Are the Patriots better when they kickoff?

[italia44]

This is a subjective analysis and I don't have the stats to back it up......however,it seems to me over the last 5 years,the Patriots do better when they kickoff to open the game.They particularly do well when they score just before halftime and then receive the 2nd half kickoff.

It's just a pervasive feeling I have that when they make a defensive stop on that first drive,it seems to energize them,especially at Home.

Anyone get this same feeling??????

 

[Box_O_Rocks]

This is a subjective analysis and I don't have the stats to back it up......however,it seems to me over the last 5 years,the Patriots do better when they kickoff to open the game.They particularly do well when they score just before halftime and then receive the 2nd half kickoff.

It's just a pervasive feeling I have that when they make a defensive stop on that first drive,it seems to energize them,especially at Home.

Anyone get this same feeling??????

A defensive stop does energize the club, especially if Special Teams kept the runback around the 20 and the D can force a 3 and out or a turnover...However, a nice long drive picking apart the opposing defense and punching into the end zone is pretty energizing too, not to mention demoralizing for a D just handed it's hat.

I'd have to say the most energizing effort is a tie:
- Kicking off and forcing a turnover in opponent territory on the return.
- Taking the kick deep into opponent territory or scoring on the return.

 

[Jones]

I prefer them getting the ball first....especially when they play at home...At the razor no one is even in their seats when halftime ends...what good is a drive after halftime when the crowd isnt around to see it...usually when the second drive begins after halftime thats when the crowd gets back into their seats....

 

[Canada's #1 Pats Fan]

I agree 100% with this post. I have always thought this. Every Sunday when I am watching Sunday ticket I am hoping that we will kick off first. It was a couple of seasons ago when RAC and BB would throw the defense out there first and suffocate the opponent. Then it always seemed to be that the PATs would score just before the end of the half and then get the ball to begin the 3rd and then the defense would turn it up even more after the half time off. adjustments made by the opposition. Ahhh! the good old days.

 

[pats1]

2006

1 - No, W
2 - No, W
3 - Yes, L
4 - Yes, W
5 - Yes, W
6 - No, W
7 - No, W
8 - No, L
9 - No, L
10 - Yes, W
11 - No, W
12 - No, W
13 - No, L
14 - No, W
15 - Yes, W

Yes - 4/5 - .800
No - 7/10 - .700

 

[italia44]

2006

1 - No, W
2 - No, W
3 - Yes, L
4 - Yes, W
5 - Yes, W
6 - No, W
7 - No, W
8 - No, L
9 - No, L
10 - Yes, W
11 - No, W
12 - No, W
13 - No, L
14 - No, W
15 - Yes, W

Yes - 4/5 - .800
No - 7/10 - .700

Nice job.....thanks for looking up the stats.
I'm talking about something more ephemeral.....the way they play,not win or lose.

I just feel they play better when they kickoff.

Do you have stats for kickoffs for playoff games from 2001 to 2005?

 

[IcyPatriot]

Stats won't back it up but I love when they lose the toss and get the ball to start the 2nd half ... to me ... I feel like they're in the driver's seat when that happens.

The stats really don't back it up ... however a search of their 2nd half kickoff drives would probably show alot of points.

the Patriots spend a good part of the 1st half opening up their playbook so they can capitalize later ... well ... does that stat exist anywhere?

 

[spacecrime]

I think they do better when they kickoff, but only in months with an "R" in it playing against a team with an animal for a mascot in a state with an odd number of letters.

 

[PatsDeb]

This is a subjective analysis and I don't have the stats to back it up......however,it seems to me over the last 5 years,the Patriots do better when they kickoff to open the game.They particularly do well when they score just before halftime and then receive the 2nd half kickoff.

It's just a pervasive feeling I have that when they make a defensive stop on that first drive,it seems to energize them,especially at Home.

Anyone get this same feeling??????

The answer is "yes". I hate when we win the toss. In the superbowl years it seems we always lost the toss, and getting the ball first in the 2nd half was a big boost. The last two years we have won the toss more often than not, and I always hope they will elect to kick off (which they never do). When they lost the toss at Jax, I already felt the game was going well! We had the ball at the end of the half, and got it again at the start of the 2nd half. I think we are a better 2nd half team (or maybe a better 2nd half offense).

 

[italia44]

I think they do better when they kickoff, but only in months with an "R" in it playing against a team with an animal for a mascot in a state with an odd number of letters.

"a mind is a terrible thing to waste",in your case,the waste is incalculable.

 

[jczxohn1]

IMO, the most telling advantage has been when they score first, which they did a number of times in their 21 game winning streak.