New England Patriots Report

Defensive starters for Patriots

September, 16, 2012

9/16/12

1:04

PM ET

By Mike Rodak | ESPNBoston.com

FOXBOROUGH, Mass. -- The Patriots, who opened in their base 4-3 defense, started the following players:

DE - Ninkovich
DT - Love
DT - Wilfork
DE - Jones
LB - Hightower
LB - Spikes
LB - Mayo
CB - Arrington
CB - McCourty
S - Gregory
S - Chung

When the Patriots moved to their nickel defense on the second play, CB Sterling Moore came on the field, with Hightower coming off. That's a change from last week, when Ras-I Dowling was the third cornerback on the field.

Mike Rodak

Patriots reporter, ESPNBoston.com

Mike Rodak began covering the Patriots for ESPNBoston.com in July 2010.

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ABOUT THIS BLOG

Mike Reiss

Mike Reiss first started covering the Patriots in 1997 with the team's official newspaper, Patriots Football Weekly, before moving on to the MetroWest Daily News in his hometown of Framingham. From 2005 to 2009, he covered the Patriots for The Boston Globe, while also writing on the NFL. He started his popular Patriots blog in 2004. Send any questions or comments for Mike to his mailbag. Follow him on Twitter (@MikeReiss).

Mike Rodak

Mike Rodak began covering the Patriots for ESPNBoston.com in July 2010. A native of Grafton, Mass., Mike attended Providence College. Follow him on Twitter (@mikerodak)

Field Yates

Field Yates begins his contributions to ESPNBoston.com in 2012 after having written for a number of football-related sites around the web. Field began his professional career after college with the Kansas City Chiefs, working in both the scouting and coaching departments of the franchise before redirecting his focus to a career in media. He also interned for four summers in the coaching and scouting departments with the Patriots. Follow him on Twitter (@FieldYates).