The Offense: Why is it the best in the NFL once again?

[patsinthesnow]

PPG:

2014: 31.2 (T-1st)

One of the most dominant offensive stretches in NFL history, with the trio of Welker, Gronk, and the Prisoner leading the way:

2010: 32.4 (1st)
2011: 32.1 (3rd)
2012: 34.8 (1st)

So is our current OL combination better than any of the OLs between 2010-2012 during our 3 game stretch? What about weapons? Has Brady somehow improved at age 37?

Gronk=Gronk
Edelman<Welker ?
Lafell< Prisoner ?

Just wondering what people think. I'm pleasantly surprised we are fielding the best offense in the league PPG wise with the current personnel group. Or am I underrating the abilities of Edelman and Lafell?

 

[KA-]

- OL is giving Brady time, when Brady has time .... he is simply the best.

- Bigger targets for WR's

- Defense

 

[patsfanincleveland]

Brady

Gronk

Faster pace

 

[PATS16N0]

Tom to Gronk can't be defended by any reasonable measure. It starts with that

 

[BradyManny]

Gronk.

If one of these mediots would take the time (of course, they have no attention span, and leave most anything that takes real brain power to people that aren't in the media, i.e. how every local guy piggybacks off Miguel's work) to do an updated & detailed analysis of the Patriots with and without Gronk on the field, I bet the yards per play difference would be astounding. I bet the points scored in games in which he played over 75% of the snaps would be astounding. There have been some cursory attempts to do so, and all of them pointed to one thing - this team is #1 in the league with him, and a little better than middle of the pack without him.

So, in short, to answer your Q: Gronk.

 

[RobertWeathers]

Meh. I'll still take the 07 offense over the others...

 

[Oswlek]

Meh. I'll still take the 07 offense over the others...

2004 actually outscored 'em down the stretch. So did 2010.

The first nine games were incredible, though.

 

[RobertWeathers]

2004 actually outscored 'em down the stretch. So did 2010.

The first nine games were incredible, though.

I know... it's hair splitting...04,07, 10,11,12...all great, great offenses.

Personally, I loved the 2004 offense. I like power running games and they had a great one with Dillon carrying the mail. The had moments of explosion but were very steady.

2007 was- and still the most explosive offense I have seen.

 

[Guts]

Healthy Gronk and fired up Brady is what makes the difference. Unstoppable force of nature when Gronk is out there and Brady being the GOAT

 

[PatsFan2]

LaFell got behind the Denver Defense a couple of times those throws wern't perfect but they were close. LaFell is definitely faster than I originally thought...he's more than a possession receiver. Hope he work on his hands some over the Bye-week.

 

[Guts]

I still get mad that Hernandez decided to be a piece of ****. Imagine this team with Hernandez...He was so dynamic

 

[mosi]

- OL is giving Brady time, when Brady has time .... he is simply the best.

- Bigger targets for WR's

- Defense

Maybe but I actually think Brady has lifted his game tremendously. Brady never moved in the pocket before - well not like this. And I don't think he was ever as good when he was forced to move. I may be wrong but I think while the OL has done a good job, it is Brady who has learned to work with the line and made everyone better.

 

[letekro]

I don't know if it's better, but it may be more versatile and ultimately harder to shut down. This is the first year that we've had Gronk AND a viable outside threat (or two if Tyms continues to develop) AND viable underneath threatS (Edelman, Amendola, Vereen).

 

[hambone1818]

I think something people are missing is the scoring environment. Yes, this Pats team leads the league in points, but in PPG they're percentage points behind Indy and there are a few teams right behind them. The 2010 and 2012 offenses were dominant forces, in a lower scoring environment. Quick chart to illustrate...the first number is the average points scored league-wide that year. Next are the average points for the top-4 teams in the league (Patriots total is bolded), and finally a simple calculation: what percent better than league average the Patriots were that season.

As you can see, the stretch from 2010-2012 they scored about 50% more than the average team. This season it's only 33.91%...nothing to sneeze at, especially after a fwe stinkers at the start of the year. But I'm still taking those 2010-2012 offenses over this one, even though I do believe this to be an incredible offensive team.

Year AVG 1st 2nd 3rd 4th % better
2010 22 32.4 27.6 27.4 27.2 47.27%
2011 22.2 35 34.2 32.1 29.6 44.59%
2012 22.8 34.8 30.1 28.8 27.3 52.63%
2013 23.4 37.9 27.8 27.8 27.6 18.80%
2014 23.3 31.3 31.2 30.6 29.3 33.91%

EDIT: and to answer the OP, I don't think this offense is on par with that 2010-2012 stretch, but I think Gronk, Edelman and Lafell are enough for this to be a top-3 offense in the league. When healthy that offense was incredible, completely unstoppable. This one is merely among the best in the league.

 

[slam]

Willing to bet this is a factor: A better defense this year leads to defensive scores and much improved starting field position.

 

[doesntmatter1]

This offense isn't extremely efficient like the ones lead by Welker, but I think it is better because we pick up yards in bigger chunks. The Welker oriented offenses took like a minimum of 10+ plays to score and in the playoffs better teams will eventually stop you if you give them so many plays to figure you out.

If we figure out how to make Amendola and our run game more productive then this team will truly be something to be feared.

 

[RayClay]

La Fell is very versatile. it's underrated what Belichick and Brady can do with a player like that.

 

[JMC00]

Better OL play has allowed Brady to stand and move around in the pocket at his discretion
Gronk knocking the rust off
LaFell getting comfortable in the offense

 

[PScottman]

Time + coaching = success. We see it each and every year: Patriots teams get better over time. It doesn't always show up in such dichotomy as it has from KC to last night, but it does happen.

 

[PScottman]

To add one more aspect, it's been said before, but the new rules for practice (or as it should be called - lack thereof) are huge contributors to all teams being significant unknowns for a little longer into each season. The PatsFans folks have been pretty consistent here in accurately gauging the talent on this club...it just took a bit to start to come to understanding of what they could and couldn't do.