Final offensive/defensive rankings

[sb1]

Offense:
Points: 27th
Yards: 27th
Rushing yards: 4th
Passing yards: 30th
Average Drive Time: 7th

Defense:
Points allowed: 7th
Yards: 15th
Rush yards allowed: 26th
Pass yards allowed: 8th
Average Drive Time allowed: 32nd

Special Teams:
Yards per punt return: 1st
Yards per kickoff return: 11th
Punt average: 4th
Net punt: Tied-1st
Punt return allowed average: 7th
Field Goal %: 8th
XP %: 24th

Turnovers:
+/- differential: +3 (Tied-13th)
INT caught: Tied-1st
Fumbles recovered: 4 (32nd)
INT thrown: 24th
Fumbles lost: Tied-3rd.

A mixed bag for sure. Weird how we recovered the fewest fumbles in the NFL this year. Obviously the passing game has a lot of room for improvement. Dead last in the NFL in average drive time allowed which is not a surprise when you can't stop the run. Gotta get better there or the impact of a better QB won't be felt as much as it should.

 

[Ras-IR Dowling]

Improve the passing game.
Improve the rush defense.

Offseason goals seem pretty clear.

 

[archstanton543]

It's not a mixed bag. It says that the Pats can't pass or stop the run to save their life.

 

[WinstonSmith]

It also says the Pats defended the pass well, ran the ball effectively, and had excellent special teams...hence "mixed bag".

 

[PF_SU]

I was surprised to see that there were teams out there that were even more inept than the Patriots at passing the football, namely the Broncos, Eagles and Jets. Washington and the Giants also weren't really more competent in the passing game than New England.

 

[Sciz]

They also had the fewest drives in the NFL (both offensive and defensive), which means the offense was probably a little better than the bulk stats say while the defense was a little worse.

 

[PF_SU]

They also had the fewest drives in the NFL (both offensive and defensive), which means the offense was probably a little better than the bulk stats say while the defense was a little worse.

The per drive rankings:

Offense
Starting field position: 15
Time: 7
Plays: 6
Yards: 20
Points: 25

Defense
Starting field position: 1
Time: 32
Plays: 26
Yards: 26
Points: 18

 

[DropKickFlutie]

Offense:
Points: 27th
Yards: 27th
Rushing yards: 4th
Passing yards: 30th
Average Drive Time: 7th

Defense:
Points allowed: 7th
Yards: 15th
Rush yards allowed: 26th
Pass yards allowed: 8th
Average Drive Time allowed: 32nd

Special Teams:
Yards per punt return: 1st
Yards per kickoff return: 11th
Punt average: 4th
Net punt: Tied-1st
Punt return allowed average: 7th
Field Goal %: 8th
XP %: 24th

Turnovers:
+/- differential: +3 (Tied-13th)
INT caught: Tied-1st
Fumbles recovered: 4 (32nd)
INT thrown: 24th
Fumbles lost: Tied-3rd.

A mixed bag for sure. Weird how we recovered the fewest fumbles in the NFL this year. Obviously the passing game has a lot of room for improvement. Dead last in the NFL in average drive time allowed which is not a surprise when you can't stop the run. Gotta get better there or the impact of a better QB won't be felt as much as it should.

That's incredible we were 7th in points against with Hightower and Chung out.

.

 

[203Pat]

Offense:
Points: 27th
Yards: 27th
Rushing yards: 4th
Passing yards: 30th
Average Drive Time: 7th

Defense:
Points allowed: 7th
Yards: 15th
Rush yards allowed: 26th
Pass yards allowed: 8th
Average Drive Time allowed: 32nd

Special Teams:
Yards per punt return: 1st
Yards per kickoff return: 11th
Punt average: 4th
Net punt: Tied-1st
Punt return allowed average: 7th
Field Goal %: 8th
XP %: 24th

Turnovers:
+/- differential: +3 (Tied-13th)
INT caught: Tied-1st
Fumbles recovered: 4 (32nd)
INT thrown: 24th
Fumbles lost: Tied-3rd.

A mixed bag for sure. Weird how we recovered the fewest fumbles in the NFL this year. Obviously the passing game has a lot of room for improvement. Dead last in the NFL in average drive time allowed which is not a surprise when you can't stop the run. Gotta get better there or the impact of a better QB won't be felt as much as it should.

 

[mgteich]

That's incredible we were 7th in points against with Hightower and Chung out.

.

Yes, the DEFENSE will be better than 7th in points allowed if we beef up at NT, DT and ILB.
===================
The defense is NOT a mixed bag. It is not unusual for one unit to need improvement. We have Allan and Hightower coming back. If not we need to replace them. Butler and Guy are free agents,; ditto for them.
================
Even with a top running game and a top OL, the OFFENSE really $ucks. We need to use bucks of cap money to be as good as least year at RB and OL with so many free agents.

And that is before we consider the nonexistent passing game.

 

[Mack Herron]

 

[Doctor DDS]

The team lacked big plays and it really hurt them.

Without sacks (or offensive holding which was virtually eliminated in 2020) the defense was rarely in favorable down and distance. That is often when big plays are made and that was severely lacking this season. Most interceptions were made in coverage vs a hurried throw. I think the secondary played exceptional well based on these circumstances.

