(Another) Patriots Defender Calls Out Teammates After Loss To Jaguars

Another veteran defender has called out New England Patriots teammates.

Patriots defensive lineman Daniel Ekuale on Sunday criticized the group after New England suffered a 32-16 defeat to the Jacksonville Jaguars at Wembley Stadium.

“Jerod (Mayo) just said everybody gotta check their ego when they come in. And I agree with him,” Ekuale told reporters, per the Boston Herald’s Andrew Callahan.

“I feel like a lot of guys think too highly of themselves, and have to check their ego and come in and just play as a team. I feel like if we play as a team nobody can stop us,” Ekuale said. “But if we go out there and do our own thing, and play outside of the scheme, that’s when we get beat.”

I feel like a lot of guys think too highly of themselves, and have to check their ego and come in and just play as a team.

Patriots defensive lineman Daniel Ekuale

Ekuale’s comments surfaced after fellow defensive tackle Davon Godchaux called out the defense’s lack of “pride” following a Week 6 loss to the Houston Texans. Godchaux also called out teammates who made “selfish” plays earlier in the season.

Ekuale finished with four tackles against the Jaguars. New England’s defensive line struggled mightily against Jacksonville, failing to register a sack while allowing the Jaguars to compile 171 rushing yards.