AndyJohnson

Patriots have at least 25 first downs in every game. No other team averages 25 first downs per game.

NYCPatsFan

Interesting indeed.

If they continue in the same manner for this season, will we be the first team to have done so?

RelocatedPatFan

i'd rather see them give up a few more first downs than giving up the 20+ and 40+ yard plays.

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AndyJohnson

I was talking about offensively.

DarrylS

This team's offensive philosophy, move the chains..

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randomk1

They are also 7th in time of possession.

Last season they finished 26th.

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CheeseMonkeys

I think the improved running game is what's helping the Patriots control the ball and get first downs. I wonder what the average 1st downs a game were in 2007 when we were bombing the ball down the field all the time.

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AndyJohnson

Patriots have also run 547 plays. Second most (not counting the Vikes who have played 8 games) is Houston at 483.
Patriots would be leading the league in top by a mile if they werent running hurry up.

Finnishfan

I think the New Orleans Saints last year were the first team ever to reach an average of over 25 (they had 26.0). So our 29.0 for this year is ridiculous.

Also the league is progressing a lot in that category, becouse this year the average 1st downs per game seems to be heading towards over 40, when last year it was 38.9 and in 2007 it was around 37.

Now I dont know whether there are some old records in this category, but I scrolled back the history all the way to 2005 and found nothing even close to our this year.

SIDEMARK: Our 2007 average was 24.6.

Finnishfan

I hated our 2011 offense for that very reason. I was watching games and cursing to myself when the defense didn't even get their water before they had to come back to the field, regardless of whether we scored or went 3 and out.

I hope that McD is more patient with his playcalling than BOB, and understands that most of the times 4x 5yards is WAY BETTER than 1x 20 yards.