The offense was so reliant on the running game that whenever they were in 2nd or 3rd in long their chances of success seemed almost futile. Outside of the one bomb to Byrd early in the year I am not sure I can remember a big passing play.

Team was missing talent in a few key positions and it really hurt this year.

 

[Kdo5]

Surprised we weren’t 32nd in passing. I’m shocked there were worse teams out there.

 

[mgteich]

Surprised we weren’t 32nd in passing. I’m shocked there were worse teams out there.

Well we are better than WAS, NYG, PHI, NYJ and DEN.
2020 NFL Team Passing Stats | ESPN

 

[skinnydog]

Offense:
Points: 27th
Yards: 27th
Rushing yards: 4th
Passing yards: 30th
Average Drive Time: 7th

Defense:
Points allowed: 7th
Yards: 15th
Rush yards allowed: 26th
Pass yards allowed: 8th
Average Drive Time allowed: 32nd

Special Teams:
Yards per punt return: 1st
Yards per kickoff return: 11th
Punt average: 4th
Net punt: Tied-1st
Punt return allowed average: 7th
Field Goal %: 8th
XP %: 24th

Turnovers:
+/- differential: +3 (Tied-13th)
INT caught: Tied-1st
Fumbles recovered: 4 (32nd)
INT thrown: 24th
Fumbles lost: Tied-3rd.

A mixed bag for sure. Weird how we recovered the fewest fumbles in the NFL this year. Obviously the passing game has a lot of room for improvement. Dead last in the NFL in average drive time allowed which is not a surprise when you can't stop the run. Gotta get better there or the impact of a better QB won't be felt as much as it should.

They had an elite secondary with a lot of consistency. That kept the points down. The front seven was below average and that is where most fumbles are caused.

 

[jmt57]

That's incredible we were 7th in points against with Hightower and Chung out.

Even more so with the other defensive departures of Van Noy, Collins, Harmon, Shelton and Roberts.
Probably a collective 250 defensive snaps per game (too late for me to count) gone from last year's D.

 

[PF_SU]

Even more so with the other defensive departures of Van Noy, Collins, Harmon, Shelton and Roberts.
Probably a collective 250 defensive snaps per game (too late for me to count) gone from last year's D.

Last year out of a total possible defensive snap total of 1008, Van Noy played 814, Collins 813, Hightower 723, Harmon 657, Shelton 492 and Roberts 202. That's 3701 in total, divided by 16 would be 231 so you are pretty close.

Not to forget also that Gilmore's injuries / Covid diagnosis dropped his snap count total from 952 to 632.

All in all, last year's top defensive snap getters (of a possible total of 1008):
1) Gilmore 952
2) Devin McCourty 946
3) Van Noy 814
4) Collins 813
5) Hightower 723
6) Jackson 681
7) Harmon 657
8) Chung 642
9) Jones 619
10) Guy 523
11) Shelton 492

Compared to this year (of a possible total of 1012):
1) Devin McCourty 961
2) Jackson 851
3) Phillips 746
4) Jones 729
5) Simon 702
6) Jason McCourty 665
7) Gilmore 632
8) Bentley 608
9) Winovich 594
10) Wise 565
11) Dugger 518 (Guy is 12 with 503)

From this alone it's quite easy to see why the run D got so much worse. The pass D was bound to take a step back but the personnel loss also caused a hit there with Gilmore missing games and having Bentley in coverage rather than Collins for example (who was tied for 3rd last year with 7 pass break-ups/interceptions).

 

[Kdo5]

Last year out of a total possible defensive snap total of 1008, Van Noy played 814, Collins 813, Hightower 723, Harmon 657, Shelton 492 and Roberts 202. That's 3701 in total, divided by 16 would be 231 so you are pretty close.

Not to forget also that Gilmore's injuries / Covid diagnosis dropped his snap count total from 952 to 632.

All in all, last year's top defensive snap getters (of a possible total of 1008):
1) Gilmore 952
2) Devin McCourty 946
3) Van Noy 814
4) Collins 813
5) Hightower 723
6) Jackson 681
7) Harmon 657
8) Chung 642
9) Jones 619
10) Guy 523
11) Shelton 492

Compared to this year (of a possible total of 1012):
1) Devin McCourty 961
2) Jackson 851
3) Phillips 746
4) Jones 729
5) Simon 702
6) Jason McCourty 665
7) Gilmore 632
8) Bentley 608
9) Winovich 594
10) Wise 565
11) Dugger 518 (Guy is 12 with 503)

From this alone it's quite easy to see why the run D got so much worse. The pass D was bound to take a step back but the personnel loss also caused a hit there with Gilmore missing games and having Bentley in coverage rather than Collins for example (who was tied for 3rd last year with 7 pass break-ups/interceptions).

Funny how people bemoaned Jason McCourty playing over JC Jackson when JC had many more snaps.

 

[DropKickFlutie]

Well we are better than WAS, NYG, PHI, NYJ and DEN.
2020 NFL Team Passing Stats | ESPN

Alabama, Clemson, and Ohio State are better than the NFC East.

 

[Steve102]

That's incredible we were 7th in points against with Hightower and Chung out.

.

Because they didn't score a lot. Don't need to score 30 if we are kicking FG's. 4 games with no TDs.