(gulp) A good article by Borges on Pats D

[PatsRI]

http://www.boston.com/sports/football/patriots/articles/2006/10/23/defense_rates_highly_where_it_matters_most/?page=1

"The National Football League would have you believe the Patriots have the 13th-ranked defense in pro football. Consult the Buffalo Bills about that and you'll get a different story."

"On paper, yesterday's game was a struggle. By the end of the day Buffalo had netted only 9 fewer yards than New England (256 to 265). For nearly three quarters the Bills were only two plays from tying the game at any time. That's what the paper said. The reality was far different."

-"I don't know what people say about our defense and I don't care," Bruschi said when asked why he thought the Broncos, Ravens, and Bears are getting far more national recognition for stinginess than the Patriots. "What I care about is where we are at the end of the game and where we are at the end of the season. I want to be the last team standing."
Keep holding your opponents to two field goals, or even to fewer than two touchdowns, and they'll have as good a chance of being that team as anyone else, regardless of what the offense produces between now and Super Bowl Sunday.--

 

[Patsfanin Philly]

-"I don't know what people say about our defense and I don't care," Bruschi said when asked why he thought the Broncos, Ravens, and Bears are getting far more national recognition for stinginess than the Patriots. "What I care about is where we are at the end of the game and where we are at the end of the season. I want to be the last team standing."
quote]

10 ,17,17,13,10,6.............The number of points allowed by the Pats in successive weeks. Notice a trend? Remember in week #1, 7 of those points were from the offense. There was a recent article (can't find the link- if someone has it, please post) that examined the Pats in the SB years and in 2002,2005 and compared the defenses. In 2001,2003 and 2004, 70% they gave up less than 17+ points while in the non-Super Bowl years, it only happened 40% of the time. The premise of the article was (gulp, I know it's obvious) when the defense is consistent, the team wins.
Applying that premise to this year, one could conclude that the defense is just starting to hit its stride, though it will be a better indicator in the next two weeks versus Minn and Indy. Let's put it another way. On any given Sunday, if you know that the opponents will score 17 or less, would you feel comfortable knowing the Tom Brady and company could do them at least one better? I certainly would like that situation. Is the defense as flashy as Chicago or Balt? No but Let's see the Bears when Grossman has to stay vertical for an entire season...or McNair starts getting his annual dings and dents..Will their defense carry them then?

 

[Box_O_Rocks]

Thanks for suffering through a Borges' piece on our behalf, I decline to give the Glob [sic] a hit on any article I recognize as his. Your sacrifice is an inspiration - Translation: better you than me.

It's getting into mid-season, the Pats have played six games, improvement is arriving right on schedule for BB's game plan. We're seeing it in the defense, we're seeing it on offense, and we're seeing it on Special Teams. Steady continuous development, cool.