Patriots Defense vs. Pass actually best it has been in quite awhile

Remember all those years where we had guys with samples like Wilhite,Meriweather and Earthwind Moreland roaming our secondary and the rankings almost yearly in the mid to lower 20's because they were not very good?

Well I just checked the stats on this year's team and even though KC ran all over our team I think it was more of the defense having a short field to defend because of INTs and mistakes and also them being on the field much longer than they should be - the defense against the pass is very solid and the stats show it...

Here are the Pats stats through week 4 on the 2014 NFL Season...

4th best in NFL in total yards allowed - 442
1st in a 3 way tie with allowing just 1 Receiving TD - (in a tie with Cleveland and Seattle)
Ranked #2 in the NFL in number of receptions allowed - 34

Perhaps YPC against is the weakest area this pass defense has to work on as it stands at 13.00 but overall the offense failing to score points and protection on the line and the rushing defense are the main things to get going on the right track for this team to remain in contention for the division title and beyond.

We finally have a respectable pass defense since Ty Law left - at least one area is doing well in a shaky 1st 1/4 of play.

No, it isn't. These stats are skewed because we have faced some of the worst QBs and offenses in the entire league. Alex Smith, who is by no means elite, put up 248 yards on only 26 attempts. He was 20 of 26 with 3 TDs. This is a middle of the pack QB with a middle of the pack receiving corps. I can't even begin to imagine what Rodgers and Manning will do to this very subpar passing defense.

FourierSeries said:

No, it isn't. These stats are skewed because we have faced some of the worst QBs and offenses in the entire league. Alex Smith, who is by no means elite, put up 248 yards on only 26 attempts. He was 20 of 26 with 3 TDs. This is a middle of the pack QB with a middle of the pack receiving corps. I can't even begin to imagine what Rodgers and Manning will do to this very subpar passing defense.

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Time will tell when the best QBs come to play...but at least right now its a repectable pass D ..We will see if it starts to decline as the season progresses..but this is about right now...not later

Stats are SO misleading it's not even funny. Watch the game and tell me this is pass D lives up to the stats you just gave out. Not sure where you got the stat about the number of receiving TD's they've allowed as Alex Smith just threw 3 against them. Tannehill threw 2 and Cassel threw 1 for a total of 6 receiving TD's allowed.

Being ranked #2 for number of receptions allowed doesn't mean squat unless you compare it to the number of passing attempts. Which still doesn't give you the whole picture because when teams can run it down their throat, they don't have to throw as much.

37Harrison said:

Stats are SO misleading it's not even funny. Watch the game and tell me this is pass D lives up to the stats you just gave out. Not sure where you got the stat about the number of receiving TD's they've allowed as Alex Smith just threw 3 against them. Tannehill threw 2 and Cassel threw 1 for a total of 6 receiving TD's allowed.

Being ranked #2 for number of receptions allowed doesn't mean squat unless you compare it to the number of passing attempts. Which still doesn't give you the whole picture because when teams can run it down their throat, they don't have to throw as much.

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All awfull recent Pats defences at least could stop the run. Now they can't even do that. So opponents just run all day. But hey, its great news they dont pass as much. Let's celebrate.

Of course, in the past opponents were forced to pass pass pass to keep up with the high powered Pats offense. Now they don't have that worry.

The pass defense is definitely better, personnel-wise and statistically. And, it gets better with Browner and Dennard adding more toughness on the corners. Opponents are looking at the defense and scheming running plays to attack a defense that isn't built to stop the run. I look forward to games against pass-first teams.

Kudos to the OP poster for this thread, and the critics need to remember that 1) the Miami and KC losses featured outstanding running performances by the opponents that were well schemed, and 2) the Patriots offense has to get its act together to mount scoring drives to make the opposition play catch up.

Poor running defense..simple as that. Why pass when you can run?

Too early to tell IMO.
Alex Smith is the best QB the Pats have faced this year so far so.... Also hard to draw too many conclusions about the yardage allowed passing when you're being gashed on the ground.

I remember the Raiders had close to the "#1 pass D" in the NFL not too long ago - only because their defense couldn't stop the run at all so why try to pass?

its definitely better than 2011, 2012(before talib) lets not forget how HORRIBLE those defenses were. we had Julian Edelman playing cornerback.

on the flipside though, our offenses were extremely good...which made up for it.