Patriots finish with the 9th ranked defense in the NFL

[Pessimistic Pete]

2013 NFL Team Total Stats - National Football League - ESPN

1 Carolina 14.7
2 Seattle 14.8
3 San Francisco 16.8
4 Kansas City 18.5
5 New Orleans 19.1
6 Cincinnati 19.2
7 Arizona 20.1
8 Miami 21.0
9 New England 21.2
10. Baltimore 21. 2

The Patriots have had a top 10 (PPG) defense in 2013, 2012, 2010, 2009, 2008, 2007, 2006, 2004 and 2003 under Bill Belichick.

Though ESPN would have you believe they've had the worst defense in the NFL since 2009.

 

[thenepatsrule]

2013 NFL Team Total Stats - National Football League - ESPN



The Patriots have had a top 10 (PPG) defense in 2013, 2012, 2010, 2009, 2008, 2007, 2006, 2004 and 2003 under Bill Belichick.

Though ESPN would have you believe they've had the worst defense in the NFL since 2009.

No Jets in top 10 ?
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[Gwedd]

Most mediots prefer to suppress the important data because it runs counter to their agenda. I mean, why let facts get in the way of their storyline, eh? After all, if you ask them, their job isn't to actually report facts, but to create public opinion, to tell the people what is important. It's why the news departments have been under the control of the entertainment departments at all the major media for decades.

But to get back on track, the Patriots are perfectly willing to allow some movement between the 20's. They'll let you run up and down the field all day. Where they become stingy is in the red zone, and points allowed is a much better indicator of a defense's ability than yards allowed.

Even then, points allowed should also be broken into 3 sections to correspond with offensive, defensive and special teams scores. To my way of thinking, a true defensive rating would only count scores from the opponent's offense.

YMMV, but that's how I see things

 

[ewg_gestalt]

Even then, points allowed should also be broken into 3 sections to correspond with offensive, defensive and special teams scores. To my way of thinking, a true defensive rating would only count scores from the opponent's offense.

It actually wouldn't be that hard to do—all you need to take out are safeties, pick-6's, and return TD's. Those are pretty easy to pull up, but would require a little extra work to produce.

Other than the pick-6 in the game against the Jets, were there other points this season not scored against the defense?

 

[Gwedd]

It actually wouldn't be that hard to do—all you need to take out are safeties, pick-6's, and return TD's. Those are pretty easy to pull up, but would require a little extra work to produce.

Other than the pick-6 in the game against the Jets, were there other points this season not scored against the defense?

I believe their was a punt return for a TD by Cincy, and might also have been a kickoff returned by someone as well. Memory's a bit hazy this morning. Up most of the night tending to the house and then out shoveling early so the trash man can get in, and I can get out.

I'll do some poking in the stat pages later on.

 

[Patsfanin Philly]

And for all the grief bout the offense, they finished #3 in points scored, one point behind #2 (Chicago)


NFL Stats: by Team Category

 

[Triumph]

I believe their was a punt return for a TD by Cincy, and might also have been a kickoff returned by someone as well. Memory's a bit hazy this morning. Up most of the night tending to the house and then out shoveling early so the trash man can get in, and I can get out.

I'll do some poking in the stat pages later on.

Ridley fumbled for a TD vs Buffalo IIRC.

 

[Gumby]

2013 NFL Team Total Stats - National Football League - ESPN



The Patriots have had a top 10 (PPG) defense in 2013, 2012, 2010, 2009, 2008, 2007, 2006, 2004 and 2003 under Bill Belichick.

Though ESPN would have you believe they've had the worst defense in the NFL since 2009.

---Upper 1/3
1 Carolina 14.7
2 Seattle 14.8
3 San Francisco 16.8

----Middle 1/3
4 Kansas City 18.5
5 New Orleans 19.1
6 Cincinnati 19.2
7 Arizona 20.1

-----Lower 1/3
8 Miami 21.0
9 New England 21.2
10. Baltimore 21. 2

Interesting to note if you break it by easy point breaks- it comes out:
Upper 1/3 (top 10% of league): ALL NFC
Middle 1/3 (80-90% of league): 50-50 AFC-NFC
Bottom 1/3 (70-80% of league): ALL AFC

 

[DarrylS]

The Patriots have had a top 10 (PPG) defense in 2013, 2012, 2010, 2009, 2008, 2007, 2006, 2004 and 2003 under Bill Belichick.

Though ESPN would have you believe they've had the worst defense in the NFL since 2009.

