Patriots have the #1 defense (PPG) in the NFL

[RobertWeathers]

A stark difference in this defense and in past year's is they are playing with one less fatty.

This year has primarily been a rotation of 3 fatties in Branch, Brown and Vinny V....and more NASCAR-type (Sheard, Flowers or Long) on the field. Also, depending on the game the snap count for the fatties has been in the 35-50% range.

Last year was 4 fatties w/ Branch, Brown, Hicks and Seal and a NASCAR Easley

In 2014 is was 4 fatties w/ VW, Branch, Seal, Chris Jones and NASCAR Easley

 

[70Dart]

But we're not talking about their defense we're talking about the patriots defense. The reality is they've faced nobodies all season. The one good qb they've faced all year embarrassed them in Wilson, and they weren't even a good overall offense

Division opponents, always play us harder. The Dolphins, Jets and Bills always play us tough every year, every game. Regardless of the mediocrity of their offenses vs. other Opponents, they always step up and play us tough, they have the advantage of facing us twice each season, so they know us better. And the Miami game will be no different, there are legit playoff implications for them and they are jockeying for a spot in the post season. The Jets will come out and try and beat us to play the spoiler. So regardless of how bad their offenses are, they will still come out and play at our level. We need to stay focused and not get lazy, 2 games, we need to win both. We lose even one and the Raiders get HFA throughout.

 

[A man named Brady]

People love bringing up the early 00's teams defense. But forget

They embarrassed Prime Peyton Manning in back to back playoff games.

Held the league MVP Warner and the GSOT in check.(at least for 3 quarters)

Held the league MVP Steve McNair to one touchdown and top 5 offense to 14 points

Intercepted Mcnabb 3 times in the Super Bowl and holding him to a 75 passer rating. The eagles were a top ten scoring offense that season overall with Prime TO as well.

Those defenses got praised because of what they did in big games and against top Qbs/offenses, not the little sisters of the poor.

 

[Ring 6]

I think this is BS. Most guys that are athletic enough to rush the passer are capable of stopping the run too.

Well that is just an opinion in your mind and typically not true.
In any event whether they are capable or not many guys you view as top pass rushers are rushing the QB every play with abandon and that is not our system.

 

[RobertWeathers]

In the last two years, vs div opponents the Pats are 8-2 and the ave score has been 25-19.

vs out of div opponents their record is 17-3 and the ave score has been 29-17.

 

[TennisBallHead]

Calling them "fatty" is highly offensive.

I prefer the term "lard ass".

 

[70Dart]

But we're not talking about their defense we're talking about the patriots defense. The reality is they've faced nobodies all season. The one good qb they've faced all year embarrassed them in Wilson, and they weren't even a good overall offense

We actually are talking about those defenses, because these are more than likely the teams we will be facing in the playoffs. So it doesn't matter what they have for elite QB's or Running Backs, we have to beat them. If you don't want to give the defense credit, that's fine, but these are the teams we will potentially be facing in the post season.

 

[Ring 6]

People love bringing up the early 00's teams defense. But forget

They embarrassed Prime Peyton Manning in back to back playoff games.

Held the league MVP Warner and the GSOT in check.(at least for 3 quarters)

Held the league MVP Steve McNair to one touchdown and top 5 offense to 14 points

Intercepted Mcnabb 3 times in the Super Bowl and holding him to a 75 passer rating. The eagles were a top ten scoring offense that season overall with Prime TO as well.

Those defenses got praised because of what they did in big games and against top Qbs/offenses, not the little sisters of the poor.

What do you want the defense to do? Should they win the 4:00 game then fly to wherever SNF is and win that one too?
They are #1 in the NFL in the stat that matters the most. You can't be better than #1. You can only play who is in your schedule.
If this defense was the greatest in the history of football they would have one more win.
I know you like to cry about stuff but wtf do you want them to have done that they haven't?

 

[Ring 6]

A stark difference in this defense and in past year's is they are playing with one less fatty.

This year has primarily been a rotation of 3 fatties in Branch, Brown and Vinny V....and more NASCAR-type (Sheard, Flowers or Long) on the field. Also, depending on the game the snap count for the fatties has been in the 35-50% range.

