FOXBORO -- Every week, Bill Belichick wants to make sure that the Patriots are singularly focused on the team in front of them. He wants his players to respect their opponents even if they sport a losing record or if their recent statistical output has been bleak.
How does he go about accomplishing that feat this week, when the Eagles visit Gillette Stadium? Chip Kelly's club is 4-7 and his defense ranks in the bottom-third of the league in terms of points allowed per game (24.9) and third-down conversion percentage (42.6 percent). They've lost three games in a row, and in the last two weeks they've allowed a combined 90 points and 10 touchdown passes.
Still, in this week's meetings, Belichick has been emphasizing Philadelphia's good plays and downplaying the bad ones.
"The crazy thing about it is we haven't seen none of those touchdown passes on film," LaFell said. "Bill don't show all that. We're just seeing all them causing turnovers, these guys making plays, the defensive line led by [Fletcher] Cox getting to the quarterback and stuff like that. We haven't seen all the touchdown passes they're giving up. We're just seeing all the takeaways they've been having."
If there is one bright spot for the Eagles defense this season, it's that they've created the third-most turnovers in the league thus far this season. As a result, Belichick is showing his players just how Philly's defense has taken the ball away, and he's in their ears about protecting the football this week.
As usual, Belichick is harping on what this week's opponent does well.
"It feels like every team we play against, it feels like we're facing the best defensive line we're gonna face this year, the best secondary," LaFell said. "Every time we watch film against a team, I feel like they're undefeated. We never see none of the bad plays. We always see the positive things they do.
"I guess he has us going out there and just making sure we respect our opponent. Make sure we study."
Asked if he feels like Belichick has to be a convincing salesman during weeks like this one, LaFell explained that whatever it is, it works.
"He does a great job every week," LaFell explained. "Man, I'm telling you. Every week I'll be like, 'This might be the best defense we're facing this week. These are the best DBs, the best defensive line.' He does a great job. He keeps us on our toes with the questions he asks so that everybody can go out there and play."
As far as LaFell is concerned, it sounds as though it didn't take much convincing for him to believe that the Eagles secondary has talent. He called safety Malcolm Jenkins one of the best defensive backs in the league, and he said corner Byron Maxwell is "playing good ball."
Even rookie corner Eric Rowe, who found himself in coverage on Detroit's Calvin Johnson last week and gave up four catches for 53 yards and two touchdowns, garnered some praise.
"He's physical, he can run," LaFell said. "They got a group of guys back there."