Pretty much everyone is focusing on the passing offenses (and defenses stopping the pass). But what about the run?
Continuing my theme (from the "pressure the QB" thread) of looking at these teams' last 5 games, here are the numbers...
Giants
at NYJ: NYG: 26-115 yds, 4.4 ypc; NYJ: 25-105 yds, 4.2 ypc
vs Dal: NYG: 31-106 yds, 3.4 ypc; Dal: 16-49 yds, 3.1 ypc
vs Atl: NYG: 31-172 yds, 5.5 ypc; Atl: 21-64 yds, 3.0 ypc
at GB: NYG: 27-95 yds, 3.5 ypc; GB: 23-147 yds, 6.4 ypc
at SF: NYG: 26-85 yds, 3.3 ypc; SF: 28-150 yds, 5.4 ypc
AVG: NYG: 28.2-114.6 yds, 4.1 ypc; Opp: 22.6-103.0, 4.6 ypc
Patriots
at Den: NE: 36-141 yds, 3.9 ypc; Den: 31-252 yds, 8.1 ypc
vs Mia: NE: 31-119 yds, 3.8 ypc; Mia: 28-121 yds, 4.3 ypc
vs Buf: NE: 29-138 yds, 4.8 ypc; Buf: 20-106 yds, 5.3 ypc
vs Den: NE: 30-146 yds, 4.9 ypc; Den: 40-144 yds, 3.6 ypc
vs Bal: NE: 31-96 yds, 3.1 ypc; Bal: 31-116 yds, 3.7 ypc
AVG: NE: 31.4-128.0 yds, 4.1 ypc; Opp: 30.0-147.8 yds, 4.9 ypc
So we see that the Pats have run the ball a little more effectively than the Giants have over their last 5 games, respectively. But the Pats' run D has been considerably worse. HOWEVER, look at the last two games:
NY: 53-180 yds, 3.4 ypc; Opp: 51-297 yds, 5.8 ypc
NE: 61-242 yds, 4.0 ypc; Opp: 71-260 yds, 3.7 ypc
Clearly, the past two games have seen the Patriots' running game - AND RUN DEFENSE - outperform the Giants', in both counts.
But what about the quality of opposition? Here are the rushing offense and rushing defense rankings of each of their opponents:
NYG
NYJ - #22 off, #13 def
Dal - #18 off, #7 def
Atl - #17 off, #6 def
GB - #27 off, #14 def
SF - #8 off, #1 def
AVG - #18.4 off, #8.2 def
NE
Den - #1 off, #22 def
Mia - #11 off, #3 def
Buf - #13 off, #28 def
Den - #1 off, #22 def
Bal - #10 off, #2 def
AVG - #7 off, #15.4 def
So the Pats have faced *MUCH* better running games, which helps explain why their run defense has been worse than the Giants' over their past 5 games. However, again, look at their last 2 games. Facing the #1 and #10 rushing offenses in the NFL, the Pats have yielded fewer yards and FAR fewer yards per attempt compared to the Giants, who were facing the #27 and #8 rushing offenses in the NFL.
The last thread I started demonstrated that the Giants' ability to put pressure on the other teams' QB (remember, we're just talking during the last 5 games, which constitute the "Giants are the hottest team in the league" period) was equaled by the Patriots' unheralded group.
In this thread I think it's clear that the Pats' run defense is vastly outplaying the Giants' run defense. Over 5 games, the raw numbers favor the Giants, but (a) the Pats have faced much better run offenses, and (b) over the past two games the Pats' run defense has performed significantly better than the Giants', especially considering the quality of run offenses they've faced.
Continuing my theme (from the "pressure the QB" thread) of looking at these teams' last 5 games, here are the numbers...
Giants
at NYJ: NYG: 26-115 yds, 4.4 ypc; NYJ: 25-105 yds, 4.2 ypc
vs Dal: NYG: 31-106 yds, 3.4 ypc; Dal: 16-49 yds, 3.1 ypc
vs Atl: NYG: 31-172 yds, 5.5 ypc; Atl: 21-64 yds, 3.0 ypc
at GB: NYG: 27-95 yds, 3.5 ypc; GB: 23-147 yds, 6.4 ypc
at SF: NYG: 26-85 yds, 3.3 ypc; SF: 28-150 yds, 5.4 ypc
AVG: NYG: 28.2-114.6 yds, 4.1 ypc; Opp: 22.6-103.0, 4.6 ypc
Patriots
at Den: NE: 36-141 yds, 3.9 ypc; Den: 31-252 yds, 8.1 ypc
vs Mia: NE: 31-119 yds, 3.8 ypc; Mia: 28-121 yds, 4.3 ypc
vs Buf: NE: 29-138 yds, 4.8 ypc; Buf: 20-106 yds, 5.3 ypc
vs Den: NE: 30-146 yds, 4.9 ypc; Den: 40-144 yds, 3.6 ypc
vs Bal: NE: 31-96 yds, 3.1 ypc; Bal: 31-116 yds, 3.7 ypc
AVG: NE: 31.4-128.0 yds, 4.1 ypc; Opp: 30.0-147.8 yds, 4.9 ypc
So we see that the Pats have run the ball a little more effectively than the Giants have over their last 5 games, respectively. But the Pats' run D has been considerably worse. HOWEVER, look at the last two games:
NY: 53-180 yds, 3.4 ypc; Opp: 51-297 yds, 5.8 ypc
NE: 61-242 yds, 4.0 ypc; Opp: 71-260 yds, 3.7 ypc
Clearly, the past two games have seen the Patriots' running game - AND RUN DEFENSE - outperform the Giants', in both counts.
But what about the quality of opposition? Here are the rushing offense and rushing defense rankings of each of their opponents:
NYG
NYJ - #22 off, #13 def
Dal - #18 off, #7 def
Atl - #17 off, #6 def
GB - #27 off, #14 def
SF - #8 off, #1 def
AVG - #18.4 off, #8.2 def
NE
Den - #1 off, #22 def
Mia - #11 off, #3 def
Buf - #13 off, #28 def
Den - #1 off, #22 def
Bal - #10 off, #2 def
AVG - #7 off, #15.4 def
So the Pats have faced *MUCH* better running games, which helps explain why their run defense has been worse than the Giants' over their past 5 games. However, again, look at their last 2 games. Facing the #1 and #10 rushing offenses in the NFL, the Pats have yielded fewer yards and FAR fewer yards per attempt compared to the Giants, who were facing the #27 and #8 rushing offenses in the NFL.
The last thread I started demonstrated that the Giants' ability to put pressure on the other teams' QB (remember, we're just talking during the last 5 games, which constitute the "Giants are the hottest team in the league" period) was equaled by the Patriots' unheralded group.
In this thread I think it's clear that the Pats' run defense is vastly outplaying the Giants' run defense. Over 5 games, the raw numbers favor the Giants, but (a) the Pats have faced much better run offenses, and (b) over the past two games the Pats' run defense has performed significantly better than the Giants', especially considering the quality of run offenses they've faced.