Wow! Pats' 1st Q Defense - New England Patriots Forums

aluminum seats · 10-31-2007, 02:18 PM

This is an obvious stat to look at, but I realize it's not one that had really registered with me. The Pats have given up a grand total of SEVEN points in the first quarter over the first half of the season. SEVEN. A total disparity of 79-7. Let that sink in a little. I've been of the mind that the few times the defense has seemed a little soft has been because the Pats have been so far up, there's been a natural letdown in intensity. Well, in the first quarter, when the game is even (for a couple minutes, anyway) the Patriots have been a tremendous shutdown D.

That is an awesome number.

***AndyJohnson*** · 10-31-2007, 02:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by aluminum seats

This is an obvious stat to look at, but I realize it's not one that had really registered with me. The Pats have given up a grand total of SEVEN points in the first quarter over the first half of the season. SEVEN. A total disparity of 79-7. Let that sink in a little. I've been of the mind that the few times the defense has seemed a little soft has been because the Pats have been so far up, there's been a natural letdown in intensity. Well, in the first quarter, when the game is even (for a couple minutes, anyway) the Patriots have been a tremendous shutdown D.

That is an awesome number.

And exactly why this team should not be compared to the Rams of late 90s-early 00s, Colts of a few years back, Chargers of the 80s etc, that scored a lot of points because they had no defense and needed to.

***BelichickFan*** · 10-31-2007, 02:25 PM

This is similar to a point I made in another thread. I don't think it's valid to look at season numbers because our leads have been so big that our second half numbers are pretty
much invalid.

On average we are leading at halftime by 16 points whereas the Colts are leading by 6. That shows the difference in team quality IMO because we can pretty much mail it in after that :

At halftime, the Patriots average game is a 22-6 lead.
At halftime, the Colts average game is a 14-8 lead.

njpatsfan · 10-31-2007, 02:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AndyJohnson

And exactly why this team should not be compared to the Rams of late 90s-early 00s, Colts of a few years back, Chargers of the 80s etc, that scored a lot of points because they had no defense and needed to.

I think I posted this in another thread, but I think this statistic is important for two reasons:

- One, it shows how well the Patriots are prepared by the coaches - on both sides of the ball. The O's script for the 1Q is calling plays that are scoring points. The D has the answer for what the opposition gameplan was.

- Two, getting up early is the surefire way of getting the opposing team out of their gameplan. The opposing O has to gamble more - the opposing D can't afford to. It's the equivalent of seizing the high ground in military strategy.

It would be nice to see some historical stats on W/L when being up at the end of the 1st Q.

R

JR4 · 10-31-2007, 02:53 PM

There has to be reason for this ......

maybe BB has been contacted by Aliens and they have given him an alien
device for listening in behind close doors. With this device he knows exactly
what the opposition is going to do.

Or maybe he really has made a deal with the devil.

Skree · 10-31-2007, 04:44 PM

Don't forget that indy hasn't faced a lot of offense either:
Pats D has faced 4 top ten offenses...

#2 Dallas Offense - gave up 27 points (7 of that was a defensive score)
#4 Browns Offense - gave up 17 points
#6 Bengals Offense - gave up 13 points
#8 Chargers Offense - gave up 14 points

and then...
#13 Miami - gave up 28 (7 of that was a defensive score)
#22 Redskins - gave up 7 (Garbage time)
# 26 Jets - gave up 14
#29 Bills - gave up 7

Indy has faced one top ten offense...

#10 Houston - gave up 24

and also...
#14 Tenn - gave up 20
#18 NO - gave up 10
#19 Jax - gave up 7
#21 Carolina - gave up 7
#23 TB - gave up 14
#27 Denver - gave up 20