Last year was 4 fatties w/ Branch, Brown, Hicks and Seal and a NASCAR Easley

In 2014 is was 4 fatties w/ VW, Branch, Seal, Chris Jones and NASCAR Easley

I think we rarely used all 4 for many snaps in the same game though so it's more of a competition for playing time issue than a rotation or personell group issue.

 

[Soul_Survivor88]

People love bringing up the early 00's teams defense.

Those defenses got praised because of what they did in big games and against top Qbs/offenses, not the little sisters of the poor.

Teams don't get to make their own schedule. You play who you're told to play. Bottom line is this: Pats have the highest point differential in the NFL (+132) and the defense is a major reason for that.

It's no anomaly that they are the #1 Defense through Week 15. They are consistently holding opposing offenses below their statistical average - and making bad QBs look bad for long stretches of time.

 

[70Dart]

I think this is BS. Most guys that are athletic enough to rush the passer are capable of stopping the run too.

Most athletic players tend to accel at one thing and faulter in another area. It is usually the guys like Jevon Kearse or Dwight Freeney, big and freaklishly fast, are good in a pass rush, but tend to over run running plays. Too many times we have seen Julius Peppers, Dwight Freeney ro the Jevon Kearses of the game get juked out of their jocks because they over pursue.

 

[Huckleberry1]

Who exactly is facing the "great offenses" week in and week out? For that matter who is facing the great defenses week in and week out? It ain't happening. The truth of the matter is that this is a weak year for the NFL, and the closest thing to a great team in it is the Patriots. No one can name a great division because there isn't one, the NFC East is probably the best division in the league this season but that's only because of late season runs by NY and Washington, a month ago the division was just as mediocre as all the rest. So the Chicken Littles in this board can continue to do their CHB inspired tomato can douchebag dance but the truth of the matter is that it's much better to be the Patriots than to have to face them in the playoffs. And when they win the Super Bowlin February I hope those who have actually supported the team throughout the season are sure to remind the Chicken Littles that their loyalties lay elsewhere throughout the season and that it's not their championship to enjoy.

 

[RobertWeathers]

I think we rarely used all 4 for many snaps in the same game though so it's more of a competition for playing time issue than a rotation or personell group issue.

Correct. Unless it was goaline you never saw all four and hardly saw 3 at the same time.

The point is they wanted to use the roster spot for another ED/NASCAR-type which provided more of a pass rush and make more plays in space.

 

[tasmlab]

People really need to get a grip. How well did that bend but don't break thing work out in 2007 and 2010?

If I recall correctly, in 2007 the New England Football Patriots won 18 games in a row and held their opponent to 17 in the super bowl. Not too shabby.

 

[tasmlab]

Should be in the 15s...****ing garbage time scores.

I hate the garbage time scores, but hopefully it's because back-ups are put in and the team encourages players to avoid injury over plays if the game is indisputably in hand.

 

[Ring 6]

Correct. Unless it was goaline you never saw all four and hardly saw 3 at the same time.

The point is they wanted to use the roster spot for another ED/NASCAR-type which provided more of a pass rush and make more plays in space.

Well we have the 4th he is just usually inactive but iirc that was the case the last few years anyway.

 

[RobertWeathers]

Well we have the 4th he is just usually inactive but iirc that was the case the last few years anyway.

No. Last year 4 were almost always active. Even Seal dressed for 13 games. Same deal in 2014.

I think they made the decision to be better in space and have a better pass rush.

 

[Ring 6]

No. Last year 4 were almost always active. Even Seal dressed for 13 games. Same deal in 2014.

I think they made the decision to be better in space and have a better pass rush.

Last year they did have 4 active for over half the games but in 2014 they did not.
I don't think it's really a big shift it's just a matter of what position get the active guy who target plays.

 

[RobertWeathers]

Last year they did have 4 active for over half the games but in 2014 they did not.
I don't think it's really a big shift it's just a matter of what position get the active guy who target plays.

IIRC they went "heavy" more in the latter 1/2 of each year.

In 2014 all 4 were active in December and the playoffs.

 

[fightingirish595]

I think this is BS. Most guys that are athletic enough to rush the passer are capable of stopping the run too.

While that may not be wrong or right, If you cant set the edge, Your not going to be playing for this team