Here are the points scored for the Patriots in all their playoff games during the "dynasty era" (2001-2012) - Note: I'm including all points scored, not just those by the offense, though it is important to realize that in some of these years, the offense has been greatly helped by defensive or special teams touchdowns (for example, the AFCCG vs. Pittsburgh in 2001, where the Pats' scored 14 special teams points out of their 24 total).
2001: reg season: 23.2 - playoffs: 16, 24, 20 (avg: 20.0) - net: -3.2
2003: reg season: 21.8 - playoffs: 17, 24, 32 (avg: 24.3) - net: +2.6
2004: reg season: 27.3 - playoffs: 20, 41, 24 (avg: 28.3) - net: +1.0
2005: reg season: 23.7 - playoffs: 28, 13 (avg: 20.5) - net: -3.2
2006: reg season: 24.1 - playoffs: 37, 24, 34 (avg: 31.7) - net: +7.6
2007: reg season: 36.8 - playoffs: 31, 21, 14 (avg: 22.0) - net: -14.8
2009: reg season: 26.7 - playoffs: 14 (avg: 14.0) - net: -12.7
2010: reg season: 32.4 - playoffs: 21 (avg: 21.0) - net: -11.4
2011: reg season: 32.1 - playoffs: 45, 23, 17 (avg: 28.3) - net: -3.7
2012: reg season: 34.8 - playoffs: 41, 13 (avg: 27.0) - net: -7.8
So from 2001-2006, the team on the whole (except for 2001) scored more points per game in the playoffs than they did during the regular season. But since 2007, it's been just the opposite, and in a huge, huge way. Combining all the data from 2007-2012, here's what we see:
Regular season scoring average: 32.6
Post season scoring average: 24.0
Net +/-: -8.6
These are the facts. No cherry-picking. It's the data. The question is this: what's the deal with the playoff offense? So there are three poll options:
(1) There is nothing wrong. It's just a small sample of bad luck.
(2) The offense isn't ideally suited for the playoffs and needs to be tweaked, but on the whole it's a good set up.
(3) The offense really has major problems and is ill-conceived for the playoffs. Serious changes need to be made.
Where do folks here at patsfans stand on this?
2001: reg season: 23.2 - playoffs: 16, 24, 20 (avg: 20.0) - net: -3.2
2003: reg season: 21.8 - playoffs: 17, 24, 32 (avg: 24.3) - net: +2.6
2004: reg season: 27.3 - playoffs: 20, 41, 24 (avg: 28.3) - net: +1.0
2005: reg season: 23.7 - playoffs: 28, 13 (avg: 20.5) - net: -3.2
2006: reg season: 24.1 - playoffs: 37, 24, 34 (avg: 31.7) - net: +7.6
2007: reg season: 36.8 - playoffs: 31, 21, 14 (avg: 22.0) - net: -14.8
2009: reg season: 26.7 - playoffs: 14 (avg: 14.0) - net: -12.7
2010: reg season: 32.4 - playoffs: 21 (avg: 21.0) - net: -11.4
2011: reg season: 32.1 - playoffs: 45, 23, 17 (avg: 28.3) - net: -3.7
2012: reg season: 34.8 - playoffs: 41, 13 (avg: 27.0) - net: -7.8
So from 2001-2006, the team on the whole (except for 2001) scored more points per game in the playoffs than they did during the regular season. But since 2007, it's been just the opposite, and in a huge, huge way. Combining all the data from 2007-2012, here's what we see:
Regular season scoring average: 32.6
Post season scoring average: 24.0
Net +/-: -8.6
These are the facts. No cherry-picking. It's the data. The question is this: what's the deal with the playoff offense? So there are three poll options:
(1) There is nothing wrong. It's just a small sample of bad luck.
(2) The offense isn't ideally suited for the playoffs and needs to be tweaked, but on the whole it's a good set up.
(3) The offense really has major problems and is ill-conceived for the playoffs. Serious changes need to be made.
Where do folks here at patsfans stand on this?