An Independent Patriots Blog
I’m not banging any defensive drums too loudly after the Tannehill, Cassel, Carr gauntlet, still in years past it didn’t really matter who the QB was. Now they just need to keep improving on third down – the other primary weakness of this defense.
2013: 55 20-plus (11th), 9 40-plus (15th)
2012: 74 20-plus (1st), 8 40-plus (14th)
2011: 79 20-plus (1st), 9 40-plus (17th)
2010: 55 20-plus (7th), 4 40-plus (30th)
FOOTBALL OUTSIDERS: 2014 DEFENSIVE EFFICIENCY RATINGS
Well, believe it or not but the Patriots are the number one defense in the NFL in Football Outsiders DVOA metric. They have the best pass defense by far, while their rushing defense ranks just 18th.
The offense? 23rd overall, being 20th in both rushing and passing. This is just about a complete reversal of where things have been in recent seasons. I’m a defense guy so maybe I should enjoy it? The problem is I’m also a Brady guy and I’d really prefer he not get killed before the bye week.
Against specific receivers the Pats are:
vs. #1 WR: 6th
vs #2 WR: 3rd
vs. Other WR: 3rd
vs. TE: 14th
vs. RB: 4th
We’ll see how these numbers stack up once we hit the iron of the schedule which is coming quickly at us.
Belichick breaks down the win over the Raiders
As always, a must-watch every week. All positive plays though…what I wouldn’t give for a good old fashioned BB destruction of the OL.
He included one of my Three GIF plays, the big defensive stop on 3rd-and-1.
