A look at snaps played by Patriots defenders in Sunday’s 34-27 loss to the Texans (as charted in press box, small margin for error):

LB Jerod Mayo – 67 of 67
S Brandon Meriweather – 66 of 67
DE Tully Banta-Cain – 64 of 67
CB Darius Butler – 64 of 67
CB Shawn Springs – 64 of 67
DE Derrick Burgess – 61 of 67
LB Gary Guyton – 59 of 67
S James Sanders – 57 of 67
DT Mike Wright – 44 of 67
S Brandon McGowan – 36 of 67
CB Jonathan Wilhite – 34 of 67
DL Jarvis Green – 33 of 67
LB Adalius Thomas – 24 of 67
DE Rob Ninkovich – 23 of 67
DL Myron Pryor – 17 of 67
LB Junior Seau – 8 of 67
S Pat Chung – 7 of 67
DL Ron Brace – 6 of 67
LB Pierre Woods – 3 of 67

(Snaps include defensive pass interference penalty and spike at the end of the first half, but not the final kneel-down.)

ANALYSIS: The Patriots didn’t play their standard base 3-4 alignment in the game, instead showing a 4-3 base look with rush ends Burgess and Banta-Cain. The lighter unit wasn’t as sharp in its run fits … The 5 LB/6 DB package that had created a spark with its pressure took a step back, as that was the primary package used on the drive in which the Texans scored their first touchdown of the fourth quarter … The lone play Meriweather came out was the final Texans touchdown, at the 3-yard line … Springs was a bright spot, playing throughout and doing a solid job on Andre Johnson.