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Patriots' season hasn't been a complete loss due to rookies getting some playing time

The Patriots' 2020 season hasn’t been a complete loss.

Sure, it’s been tough to watch at times, but there have been a few silver linings in this disappointing season that’ll end without the Patriots in the playoffs. Their undoing started last offseason. After losing Tom Brady, Kyle Van Noy, Jamie Collins and Danny Shelton in free agency, the team also lost Dont’a Hightower, Patrick Chung and Marcus Cannon to opt-outs due to COVID-19.

Losing seven veterans proved too difficult for the Patriots to overcome, but it also forced the team to do something it hasn’t had to do in quite some time — rely on rookies.