Final season stats

[Seneschal2]

Via Reiss:

A final look at where the Patriots rank among NFL teams in key statistical categories:

Points scored
25.6 per game
NFL rank: 8th

Points allowed
19.3 per game
NFL rank: 8th

Turnover differential
Plus-1 (22 take-aways, 21 give-aways)
NFL rank: tied-15th

Third-down offense
96 of 222, 43.2 percent
NFL rank: 7th

Third-down defense
91 of 205, 44.4 percent
NFL rank: 26th

Red-zone offense (based on TD percentage)
33 of 65, 50.8 percent
NFL rank: 19th

Red-zone defense (based on TD percentage)
30 of 45, 66.7 percent
NFL rank: 31st

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I'll post my thoughts later on the significance of these numbers. Obviously, the inexperience of the Pats defense, and the IR'd players, had a heavy influence on these stats.

 

[stinkypete]

The red zone numbers are the difference makers. The Super Bowl teams were always near the top of those categories.

 

[Fixit]

The red zone numbers are the difference makers. The Super Bowl teams were always near the top of those categories.

I think the third down numbers are more alarming. Get some stops on third and teams are in the red zone a whole lot less.

 

[VrabelMayeWin]

I think the third down numbers are more alarming. Get some stops on third and teams are in the red zone a whole lot less.

I'd bet the 3rd down and red zone numbers often move together, they take a similar skill set.

I wonder what the red zone offense numbers were in the second half. Cassel had 7 TDs in the first 8 games and 14 TDs in the last 8 games.

 

[Tunescribe]

I wonder what the red zone offense numbers were in the second half. Cassel had 7 TDs in the first 8 games and 14 TDs in the last 8 games.

Yeah, but it would be hard to trust those second-half numbers as solid indication of improvement because of who we played against. The Oakland and Arizona blowouts really skewed things. There's no arguing the fact that Cassel and the offense definitely did click better as things went along, but certain things bugged me, like Cassel and Moss never really getting on the same page together.

 

[VrabelMayeWin]

The Oakland and Arizona blowouts really skewed things.

Oakland was 10th in the league in Yards against via the pass, 12th in QB rating against and allowed 16 passing TDs in the 15 not Patriots games while Cassel threw 4 against them.

 

[PromisedLand]

Oakland was 10th in the league in Yards against via the pass, 12th in QB rating against and allowed 16 passing TDs in the 15 not Patriots games while Cassel threw 4 against them.

re: the part I bolded, bad teams can often look good in this stat because they are playing from behind so much that other teams are calling a higher percentage of running plays against them. I didn't look up the stats but it wouldn't surprise me if that was the case.

Regarding the +1 in net takeaways, I wonder how the individual numbers (22 takeaways and 21 giveaways) would rank? My guess is that they were both on the low side - i.e. we didn't take the ball away very much but we didn't give it away much either. So, one bad stat is offset by one good one. My impression (again, without looking things up) was that this team had far fewer takeaways than other Patriots defenses of recent years (2002 and 2005 excepted).

 

[VrabelMayeWin]

re: the part I bolded, bad teams can often look good in this stat because they are playing from behind so much that other teams are calling a higher percentage of running plays against them. I didn't look up the stats but it wouldn't surprise me if that was the case.

I don't disagree and I'm not claiming the Raiders are a great pass defense but it's also questionable to claim them as a pass defense which skewed Cassel's passing in his favor. Not to mention the last three games were in the rain, snow and huge winds.

 

[PromisedLand]

I don't disagree and I'm not claiming the Raiders are a great pass defense but it's also questionable to claim them as a pass defense which skewed Cassel's passing in his favor. Not to mention the last three games were in the rain, snow and huge winds.

I'm not disagreeing either... your main point is well taken. I was just quibbling over citing Oakland's passing yards allowed as evidence of it.

 

[patsfaninpittsburgh]

Super Bowl champs usually limit trips to the red zone. Super Bowl champs tend to give up fewer points.

I would like to see better red zone defense. However, trips to the red zone is a better indication. What would you rather have:

20 redzone trips with 75% touchdowns
70 redzone trips with 50 touchdowns

In reality, the lack of redzone conversions by our offense in the first half was more relavent than our red zone defense.

 

[Watson's IQ]

Red Zone defense was far and away our most glaring problem this year (non Brady's knee division), and it's unsurprising (comforting isn't the right word) to see that born out in the stats. I'd expect this to be THE major focus in both offseason acquisitions and heading into next year.