Patriots 49 Bills 21: Patriots Second Half Defense Shines Again
by Greg Knopping on Jan 2, 2012 12:00 PM EST
in Opinion/Analysis
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PrintYeah, we know that the Patriots pass defense is, in terms of yardage, one of the worst of all-time in the NFL. At times, the unit has admittedly been frustrating to watch.
However, the unit has been particularly strong in the second half of games during the Patriots' eight game winning streak. The yardage numbers have been improved in the second halves of games, but more importantly, the unit is keeping points off the board.
Here's how the Patriots defense has performed in points allowed over those eight weeks (Note: I've left the Colts game out because that was the exception: the Patriots allowed 21 4th quarter points due to their "prevent"/back-up defense):
|
Opponent |
1st Half |
2nd Half |
|
9 |
7 |
|
|
3 |
0 |
|
|
13 |
7 |
|
|
20 |
7 |
|
|
16 |
7 |
|
|
17 |
7 |
|
|
21 |
0 |
The differences here are pretty dramatic. The Patriots are allowing 14.1 points per game in the 1st half in these seven games. In the second half: just 5.0 points per game. Keep in mind that, aside from the Redskins and arguably the Jets game, all of the points allowed have had little significance on the outcome of the game (they've essentially been "garbage" points).
All of this tells us two things:
- The Patriots coaching staff is doing a tremendous job making adjustments
- This defense is capable of making key plays down the stretch
Against the Bills, the Patriots second half defense was particularly dominant. They pitched a shutout, while intercepting Ryan Fitzpatrick four different times. Fitzpatrick was 20-28 in the first half, and just 9-18 in the second half. Fitzpatrick had 246 first half passing yards, compared to just 61 in the second half.
The Bills failed to score or have a drive longer than 43 yards in the second half.
Of course, the defense is going to need to get off to a better start than they have the first few weeks in the Divisional Playoffs. But there's no question that the Patriots second half defense has been impressive. So while the Patriots might have one of the statistically worst defensive units of all time, it's pretty clear that in reality, the unit isn't that bad.
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RE: Colts Game
The Patriots were actually only in prevent on one drive (the long one between the 3rd and 4th quarter). After that, they played their back-ups in their regular defense and they were torched because they were back-ups, not because of the prevent. The final drive was a serious defense with McCourty back on the field.
So they weren’t serious points, but they technically weren’t against a real “prevent” look. Just back-up personnel.
Also, I’m on vacation this week (technically since Thursday!), so I’ll be posting late!
And they weren't even true back-ups either
in that there were so many defenders playing a different position
Keep the faith!
This is what I've been saying!
A score or less allowed in the second half of 7 of our last 8!
the artist formerly known as amadeus
'I don't make my living by making my living. My time is so important that I can't compromise my taste- or my idea of what's right- simply to match someone else's view of what's a good, calculated move"- Robert Plant
contributing writer at www.HeadkickLegend.com and www.PatsPulpit.com
by Austin Martin on Jan 2, 2012 12:14 PM EST via mobile reply actions
Actually the Packers defense is worse this year.
In terms of yards allowed and points allowed. They have had the most historically bad defense in the history of the NFL! Thankfully something we will have to settle for second place.
Yeah, I wrote this post yesterday. Will edit it.
I have another post ready to go at 3:00 PM that will go explicitly into defensive rankings
by Greg Knopping on Jan 2, 2012 12:20 PM EST up reply actions
Definately. I'm just a nitpicker. Its just kind of funny how our defense gets bashed continually (and rightfully
so) but the Pack’s isn’t considered suspect. I like our mental toughness though. We have a shot in spite of our defense.
Agree with everything
said in article and the 2 comments above. Maybe I’ll make a belated New Year’s resolution to agree with everything all year.
I love 2012 so far
Rex Ryan cried when addressing team this morning. Rex “pleaded” with players to be a team, said they must come back and build a team. #nyj
"Thirty-seven points on the best defense in the league, suck my d–k" - Bill Belichick
The Ryan Brothers: Two brother's who never played a down as an NFL player, Yet feel the need to trash talk like they are in the Hall Of Fame
Is there a video?
And what concerns me is yea, we owned those teams in the 2nd half on defense, but hey.. of all of those the only ones with decent offense are the Eagles and Jets, and even those are below-average. Still, I’d rather be reaching our peak in the second half then in the first half.
Oh my god a floor zombie! Oh wait, thats you
- Toby Turner
by New Century Silver on Jan 2, 2012 12:39 PM EST up reply actions
New rules and new enforcement
of bumping receivers, tackling WR and QB’s have distorted passing stats to the point where comparisons with the past are not legitimate.
