The improvement of the pass defense really manifests itself in the amount of big plays. In the first six games of the season the Patriots D was uncharacteristically prone to giving up the chunk plays. 28 pass plays of 20 yards or more, 15 that went for more than 30 yards and 6 for 40 or more yards. In the last six games, however, that number has gone down to 10 pass plays of 20 or more yards, 2 of 30 or more (both to Emmanuel Sanders in Denver) and none over 40 yards.
Interesting is also splitting the defensive performance the last six games by field position:
Passing
Opp1-19: 9/13 (69%), 89 yards, 0 TDs, 0 INTs, 2 sacks (-16 yards), 4.9 yards per play, 88.3 passer rating
Opp20-39: 57/84 (68%), 581 yards, 0 TDs, 2 INTs, 8 sacks (-70 yards), 5.6 yards per play, 77.5 passer rating
Opp40-NE41: 24/51 (47%), 234 yards, 0 TDs, 1 INT, 2 sacks (-12 yards), 4.2 yards per play, 52.2 passer rating
NE40-NE21: 20/33 (61%), 241 yards, 1 TD, 1 INT, 2 sacks (-19 yards), 6.3 yards per play, 80.5 passer rating
NE20-NE1: 14/32 (44%), 88 yards, 4 TDs, 2 INTs, 0 sacks, 2.8 yards per Play, 64.6 passer rating
Rushing
Opp1-19: 14 attempts, 148 yards, 7.6 yards per play, 1 TD
Opp20-39: 50 attempts, 295 yards, 5.9 yards per play
Opp40-NE41: 43 attempts, 176 yards, 4.1 yards per play
NE40-NE21: 20 attempts, 108 yards, 5.4 yards per play
NE20-NE1: 10 attempts, 27 yards, 2.7 yards per play
General
Opp1-19: 7.6 yards per play, 2/5 Third-downs (40%)
Opp20-39: 5.7 yards per play, 13/28 Third-downs (46%)
Opp40-NE41: 4.1 yards per play, 4/21 Third-downs (19%)
NE40-NE21: 6.0 yards per play, 5/9 Third-downs (56%)
NE20-NE1: 2.7 yards per play, 3/10 Third-downs (30%)
So your standard opposing drive these past six games start within the opponents' 20-39 yard line, gain good initial penetration, but once they reach midfield they get shut down. Strangely, if a drive manages to get past midfield they have great success in the first fifth of the NE side of the field. But once they reach the redzone the D stiffens insanely, both in the passing and run game.
Interesting is also splitting the defensive performance the last six games by field position:
Passing
Opp1-19: 9/13 (69%), 89 yards, 0 TDs, 0 INTs, 2 sacks (-16 yards), 4.9 yards per play, 88.3 passer rating
Opp20-39: 57/84 (68%), 581 yards, 0 TDs, 2 INTs, 8 sacks (-70 yards), 5.6 yards per play, 77.5 passer rating
Opp40-NE41: 24/51 (47%), 234 yards, 0 TDs, 1 INT, 2 sacks (-12 yards), 4.2 yards per play, 52.2 passer rating
NE40-NE21: 20/33 (61%), 241 yards, 1 TD, 1 INT, 2 sacks (-19 yards), 6.3 yards per play, 80.5 passer rating
NE20-NE1: 14/32 (44%), 88 yards, 4 TDs, 2 INTs, 0 sacks, 2.8 yards per Play, 64.6 passer rating
Rushing
Opp1-19: 14 attempts, 148 yards, 7.6 yards per play, 1 TD
Opp20-39: 50 attempts, 295 yards, 5.9 yards per play
Opp40-NE41: 43 attempts, 176 yards, 4.1 yards per play
NE40-NE21: 20 attempts, 108 yards, 5.4 yards per play
NE20-NE1: 10 attempts, 27 yards, 2.7 yards per play
General
Opp1-19: 7.6 yards per play, 2/5 Third-downs (40%)
Opp20-39: 5.7 yards per play, 13/28 Third-downs (46%)
Opp40-NE41: 4.1 yards per play, 4/21 Third-downs (19%)
NE40-NE21: 6.0 yards per play, 5/9 Third-downs (56%)
NE20-NE1: 2.7 yards per play, 3/10 Third-downs (30%)
So your standard opposing drive these past six games start within the opponents' 20-39 yard line, gain good initial penetration, but once they reach midfield they get shut down. Strangely, if a drive manages to get past midfield they have great success in the first fifth of the NE side of the field. But once they reach the redzone the D stiffens insanely, both in the passing and run game.