For the Patriots, they have survived with a battered and injury-depleted defense that had its problems even before the body count hit double digits. They survived, keeping alive hopes for the postseason, as they are currently in a three-way tie for first place in the AFC East with the New York Jets and Miami Dolphins.

But how much longer can they realistically go on with the defense as presently constituted? How much longer can the Pats SURVIVE playing more backup players than regulars?

On Sunday, with the Seahawks driving down field for the potential game-tying or winning score, the Pats somehow persevered with a defensive unit that was missing six starters from opening day.

Have they finally reached the breaking point? It's one thing to beat a two-win Seattle team. Perhaps they can get by against an even less inspiring 3-10 Oakland team Sunday. But what about the dynamic air attack of NFC West champ Arizona? And, if they somehow manage to get by Oakland, Arizona and Buffalo, and get into the postseason, what then?

Remember, already gone for the season are starting safety Rodney Harrison and starting outside linebacker Adalius Thomas. Linebacker Tedy Bruschi (knee) is back in Boston, likely to be put on season-ending injured reserve (See story, Page 54). In the iffy category for the Oakland game are defensive lineman Ty Warren (groin/thigh), nose tackle Vince Wilfork (shoulder) and safety James Sanders (ribs).

Without Wilfork, Bruschi and now presumably two starting safeties, they're vulnerable at the heart of the defense.

As former Patriots offensive lineman Pete Brock pointed out yesterday, it's very possible they've hit the wall.

``They've certainly figured out ways to deal with injuries since I've been watching Bill Belichick coach the team,'' Brock said. ``It just seems like this is an awful lot to overcome, especially in the middle of the field, with the nose guard, the middle linebacker, and the strong safety, which is typically the strength of your defense. You can lose one, maybe two, but when you lose all three, that's really a difficult assignment.''

Already the Pats have had to dig back into the well for old standbys, bringing back veteran linebackers Rosevelt Colvin and Junior Seau.

Can they continue to survive if those two have to play as much as they did Sunday, as opposed to having more legitimate backup roles, or spot duty?

As receiver Wes Welker aptly stated yesterday, the Pats already are on playoff time.

``We have to make sure we're bringing it each and every week,'' Welker said.

But what will they bring on defense from here on out? More patchwork?

``Our mindset is to take it one game at a time. We're not going to worry about injuries,'' Seau said yesterday. ``It is what it is. The team which we put on the field, will be able to focus on winning that game.''

Thus far, the Pats have stayed in the hunt with both that mentality, and putting it into application. Can they continue, with the player losses mounting?

``They should win against Oakland,'' Brock said. ``Arizona has proven they hate coming to the East Coast. Then they go to Buffalo. They still could win out, but when you look at that defense, it seems like a house of cards, doesn't it?''

- kguregian@bostonherald.com

BOX: WORLD OF HURT ON `D':

The Patriots have been decimated by injuries, none worse than the one suffered by Tom Brady in the season opener. But on defense, nine players are on season-ending injured reserve, while a total of 13 players are currently either out or nursing injuries. Here's a recap:

POS. PLAYER INJURY STATUS

S Rodney Harrison Quad Out for year

LB Adalius Thomas Forearm Out for year

CB Terrence Wheatley Wrist Out for year

S Tank Williams Knee Out for year

LB Bo Ruud Ankle Out for year

LB Shawn Crable Shin Out for year

DL Kenny Smith Arm Out for year

LB Eric Alexander Hamstring Out for year

CB Jason Webster Ankle Out for year

DL Ty Warren Groin Day to day

LB Tedy Bruschi Knee Unknown

NT Vince Wilfork Shoulder Unknown

S James Sanders Ribs Unknown

BOX: DOWN THE STRETCH THEY COME!

With three weeks to go in the season, the AFC playoff race is a muddled mess. Despite an unprecedented rash of injuries, the Patriots find themselves tied with the Jets and Dolphins for first place in the AFC East. But the Pats will need some help if they are to win their sixth straight division crown.

Getting a wild card berth won't be any easier for the Pats, however. They are looking up at any number of wild card tiebreakers and likely will need to finish ahead of the teams they're battling to reach the postseason. Here are how things stand right now, first in the AFC East, and then in the wild card race.

AFC East:

Team *Rec. *Div. *Conf. *Remaining games

Jets *8-5 *3-1 *6-4 *Bills, at Seahawks, Dolphins

Patriots *8-5 *3-2 *5-5 *at Raiders, Cardinals, at Bills

Dolphins *8-5 *3-2 *6-4 *49ers, at Chiefs, at Jets

PLAYOFF SCENARIO: The division tiebreakers (in order) are head-to-head record, division record, common opponents, and then conference record.

** The Jets and Pats split their regular-season meetings, as did the Pats and Dolphins.

** The Patriots own a two-game lead in common opponents (6-2 vs. 5-4) over the Jets, and are even with the Dolphins (7-2). If the Jets and Patriots win out, the Jets will win the division based on a better record in the AFC East. If the Pats and Dolphins win out, the Dolphins will win the division based on a better conference record.

** Essentially, the Patriots need both the Jets and Dolphins to lose at least once more.

** In the event of a three-way tie, with each team losing at least once more, things get even more confusing. Currently the Jets would be eliminated by their record against common opponents among the three teams. The Dolphins then would win the East because of a better conference record than the Patriots.

WILD CARD:

Team *Rec. *Conf. *Remaining games

Colts *9-4 *8-2 *Detroit, at Jaguars, Titans

Ravens *9-4 *7-3 *Steelers, at Cowboys, Jaguars

Patriots *8-5 *5-5 *at Raiders, Cardinals, at Bills

Dolphins *8-5 *6-4 *49ers, at Chiefs, at Jets

PLAYOFF SCENARIO: The wild card standings depend on whether the Pats finish in a two- or three-way tie.

** They lose a tiebreaker with the Colts because of a head-to-head loss to Indy.

** If it's a three-way tie involving the Dolphins, they first must run the division tiebreaker with the Dolphins. The two squads currently have 7-2 records against common opponents with three to play. As of now, the Dolphins have a half-game lead in the conference.

** If the Pats finished tied with the Colts and Ravens, the Colts would get the first wild card by virtue of head-to-head victories over the Pats and Ravens. With one more Pats loss within the conference, or Ravens victory, Baltimore then would claim the second wild card.