Highlighting a few numbers that stood out from the Patriots 20-18 week two loss to the Arizona Cardinals:
28%
The Arizona Cardinals' third down efficiency. This is definitely a good mark for the Patriots' defense, and marks the second straight week that the defense performed well in this area after finishing 28th in the league in the category in 2011, and dead-last in 2010.
33%
The New England Patriots' third down efficiency. This mark is well below where the offense wants to be at, and highlighted a theme of the day: stalled drives. The Patriots seemed to move the ball every possession, but just simply couldn't finish off drives. The poor third down efficiency is another sign of that.
142
The total number of yards the Patriots' out-gained the Cardinals by in the game. In case you needed more evidence that the Patriots' simply couldn't finish off drives.
71; 4.4
The Patriots total number of rushing yards and average in the first half.
19; 1.6
The Patriots total number of rushing yards and rushing average in the second half. The Cardinals' run defense really stiffened in the second half, and it really led to frustration from the entire offense.
More numbers after the jump!
10
Combined number of sacks and quarterback hits on Patriots' quarterback Tom Brady. Pass protection was inconsistent today, especially from the right side (Donald Thomas and Marcus Cannon). At times, it seemed like Brady had all day to throw, and at others, the pocket collapsed seemingly in an instant.
8-60
Number of penalties and yards committed against the Patriots today. Those are losing numbers, and it was a Rob Gronkowski holding call in the final minute on a Danny Woodhead touchdown run that may have cost the Patriots the game.
8-10
Tom Brady's completion numbers on the Patriots' lone touchdown drive of the game. Likely to be lost in the loss: Tom Brady's furious comeback. He led a clutch touchdown drive, and did everything he could in the closing minutes to put the Patriots in a position to win.
4-5
Stephen Gostkowski's field goal numbers for the day. The big one, obviously, is the miss. Gostkowski shanked a 42 yard attempt in the closing seconds that would have given the Patriots the victory.