Everyone has been killing the Patriots defense ever since they got killed on Sunday, and I’ve been right there with them, but after watching the tape a few more times I’m not quite as depressed as I once was.
Let’s look at the 12 defensive series the Patriots had:
- 2 plays: Interception
- 10 plays: Interception
- 3 and Out: Punt
- 6 plays : Punt
- 8 plays: TOUCHDOWN
- 10 plays: FIELD GOAL
Halftime
- 3 and Out: Punt
- 7 plays: TOUCHDOWN (after Brady INT put Buffalo on NE 39)
- 3 plays: Punt
- 3 plays: Punt
- 2 plays: TOUCHDOWN (46 yards in penalties)
- 3 plays (and a few kneel downs): FIELD GOAL
So 12 series break down as such:
- 5 Punts
- 2 Interceptions
- 3 Touchdowns
- 2 Field Goals
Now clearly there are still problems, especially closing out the half and end of game. It seems the more pressure the situation provided the more likely the Pats D was to play sloppy.
But there is evidence that there are positives to build on from this performance no matter how much people want to point out all the stats that make this look like the worst defense in the history of football.