Keeping track of the defense.

[p8ryts]

It was their Super Bowl after all.

Patriots were going to come back in that game if Patterson hadn't tripped over his own feet.

 

[RobertWeathers]

Ranking all 32 NFL defenses after Week 8 | NFL Analysis | Pro Football Focus
I found this very interesting.

Yep.

No one should call this a very good defense but it is not as bad as people say.

 

[BaconGrundleCandy]

Yep.

No one should call this a very good defense but it is not as bad as people say.

Pretty much where I'm at. It's not terrible but it's not good.

Hopeful bc of coaching, chemistry & we do have some talent.

Defense nowadays is about 3rd/4th down, TO's & points. We improve there & we're fighting for another title

 

[RobertWeathers]

Pretty much where I'm at. It's not terrible but it's not good.

Hopeful bc of coaching, chemistry & we do have some talent.

Defense nowadays is about 3rd/4th down, TO's & points. We improve there & we're fighting for another title

Exactly.

There isn't a single defense in the NFL that is elite. The days of the 2013 Seahawks or the 2015 Broncos are over. Every defense is flawed. Every defense can be roasted. Scoring is up. Its touch football every week.

 

[BaconGrundleCandy]

Exactly.

There isn't a single defense in the NFL that is elite. The days of the 2013 Seahawks or the 2015 Broncos are over. Every defense is flawed. Every defense can be roasted. Scoring is up. Its touch football every week.

Few good ones but yeah those top shelf, top tier defenses are few & far between.

I think it'll take a few years but guys will adjust in terms of replacing physicality w finesse. Big hits, killing the QB is gone. Look for the ball as opposed to the highlight hit. Win w match ups & scheme not force.

Amazing how much this game changes in a short time.

 

[luuked]

Not that I take PFF as gospel in any way but can we please stop with that "they are turrible" take ? At least upgrade those to "average as ****".

 

[RobertWeathers]

Few good ones but yeah those top shelf, top tier defenses are few & far between.

I think it'll take a few years but guys will adjust in terms of replacing physicality w finesse. Big hits, killing the QB is gone. Look for the ball as opposed to the highlight hit. Win w match ups & scheme not force.

Amazing how much this game changes in a short time.

Agree. I believe the changes are due to the change/enforcement of rules.

 

[Kdo5]

Not that I take PFF as gospel in any way but can we please stop with that "they are turrible" take ? At least upgrade those to "average as ****".

They are below average.

 

[luuked]

They are below average.

And which metric makes you say that ?

The one that says we have one of the better defensive backfields in the league ? The one which shows that we are pressuring the opponents QB pretty damn often ? The one that shows them to be in the top 5 for takeaways ?

Below average my ass. And before someone turns this again into something that it is not I am not saying they are great.

 

[1960Pats]

As of Week 9:

1. Points/Game - 12th
2. YPG - 25th
3. 3rd down % - 26th
4. Net passing yards/attempt - 20th
5. Net rushing yards/attempt - 17th
6. TO % - 5th

Average = 18th

Opponent offensive rankings (PPG) - UPDATED THROUGH WEEK 8:

1. Texans - 14th
2. Jaguars - 29th
3. Lions - 17th
4. Dolphins - 22nd
5. Colts - 6th
6. Chiefs - 1st
7. Bears - 9th
8. Bills - 32nd

Average = 16th

Statistics like this are nearly meaningless unless you include the strength of each team played, which would only be enforced by the use of more useless statistics.

I don't believe that Houston played the #1 opponents offensive schedule while playing NE, Ten, NYG, Ind, Dal, Buf, Jac and Miami. Their opponents winning % is the worst in the AFC, .403, and if you take out NE the winning % of the rest of their opponents is a very weak .350.

 

[Kontradiction]

Statistics like this are nearly meaningless unless you include the strength of each team played, which would only be enforced by the use of more useless statistics.

