Halfway through the season, here are the Patriots' relevant defensive rankings....
Per Game Stats
Yards allowed: 346.0 (#12)
Pass yards allowed: 249.3 (#15)
Pass yards per attempt: 7.1 (#12)
Passer rating allowed: 85.3 (#9)
Sacks: 26 (#3)
Rush yards allowed: 96.7 (#7)
Rush yards per attempt: 4.2 (#20)
Points allowed: 19.0 (#9)
3rd downs allowed: 40.0% (#21)
Takeaways: 10 (#19)
DVOA rank: #11
DSRS rank: #12
So they are slightly better than average, it seems, in terms of pass defense. They don't really generate many turnovers. They do ok at defending the run, but give up more yards per rushing attempt than average. They don't get off the field very well on third down. So it seems like what's happening is that other teams can run on them, but the Pats get a lead and the other team needs to throw. And while they pile up yards, they get sacked a lot and throw a lot of incompletions. And they stop running the ball, which helps the Patriots' rushing yards allowed number.
I think the defense is a little better than average. Nothing special. But not too bad. Seems like they are between the 10th and 14th best defense in the league, on the whole.
That's definitely a defense you can win a Super Bowl with. Using just pro-football-reference's DSRS ranking, here's where the last 10 SB-winning teams have ranked:
2014 Patriots: #6
2013 Seahawks: #1
2012 Ravens: #15
2011 Giants: #23
2010 Packers: #1
2009 Saints: #19
2008 Steelers: #1
2007 Giants: #17
2006 Colts: #20
2005 Steelers: #4
Average rank: #10.7 - right around where New England ranks this year.
Same exercise, by DVOA
2014 Patriots: #12
2013 Seahawks: #1
2012 Ravens: #19
2011 Giants: #19
2010 Packers: #2
2009 Saints: #17
2008 Steelers: #1
2007 Giants: #13
2006 Colts: #25
2005 Steelers: #3
Average rank: #11.2 - again, right around where New England currently ranks.
So this defense definitely can win a championship, especially with this caliber of offense. But what do you all think needs to improve? Where do you think they'll end up ranked as a defense by season's end? Will they be able to get off the field in a big spot come playoff time? Will they get the ball back for the offense so Brady et al can do their thing? Will the defense be a key component to their success, or will they succeed in spite of it?
Per Game Stats
Yards allowed: 346.0 (#12)
Pass yards allowed: 249.3 (#15)
Pass yards per attempt: 7.1 (#12)
Passer rating allowed: 85.3 (#9)
Sacks: 26 (#3)
Rush yards allowed: 96.7 (#7)
Rush yards per attempt: 4.2 (#20)
Points allowed: 19.0 (#9)
3rd downs allowed: 40.0% (#21)
Takeaways: 10 (#19)
DVOA rank: #11
DSRS rank: #12
So they are slightly better than average, it seems, in terms of pass defense. They don't really generate many turnovers. They do ok at defending the run, but give up more yards per rushing attempt than average. They don't get off the field very well on third down. So it seems like what's happening is that other teams can run on them, but the Pats get a lead and the other team needs to throw. And while they pile up yards, they get sacked a lot and throw a lot of incompletions. And they stop running the ball, which helps the Patriots' rushing yards allowed number.
I think the defense is a little better than average. Nothing special. But not too bad. Seems like they are between the 10th and 14th best defense in the league, on the whole.
That's definitely a defense you can win a Super Bowl with. Using just pro-football-reference's DSRS ranking, here's where the last 10 SB-winning teams have ranked:
2014 Patriots: #6
2013 Seahawks: #1
2012 Ravens: #15
2011 Giants: #23
2010 Packers: #1
2009 Saints: #19
2008 Steelers: #1
2007 Giants: #17
2006 Colts: #20
2005 Steelers: #4
Average rank: #10.7 - right around where New England ranks this year.
Same exercise, by DVOA
2014 Patriots: #12
2013 Seahawks: #1
2012 Ravens: #19
2011 Giants: #19
2010 Packers: #2
2009 Saints: #17
2008 Steelers: #1
2007 Giants: #13
2006 Colts: #25
2005 Steelers: #3
Average rank: #11.2 - again, right around where New England currently ranks.
So this defense definitely can win a championship, especially with this caliber of offense. But what do you all think needs to improve? Where do you think they'll end up ranked as a defense by season's end? Will they be able to get off the field in a big spot come playoff time? Will they get the ball back for the offense so Brady et al can do their thing? Will the defense be a key component to their success, or will they succeed in spite of it?