I still don't like the fact
We need other teams to screw up in the 2nd half of games to win these games
Rex Ryan: "There’s no way that we’re looking to replace Mark Sanchez"
Patriots Nation: "Thank God"
Giants Fans: "FOUR MORE YEARS!! FOUR MORE YEARS!!"
What do you consider "screwing up"?
Throwing passes that were interceptions? Fumbling? Eh, I view those as pluses for an opportunistic and ready defense.
Keep the faith!
How about benching their best receiver? I think that counts as “screwing up”.
by reb on Jan 2, 2012 1:33 PM EST up reply actions
So... diva WRs can do whatever they want?
Even to the point of going directly against the head coach, and hurting your teammates?
Keep the faith!
No, of course not – but bench him for a couple series, not for the entire game. And levee a substantial fine after the game.
There seems to have been mixed signals from the refs regarding that infraction – he pulled a similar stunt in a prior game with no flag, so he probably felt safe doing it again.
I thought the punishment did not fit the crime.
by reb on Jan 2, 2012 1:52 PM EST up reply actions
Chan Gailey specifically called him out on it
and told the entire team that stunts like that wouldn’t be tolerated. No gray area.
Keep the faith!
Why are WRs
Over any position, such a royal pain in the ass? Even the militaristic and team-first atmosphere of the Patriots couldn’t prevent the mouth of Randy Moss from eventually spouting off.
They’re just horrible. The Jets have two (in)famous ones on their roster for the very foreseeable future. I’ll take our humble WR/TE hybrid corps any day of the week, and many many times on Sunday.
Can I Scream?
Moss never really ran his mouth
All I can remember is him telling the media he won’t be answering any questions about his contract in week 1 b/c it would be a distraction. Other than that he never complained or lashed out the way Holmes or Johnson regularly do. Bill even said he never had a problem with Moss here.
Rex Ryan: "There’s no way that we’re looking to replace Mark Sanchez"
Patriots Nation: "Thank God"
Giants Fans: "FOUR MORE YEARS!! FOUR MORE YEARS!!"
You seem to forget
why he was cut in the first place. He started making that contract a very large distraction, and openly dogged plays on the field. He was hence set packing.
Can I Scream?
Cut?
He was traded. And yes Moss took some plays off, THATS WHAT HE DOES. He did it in 07, 08, 09, and before he even got to NE but he still was incredibly productive. I think he was sent packing because
1) He felt he wasn’t going to get the stats b/c of the TEs for his next/last BIG CONTRACT so he requested a trade
2) He skills were clearly on the decline, you weren’t going to resign him (age), and you could still get a good pick in the draft for him
Rex Ryan: "There’s no way that we’re looking to replace Mark Sanchez"
Patriots Nation: "Thank God"
Giants Fans: "FOUR MORE YEARS!! FOUR MORE YEARS!!"
actually the pats approached randy and wanted to talk about an extension last season but he wanted to focus on the season
They weren't going to resign him
I remember him saying he felt he wasn’t “wanted in New England” because the pats weren’t offering him a decent sized contract.
Rex Ryan: "There’s no way that we’re looking to replace Mark Sanchez"
Patriots Nation: "Thank God"
Giants Fans: "FOUR MORE YEARS!! FOUR MORE YEARS!!"
I did miss that. OK, no grey area. He brought it on himself and should be dumped.
by reb on Jan 2, 2012 4:47 PM EST up reply actions
Still … who hurt the team worse?
Johnson cost them 15 yds
Chan Gailey cost them the game, I believe.
by reb on Jan 2, 2012 5:17 PM EST up reply actions
ok...
but would you rather keep feeding a problem on the chance of winning a meaningless game or try to right the attitude of one of your best offensive players. One that you are going to be potentially making a contract decision on in the offseason.
The comeback started
long before Fitzpatrick threw that first INT, if that’s what you’re referring to. Once the floodgates were opened, then all the dominoes fell.
Can I Scream?
They're starting to get healthy too
Knock on wood. Injuries and a constant stream of cut/sign DBs was decimating the lineup. They had no continuity and sometimes very little practice time. BUT as a result of that I think that the guys who have now taken a lot of snaps have gotten a lot of experience adjusting on the fly when things start going badly. There may be a silver lining in the multiple beatdowns that they have received at times from opposing QBs.
Getting Chung and Spikes back is huge, and I think a lot of us questioned the cutting of Sterling Moore. He looks like he could be another nice piece of the puzzle going into the playoffs. After the bye week this year the Pats came out flat, but that’s VERY unusual for a BB coached team. I think this bye week will provide some key practice reps for these important new guys in the lineup.
