In 2014, the Patriots were the worst team in the league in Power Success, allowing opposing offenses to convert 22 of 27 runs (81 percent) in important short-yardage situations (third or fourth down with two yards or less to go and first- or second-and-goal from the two-yard-line or closer). Even the Patriots’ few stops came against the league’s worst running teams. Teams not ranking in the bottom quarter of the league in Football Outsiders’ rushing DVOA ratings converted 16 of 17 chances (94 percent) against the Patriots’ run defense.
FOOTBALL OUTSIDERS: Innovative Statistics, Intelligent Analysis | Four Downs: AFC East
Struggling to understand how they were this bad, because the run defense was generally pretty solid in the second half of the season. Something to look closer at because at just 27 plays, it is a pretty small sample set.