Patriots: #12 ranked defense in the NFL

[Pessimistic Pete]

In terms of PPG, Patriots now have the #12 ranked defense in the NFL.

Not too shabby.

 

[Patsfanin Philly]

In terms of PPG, Patriots now have the #12 ranked defense in the NFL.

Not too shabby.

Only allowed 40 points in the last 4 games (Chi, NYJ, Buf and GB) and in total over the season, only 9 points worse than the Jets "vaunted' defense.

 

[lostjumper]

In terms of PPG, Patriots now have the #12 ranked defense in the NFL.

Not too shabby.

Seeing they were somewhere around the low 20's at the halfway point, this is a big climb. 3 points allowed vs Jets, 7 allowed vs bears, and 3 vs the Bills have made a big difference. Get everyone healthy for the playoffs, and lets see what this team can do!

 

[Ring 6]

Seeing they were somewhere around the low 20's at the halfway point, this is a big climb. 3 points allowed vs Jets, 7 allowed vs bears, and 3 vs the Bills have made a big difference. Get everyone healthy for the playoffs, and lets see what this team can do!

Since the start of week 4 they are 6th, and only 1 point out of 5th and 4 out of 4th.

 

[convertedpatsfan]

Since the start of week 4 they are 6th, and only 1 point out of 5th and 4 out of 4th.

That's amazing.

You can see this young defense growing up and maturing before our eyes. McCourty went from decent rookie to solid cover guy to semi-shutdown guy to interception machine. Guys like Chung and Brace started gaining footholds in the rotation and making plays. Cunningham going from bench guy to rotation guy to starter to best OLB on the team.

Arrington and Butler both made big strides as the season progressed, Mayo maturing as a leader and starting to make big plays now, Guyton finding his role and starting to excel in it, Deaderick and Love getting snaps and starting to succeed.

It's just been a real enjoyable season so far and the offense has led the way, but I'm loving how quickly this D is coming along and improving week by week. They've clearly grown up since those rough first few weeks.

 

[sevengables_2207]

The defense is peaking at the right time of the year. I was pleased with their effort earlier today with several solid contributors out with injuries.

 

[IcyPatriot]

Scott Pioli Who :confused2:

 

[ctpatsfan1]

They have been improving greatly in the red zone stops too. Allowing only 3 pts or in many cases a take away. Makes a huge difference when you trade FG's for TD's especially with the way Brady and the O can move the ball and score. Still would like to see them tighten up against the run a little more and get some more pressure on QB's but I'll take the improvement and hope they keep growing for 4 more wins.

 

[PatsFaninME]

REST BRADY! I don't give a damn about a consecutive start record. REST BRADY! Only championships mean anything and a healthy Brady gives us best chance. I wouldn't even risk a single series but I know they will.

I'd rest Vince too and let the young kids get some reps/experience.

 

[RobertWeathers]

They have been improving greatly in the red zone stops too. .

I dare to say it but the 2001 team was playing the EXACT same way. Giving up yards but turning TDs into FGs and FGs in punts.

 

[Patriot_in_NY]

Wait.......... Our thought our defense sucked?

 

[Ring 6]

REST BRADY! I don't give a damn about a consecutive start record. REST BRADY! Only championships mean anything and a healthy Brady gives us best chance. I wouldn't even risk a single series but I know they will.

I'd rest Vince too and let the young kids get some reps/experience.

He will rest in the bye week.
A healthy Brady doesnt give us the best chance a healthy SHARP Brady gives us the best chance.
You prepare him for this game like it is meaningful. You play him the first half, then decide how long if at all to play him in the second half.
Same goes for most of the starters (except that many have to play the full game because there arent backups for everyone).
The entire team needs to prepare for this game like it matters.
Taking this week of preparation off, and not taking it out on the field,then the same thing the next one as well would be a bad thing.

 

[ausbacker]

Wait.......... Our thought our defense sucked?

Worst ever.... I mean ever!

 

[patfanken]

The defense is peaking at the right time of the year. I was pleased with their effort earlier today with several solid contributors out with injuries.

"Peaking" might be too strong a word. Continuing to get better would be a better description. This defense has a LONG way to go before it becomes a strong or dominant defense. Right now I'm satisfied that its become a much better "scoring D" and continues to get better.

 

[SONS_OF_BELICHICK]

The crystal balls foretells the future and it ...says.....

Be very very very afraid of the patriots........

:rocker:

 

[hambone1818]

Hold on...I defend this team to the death and believe the defense has taken huge steps forward the past 16 weeks, but when they were ranked in the mid-20's I heard ton's of people say PPG meant nothing. Now when they're 12th in the league all of a sudden that stat tells us something? Because they beat up on Sanchez, Culter and Fitzgerald? Just a week ago people were worried about what Flynn's success meant in the grand scheme of things.

My thought: screw PPG, it tells you very little about a defense. Look at results: they can still be awful on 3rd downs at times, they're a very opportunistic defense in the mold of the '03/'04 squads, and while they still scare me at times you can see immense improvement from the 'core' young guys that will hopefully blossom into stars. Lots and lots to look forward to with this defense.

 

[Ring 6]

"Peaking" might be too strong a word. Continuing to get better would be a better description. This defense has a LONG way to go before it becomes a strong or dominant defense. Right now I'm satisfied that its become a much better "scoring D" and continues to get better.

3.7,3 in 3 of the last 4 games doesnt deserve a capitalized long IMO

 

[Ring 6]

Hold on...I defend this team to the death and believe the defense has taken huge steps forward the past 16 weeks, but when they were ranked in the mid-20's I heard ton's of people say PPG meant nothing. Now when they're 12th in the league all of a sudden that stat tells us something? Because they beat up on Sanchez, Culter and Fitzgerald? Just a week ago people were worried about what Flynn's success meant in the grand scheme of things.

My thought: screw PPG, it tells you very little about a defense. Look at results: they can still be awful on 3rd downs at times, they're a very opportunistic defense in the mold of the '03/'04 squads, and while they still scare me at times you can see immense improvement from the 'core' young guys that will hopefully blossom into stars. Lots and lots to look forward to with this defense.

"The board" is not one entity. The most vocal position is not shared by all.
You imply the same people have done a 180 when it fact the detractors are becoming more silent as the results continue to get better.

 

[JoeSixPat]

Seeing they were somewhere around the low 20's at the halfway point, this is a big climb.

I think it was Yards per game where the defense was so poorly ranked.

At this point the season rankings are irrelevant... adding in how they were in the first month means nothing in the last month.

 

[hambone1818]

"The board" is not one entity. The most vocal position is not shared by all.
You imply the same people have done a 180 when it fact the detractors are becoming more silent as the results continue to get better.

Very true...I guess my thought is we can't get too high during good stretches or too low during the bad one's. The defense has certainly been better lately--especially the secondary--but alot of that has to do with the opposition and the QB's they've faced. I think they'll perform better against the Manning's and Brees's of the world than they would have in week 1, but they're still not world beaters.