Not just ESPN, but just about every mediot in this town.. along with 70% of the posters on this board. Chicken Little's all....

 

[Uncle Rico]

Mike Reiss ?@MikeReiss 4m
Patriots finish 2013 regular season as 3rd-highest scoring team in NFL (27.75 avg.) and 10th ranked team for fewest points allowed (21.1).

All things considered, that offensive ranking is mighty impressive. Keep calm and Brady on.

 

[Shockt327]

2013 NFL Team Total Stats - National Football League - ESPN



The Patriots have had a top 10 (PPG) defense in 2013, 2012, 2010, 2009, 2008, 2007, 2006, 2004 and 2003 under Bill Belichick.

Though ESPN would have you believe they've had the worst defense in the NFL since 2009.

No, that's Michael Felger. He's a CBS sports radio affiliate, not ESPN.

 

[patsfaninpa]

Kick coverage was outstanding this year too. That helped. 2 TD's given up on Ridley fumbles. Buffalo and Denver. We're not an all-out blitz team. I'd never rush more than 5-6. Would hesitate to even send 6. If we didn't do that as much, would be even better. We don't do it a lot. Just sayin. Like that play where Buchanan is covering Buffalo rb. Was it Fred Jackson?? Huh?? Mike Wallace td before the half was on a blitz. Just don''t like it with our personnel. Make em work for it and beat em up in the red zone. Show some more patience Mike Patricia.

 

[Brady6]

The poor run defense is completely over blown in my opinion. The team did rank 30th but they had 3 most rushing attempts against in the NFL this season so when you look at total rushing yards it makes sense (carries = yards).

 

[Froob]

Not too shabby. Hate how the media only uses yards per game for these rankings. The game isn't based on the team getting the most yards winning.

 

[meatface]

2013 NFL Team Total Stats - National Football League - ESPN



The Patriots have had a top 10 (PPG) defense in 2013, 2012, 2010, 2009, 2008, 2007, 2006, 2004 and 2003 under Bill Belichick.

Though ESPN would have you believe they've had the worst defense in the NFL since 2009.

Its group think. Somebody in the media starts saying it and everybody else starts repeating it, so people think its real

 

[Fixit]

Ridley fumbled for a TD vs Buffalo IIRC.

Ridley fumble for a TD against Denver, too.

Edit: Sorry, just saw that pastfaninpa beat me to it.

Anyway, the defense is good enough to win a SB. Without all of those injuries, it might have been nasty.

 

[ATippett56]

The poor run defense is completely over blown in my opinion. The team did rank 30th but they had 3 most rushing attempts against in the NFL this season so when you look at total rushing yards it makes sense (carries = yards).

The poor run defense is not over blown. The New England Patriots defense ranked 24th in rushing yards per attempt.

NFL Stats: by Team Category

 

[Patsfanin Philly]

Mike Reiss ?@MikeReiss 4m
Patriots finish 2013 regular season as 3rd-highest scoring team in NFL (27.75 avg.) and 10th ranked team for fewest points allowed (21.1).

All things considered, that offensive ranking is mighty impressive. Keep calm and Brady on.

First 8 games, they averaged (offense) 22.4 points.
Last 8 games, they averaged 33.1 points .
And for the record, they out scored Denver over the last 8 games (265-263) of the season....

 

[Double TE]

Stats shmats. I use the naked eye test and this D has been inconsistent this year. The injuries were irksome and not having McCourty vs. the Bills hurt. Question is can this D stop the other team on a crucial 3rd down play. Something they've been unable to do recently. I think Jones/Ninko have been very good but the rest of the pass D has been well...inconsistent.

I am curious how the Pats fare vs. Cincy with their WRs, TEs and Bernard - all capable pass catchers. But in the first meeting it was a defensive struggle.

Anyway to make a long story short this is NOT a dominant D of the 2003-2005 years but it may be good enough to get them a ring. I am hopeful that Talib, McCourty, Gregory and Denard are healthy for the playoffs, allowing the Pats to blitz more and play one on one coverage at times.

 

[jmt57]

Stats shmats. I use the naked eye test and this D has been inconsistent this year. The injuries were irksome and not having McCourty vs. the Bills hurt. Question is can this D stop the other team on a crucial 3rd down play. Something they've been unable to do recently.

While I agree the third down defense has been a concern this year, I don't know if today is the day to complain about it. If 'recently' were to mean the last 24 hours, one would find the Patriots were as good as any team on those crucial plays: the defense limited the opposition to 4-16 conversions on third and fourth down yesterday.