FOOTBALL OUTSIDERS: 2012 DEFENSIVE EFFICIENCY RATINGS

Don’t look now but the Patriots are 17th in total defense per Football Outsiders’ DVOA ratings. Almost top half of the league baby!  And yes, our standards have been lowered a bit over the past two years.

As for specifics, they’re 4th in run defense DVOA, and 20th in pass defense DVOA.

Against specific receivers they rank:

• vs. #1 WR – 9th
• vs. #2 WR – 6th
• vs. other WR – 32nd
• vs. TE – 26th
• vs. RB – 24th

It’s pretty clear the Pats are having problems covering in the middle of the field.