Each week, Inside The Pylon tracks the New England Patriots by the numbers and key statistics about the offense and defense.
Offense – Areas of Emphasis
Keeping Brady Upright: 1 sack in 54 dropbacks – 1.9% sack rate.
League average: 5.9 % sack rate.
Patriots season average: 4.0%
Run/pass percentage on 1st & 2nd down: 23 runs, 43 passes (not incl. kneel-downs) – 34.8%.
League-wide: 47.9% run percentage on 1st & 2nd down.
Patriots season average: 44.4%
RB Yards Per Carry: (not counting QB or WR runs) 23 carries for 62 yards, a 2.7 average.
League average: 4.1 YPC
Patriots season average: 3.9
Stay On the Field: (3rd/4th down success): 7 of 17 – 41.1%
League average: 44.9%
Patriots season average: 42.3%
Trust Watch:
Brady’s passing success to receivers other than Julian Edelman & Rob Gronkowski.
20 targets for Edelman and Gronkowski, 29 to other (59.2% other).
| REC | YDS | AVG | TD | LG | TGTS | |
| B. LaFell | 6 | 53 | 8.8 | 1 | 18 | 13 |
| S. Vereen | 5 | 38 | 7.6 | 1 | 18 | 10 |
| D. Amendola | 2 | 35 | 17.5 | 0 | 21 | 3 |
| J. Develin | 2 | 13 | 6.5 | 0 | 10 | 2 |
| J. Gray | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| Team | 15 | 139 | 9.3 | 2 | 21 | 29 |
Quarterback rating: 73.8
Brady Deep Ball Watch: (throws longer than 15 yards) 4 of 9 for 85 yards – 78.5 QB rating.
Defense – Areas of Emphasis
Getting after the QB: 1 sack in 58 dropbacks – 1.7% sack rate.
League average: 5.9 % sack rate.
Patriots season average: 6.4%
The run defense: (RB YPC (not counting QB or WR runs) 15 carries for 40 yards, 2.7 YPC.
This was the fewest rushing yards the Patriots have allowed in a game this season.
League average: 4.1 YPC
Patriots season average: 4.5 YPC
Defending the WRs:
| REC | YDS | AVG | TD | LG | TGTS | |
| E. Sanders | 10 | 151 | 15.1 | 0 | 28 | 16 |
| D. Thomas | 7 | 127 | 18.1 | 0 | 41 | 11 |
| W. Welker | 3 | 31 | 10.3 | 0 | 14 | 8 |
| Team | 20 | 309 | 15.5 | 0 | 41 | 35 |
Quarterback rating: 62.7
Defending TEs:
| REC | YDS | AVG | TD | LG | TGTS | |
| J. Thomas | 2 | 33 | 16.5 | 1 | 18 | 2 |
| J. Tamme | 1 | 10 | 10 | 0 | 10 | 5 |
| Team | 3 | 43 | 14.3 | 1 | 18 | 7 |
Quarterback rating: 103.0
Get Off the field!
(3rd/4th down success) The Broncos converted 3 of 15 – 20.0%. Denver was 0 of 4 converting fourth downs.
League average: 44.9%
Patriots season average: 46.9%
Miscellaneous
Injuries: None reported.
Penalties: 9 for 71 yards.
Total of 79 for 699 yards, most in the NFL in penalties and in total yards.
One positive statistic:
Denver’s poor conversion rate on 3rd down was partially due to New England pinning them in tough situations. The Broncos’ average 3rd-down attempt was 3rd and 9.25 (league average is 7.03). 3rd-and-9 is tough even for a great quarterback like Peyton Manning.
One negative statistic:
Denver’s 429 passing yards was the most the Patriots have allowed all season. The previous high was 268 yards against Buffalo in Week 6.
The game in one statistic:
Brady was 18 of 20 targeting Gronkowski and Edelman for 194 yards and two touchdowns (a 140.4 rating).
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