brady.Phil Perry says there is nothing brewing at the moment between Dez Bryant and the Pats.Matt Dolloff hears Troy Brown explain perfectly why the Patriots aren’t interested in Dez Bryant.Ryan Hannable thumbnails five free agent wide receivers who could potentially be added.Henry McKenna (PatriotsWire) Patriots could reunite with preseason standout Austin Carr.Rich Garven reminds us Tom Brady knows he can always count on James White, especially with other players out.Michael Hurley reveals what Tom Brady needs to do to become the NFL’s greatest 41-year-old quarterback.Henry McKenna (PatriotsWire) Trade targets for Patriots at every position.Nick O’Malley compiles a list of the 50 greatest undrafted Patriots players in the Bill Bellichick era.Mike Reiss gives us the story behind Julian Edelman’s bright yellow practice shirt.NATIONAL NEWSDarin Gantt (ProFootballTalk) Alex Guerrero was on Patriots team plane last night.Austin Knoblauch (NFL.com) What to watch for in Week 3 of the NFL preseason. Pats-Panthers: Can Trent Brown be an everyday Brady blocker?; Cornerbacks; More.Gregg Rosenthal (NFL.com) NFL preseason position battles: Five juicy non-QB competitions. Patriots at wide receiver.Neil Hornsby (Pro Football Focus) The NFL’s secret superstars on offense. David Andrews included.Seth Walder (ESPN) Eagles-Pats rematch? FPI’s bold predictions for 2018 NFL season.Mike Clay (ESPN) How all 32 NFL teams can win 10 games, and predicting which ones will. /Insider piece, but Pats are visible. Gil Brandt (NFL.com) Ranking the five most and least enviable QB situations in the NFL. Bill Barnwell (ESPN) Deshaun Watson, Carson Wentz could regress ... and still be MVP candidates.Conor Orr (SI) Morning Huddle: Blitzing in the preseason, is there an unwritten rule?Joel Corry (CBS Sports) Agent’s Take: 15 Notable veterans who are available.Tim Layden (SI) It’s time we realize football is a little less important. /...because bad things happen in real life?.Kevin Seifert (ESPN) How the NFL has enforced new helmet rule, and what’s coming next.Mike Florio (ProFootballTalk) So why didn’t the NFL officially change the helmet rule?Darin Gantt (ProFootballTalk) Steelers try to protect practice from prying eyes. /Just for lols.Charean Williams (ProFootballTalk) Pat Bowlen, Gil Brandt are contributor candidates for Hall of Fame’s Class of 2019.