FOOTBALL OUTSIDERS: Week 13 DVOA Ratings

Patriots are sitting at #2 overall (#3 offense, #12 defense, #3 ST) and have faced seven of the other top 11 teams in the NFL. If that doesn’t tell you how battle-tested this team will be once the playoff comes I don’t know what will. And they still have to see #6 Miami again and a better-than 16th Chargers team in San Diego.

As for the more specific breakdowns, the Pats defense is 16th both in pass defense and against the run. The pass defense further breaks down into 6th vs #1 WR, 7th vs #2 WR, 9th vs Other WRs, 31st vs. TEs and 16th vs. RBs.

Yes, that 31st vs. TEs sticks out, though part of it is a function of teams having to go somewhere with the football. Perhaps next offseason it’s worth looking closer at closing the gap at that coverage liability with a strong safety who can cover.

Other weaknesses elsewhere that stand out are on the defensive line where they’re worst in the league in Power Rank (short yardage situations on third/fourth down) and Stuffed Rank (tackles of the RBs at or behind the LOS).