Well, I didn't say bottom of the league. I said middling. I think that should mean 9/10 through 19/20.
They've never been ranked lower in points given than yards given in BB's whole tenure. The average differential over 13 years is more than 8 spots difference in a league of 32 teams. This literally means that the average is that New England is in the top 3rd in points given up, but middle of the road in yards given up. This is what they average.
It's really fair to say that the Patriots, over the last 13 years, are right at the top of the league in points given up, but in the middle in terms of yards.
2000
20th yards
16th points
2001
24th yards
6th points
2002
23rd yards
16th points
2003
7th yards
1st points
2004
9th yards
2nd points
2005
26th yards
17th points
2006
6th yards
2nd points
2007
4th yards
4th points
2008
10th yards
8th points
2009
11th yards
5th points
2010
25th yards
8th points
2011
31st yards
15th points
2012
25th yards
15th points