As flawed as this team sometimes is, I have a lot of hope that they’ve got enough will and heart to compete with anyone. It’s often been frustrating to watch, but it’s also been a really fun year.
by Aluminum Penguin on Jan 2, 2012 1:32 PM EST reply actions
If
at the start of the year you were told that in the last 7 games our defensive backfield would be made up of varying combinations of Edelman, Slater, Arrington, Moore, Ihedigbo, Brown, Molden, Jones,Ventrone with an injured McCourty abd Chung out for 6 games, what defensive stats would you anticipate? Adjustment was constantly needed this is a good article.
It's ridiculous
The only reason I can think of why we’re so bad in the beginning of games is because we don’t care plain and simple. We don’t start trying until we are getting embarrassed. There is simply no way that week after week we go into games with a terrible defensive game plan then the coaching staff pulls a great one out of their asses at halftime.
The Lions did it
in nearly every game during their early season unbeaten streak. It’s not effective long-term, but there are worse positions to be in. I don’t know if it’s complacency, or game planning, or what.
It could just be a case of opposing teams expounding an incredible amount of energy and focus, early. Buffalo seemed really excited to sweep the Patriots this year; maybe the Pats just had to weather the storm and beat them up when the well finally ran dry?
Can I Scream?
If this is true
Buffalo seemed really excited to sweep the Patriots this year; maybe the Pats just had to weather the storm and beat them up when the well finally ran dry
Then we are boned if a Bills team playing for the sweep can beat up a Patriot team playing for home field advantage for as long as they want to.
*for a quarter
You saw the Patriot team wanting the 1 seed the remaining three quarters in the grand tally of 49 unanswered points.
Can I Scream?
Great
In the playoffs not giving a damn against the Steelers or Ravens for a quarter will result in a loss.
The Steelers put up 13 points against the Browns.
by Richard Hill on Jan 3, 2012 11:11 AM EST up reply actions
The Browns have a pretty good defense.
5th best in points allowed (19.2/game), 2nd best in passing (185 yds/game) and 10th best in overall yardage (332 yds/game). The Steelers were unable to exploit the Browns weakness – their 30th ranked run defense – because of the injury to Mendenhall.
If anything makes me feel better about playing the Steelers, it’s that they’re not going to be able to do what they did against the Pats in the regular season again, and what they did prior to that was almost always catastrophically unsuccessful. The injury to Roethlisberger probably isn’t going to get much better, either. I wouldn’t read too much into that Browns game, though.
Like
that they’re not going to be able to do what they did against the Pats in the regular season again
Completing passes to Heath Miller 20 straight times?
Can I Scream?
Adam, next time you decide to troll BTSC, could you at least do it in a somewhat coherent fashion?
If that’s not your thing, there’s another SBN blog that would just be perfect for you.
Glory is fleeting, but obscurity is forever
-Napoleon Bonaparte
There’s a lot of stuff we wouldn’t have to clean up if the city provided basic human rights, like a Port-A-Potty.
-OWS Protester
Cornell University Class of 2014
by LV Steelers Fan on Jan 4, 2012 3:26 PM EST up reply actions
I was calling out
Those of you Steeler fans that have a hard time giving the Patriots the smallest bit of credit. It’s funny your response to me follows a post in which I give the Steelers credit. I also wrote a post about how the loss of Mendenhall hurts the team, but won’t be severely felt due to an underrated Isaac Redman.
Everyone’s entitled to their own opinion, but when one of you makes a comment like “They have Brady, two TEs and that’s all. The team sucks after that” it makes you come across like football-illiterate fools. We can all look through our respective homer goggles and should be encouraged to, but I have every right to defend my team (as if I need to) when someone makes a comment as dumb as that one.
I don’t know how to make that any more coherent for you.
Can I Scream?
I didn't agree with that comment about the Patriots either
But your reaction to the opinion of one person seemed to be a little over the top, especially considering the thread was about this Sunday’s game between the Steelers and Broncos.
Glory is fleeting, but obscurity is forever
-Napoleon Bonaparte
There’s a lot of stuff we wouldn’t have to clean up if the city provided basic human rights, like a Port-A-Potty.
-OWS Protester
Cornell University Class of 2014
by LV Steelers Fan on Jan 4, 2012 6:57 PM EST up reply actions
No, the problem I think is with the game plans
The coaches are drafting game plans that aren’t properly predicting with the other team is going to try and do. That is why they eventually adjust but start out super slow. Or maybe the defense is equally good/bad throughout the game but the opposing offense just gets tired from running up and down the field unopposed in the first quarter. Who knows.
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