I don't believe that Houston played the #1 opponents offensive schedule while playing NE, Ten, NYG, Ind, Dal, Buf, Jac and Miami. Their opponents winning % is the worst in the AFC, .403, and if you take out NE the winning % of the rest of their opponents is a very weak .350.

So, help me understand this, statistics as a whole are useless then? Is that your stance? If not, then what is it? You can go down a pretty deep rabbit hole with stats. I'm just trying to take a few important ones and then provide the context by showing each offense they played against on a PPG basis. Essentially, what you can see is that the numbers improve when they play weak offenses and go down when the play good ones.

 

[dannydyn]

According to PFF, the Patriots have the 3rd best defense in the league. : Patriots

 

[Kdo5]

And which metric makes you say that ?

The one that says we have one of the better defensive backfields in the league ? The one which shows that we are pressuring the opponents QB pretty damn often ? The one that shows them to be in the top 5 for takeaways ?

Below average my ass. And before someone turns this again into something that it is not I am not saying they are great.

They look fine against weak opposition QBs and offenses (some of the time).

 

[WaterfallJumper]

And which metric makes you say that ?

The one that says we have one of the better defensive backfields in the league ? The one which shows that we are pressuring the opponents QB pretty damn often ? The one that shows them to be in the top 5 for takeaways ?

Below average my ass. And before someone turns this again into something that it is not I am not saying they are great.

My guess is that people are still using a several year old standard for "average" that simply doesn't apply to today's NFL, which has seen significant inflation in scoring and yards compared with yesteryear. I don't know that this Patriots defense is good, but I do think they're fairly opportunistic and have been much better about creating pressure and generating turnovers than they were last year, even if they're giving up more points. As we saw in the Super Bowl, sometimes it just takes one drive-killer or turnover to seal a game. I still like our chances.

 

[dannydyn]

 

[1960Pats]

So, help me understand this, statistics as a whole are useless then? Is that your stance? If not, then what is it? You can go down a pretty deep rabbit hole with stats. I'm just trying to take a few important ones and then provide the context by showing each offense they played against on a PPG basis. Essentially, what you can see is that the numbers improve when they play weak offenses and go down when the play good ones.

Sorry if I came on too strong there. I was running off to lunch and rushed out a response. I think I'm questioning how you came up with Houston as facing the toughest offenses. Did you go through all of the NYFL teams and come up with Houston as facing the toughest PPG offenses overall. I'm just surprised at that looking at their schedule.

 

[Kontradiction]

Sorry if I came on too strong there. I was running off to lunch and rushed out a response. I think I'm questioning how you came up with Houston as facing the toughest offenses. Did you go through all of the NYFL teams and come up with Houston as facing the toughest PPG offenses overall. I'm just surprised at that looking at their schedule.

That's their offensive PPG ranking overall. No, I didn't take into account the defenses they played because of said rabbit hole. Plus that kind of analysis would take me hours more than what I'm willing to put in to it. But someone else is more than welcome to do it.

 

[PatsFan2]

So, help me understand this, statistics as a whole are useless then? Is that your stance? If not, then what is it? You can go down a pretty deep rabbit hole with stats. I'm just trying to take a few important ones and then provide the context by showing each offense they played against on a PPG basis. Essentially, what you can see is that the numbers improve when they play weak offenses and go down when the play good ones.

Wow I hope nobody is debating that...even the most devoted homer can see that's a fact.

 

[PatsFan2]

According to PFF, the Patriots have the 3rd best defense in the league. : Patriots

PFF credibility soaring to new heights.

 

[1960Pats]

That's their offensive PPG ranking overall. No, I didn't take into account the defenses they played because of said rabbit hole. Plus that kind of analysis would take me hours more than what I'm willing to put in to it. But someone else is more than welcome to do it.

OMG!!!!

I read your list and saw 1-8 and thought that you were ranking Houston as the top ranked team for opponent's offensive PPG. Houston was just our 1st game and they were ranked 14th.

Like I said, I was in a rush.