Playoff Losses under BB/TB

2005 season (2006 playoffs), lost to Denver 27-13
- NE offense averaged 23.7 points; defense allowed 21.1 points
- Den offense averaged 24.7 points; defense allowed 16.1 points
- NE scored 8.1 points fewer than average; NE allowed 5.9 points more than average
- Den scored 2.3 points more than average; Den allowed 3.1 points fewer than average

2006 season (2007 playoffs), lost to Indianapolis 38-34
- NE offense averaged 24.1 points; defense allowed 14.8 points
- Ind offense averaged 26.7 points; defense allowed 22.5 points
- NE scored 9.9 points more than average; NE allowed 19.2 points more than average
- Ind scored 11.3 points more than average; Ind allowed 11.5 points more than average

2007 season (2008 playoffs), lost to NY Giants 17-14
- NE offense averaged 36.8 points; defense allowed 17.1 points
- NYG offense averaged 23.3 points; defense allowed 21.9 points
- NE scored 19.2 points fewer than average; NE allowed 0.1 points fewer than average
- NYG scored 6.3 points fewer than average; NYG allowed 7.9 points fewer than average

2009 season (2010 playoffs), lost to Baltimore 33-14
- NE offense averaged 26.7 points; defense allowed 17.8 points
- Bal offense averaged 24.4 points; defense allowed 16.3 points
- NE scored 12.7 points fewer than average; NE allowed 15.2 points more than average
- Bal scored 8.6 points more than average; Bal allowed 2.3 points fewer than average

2010 season (2011 playoffs), lost to NY Jets 28-21
- NE offense averaged 32.4 points; defense allowed 19.6 points
- NYJ offense averaged 22.9 points; defense allowed 19.0 points
- NE scored 11.4 points fewer than average; NE allowed 8.4 points more than average
- NYJ scored 5.1 points more than average; NYJ allowed 2.0 points fewer than average

2011 season (2012 playoffs), lost to NYG 21-17
- NE offense averaged 32.1 points; defense allowed 21.4 points
- NYG offense averaged 24.6 points; defense allowed 25.0 points
- NE scored 11.1 points fewer than average; NE allowed 0.4 points fewer than average
- NYG scored 3.6 points fewer than average; NYG allowed 8.0 points fewer than average

2012 season (2013 playoffs), lost to Bal 28-13
- NE offense averaged 34.8 points; defense allowed 20.7 points
- Bal offense averaged 24.9 points; defense allowed 21.5 points
- NE scored 21.8 points fewer than average; NE allowed 7.7 points more than average
- Bal scored 3.1 points more than average; Bal allowed 8.5 points fewer than average

2013 season (2014 playoffs), lost to Den 26-16
- NE offense averaged 27.8 points; defense allowed 21.1 points
- Den offense averaged 37.9 points; defense allowed 24.9 points
- NE scored 11.2 points fewer than average; allowed 4.9 points more than average
- Den scored 11.9 points fewer than average; allowed 8.9 points fewer than average

2015 season (2016 playoffs), lost to Den 20-18
- NE offense averaged 29.1 points; defense allowed 19.7 points
- Den offense averaged 22.2 points; defense allowed 18.5 points
- NE scored 11.1 points fewer than average; allowed 0.3 points more than average
- Den scored 2.2 points fewer than average; allowed 0.5 points fewer than average

In these 9 losses:
- The Patriots, on average, have scored 10.7 fewer points than their season average
- The Patriots only scored more points than their season average one time (2007 vs. Ind); otherwise, they scored at least 8.2 points fewer than their season average in every one of the other eight losses
- The Patriots, on average, have allowed 6.8 points more than their season average
- The Patriots, on two occasions, allowed fewer points than their season average
- Patriots' opponents, on average, scored 0.7 points more than their season average
- Patriots' opponents were held below their season average 4 out of the 9 games
- Patriots' opponents, on average, allowed 3.3 fewer points than their season average
- Patriots' opponents, only one time, allowed more points than their season average (2007 vs. Ind)

Long story short, in these 9 losses, the offense has underperformed much more significantly than the defense. In other playoff wins, the offense has outperformed the defense. Last year was a notable example, as the Patriots' offense averaged 29.2 points a game, but scored 35, 45, and 28 points (36.0 average), while the defense allowed 19.6 points a game, but allowed 31, 7, and 24 (20.7 averaged). So last year the offense outperformed the defense, and what do you know? They won the Super Bowl.

When the Patriots lose in the playoffs under Belichick, it's almost always been the offense that's underperformed more than the defense.

I don't remember any of them

More specifically, it almost always seems to be huge issues with the protection.

Ice_Ice_Brady said:

More specifically, it almost always seems to be huge issues with the protection.

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Yeah, I'll probably do a write up on this for Ian at some point soon, but it's pretty simple. The way to beat the Patriots is to get tons of pressure from just 3 or 4 guys, and leave the rest in coverage.

Now I say simple. It's simple in *concept*, but very few teams over the years have been able to pull it off. Usually teams can't generate enough pressure with just 3 or 4, and Brady has time to pick them apart. Or they don't have the quality coverage guys to press and make Brady hold the ball. Or they have to blitz and that leaves their coverage guys on islands, or fewer guys to play zone.

But if you can get lots of pressure with just 3 or 4 guys and leave the rest in coverage, you have a chance. And the Jets, Ravens, Broncos, Giants - all those teams were able to do that. And even then, it usually still results in a close game - rarely do the Patriots get beaten badly. But it's the best chance to beat them.

Denver did just that.

Good stuff. This is why I've always disagreed with those who blame our defense for those horrific fluky drives in the Super Bowls. The defense never should have been in that position in the first place if the offense did their job.

YIKES, it gets worse when you actually include a year in which they WON!!!

Many may forget this, but the 2001 Patriots won the Super Bowl by scoring 3 offensive touchdowns over the entire playoffs (that's right, three!)

Too bad about this season, but the defense is giving me very very high hopes. Would like to see High and Collins locked up long-term, Jones would be a bonus. Grab another DE/DT this year and a 2nd or 3rd round LB next and beef em up.

That is, if the Patriots still have any draft picks by then

Not to be a jerk, but it really isn't that crazy to think that the Patriots scored less than their season average in playoff losses.

1.) The Pats are facing the best teams in the league (usually the best defenses). The regular season has some cake walk teams in there.

2.) The Pats always tend to have a high scoring average during the year. It would actually be tough for them to score more than their average AND lose a game.

I do blame the defense in 2006, 2007, and 2011 because they could not get the stops they needed with the game on the line. But this year is different, the defense played its ass off against Denver and it was completely the offense's fault.

I only blame the defense for 2006 and 2012. Regardless, you can't win them all. We have won games that many teams have still haven't recovered from, ala Seattle.

Well..we have had 9 playoff losses, in 15 yrs. Not saying its acceptable but its a good situation to be in every year.

VectorPrime said:

I do blame the defense in 2006, 2007, and 2011 because they could not get the stops they needed with the game on the line. But this year is different, the defense played its ass off against Denver and it was completely the offense's fault.

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Wow, tough crowd. In 2007 the defense gave up 14 points in a game that featured a record setting offense (at the time anyway). Prior to that game the Patriots lowest point total for the season was 20 points (which still would have been good enough to win).