BY DAN BEGNOCHE
When your defense gives up the most yards per game in the league, you better be able to score a touchdown or two.
Luckily, the Patriots can do a bit more than that offensively, and despite sub-par defense, New England has earned a playoff bye and is aiming to clinch home-field advantage this weekend against Buffalo.
Teams haven’t been lacking in the stats department against New England this year, as the Pats' defense has allowed opponents to average more than 400 yards per game, 6.2 per play (also worst in the league). But while this may sound dreadful, stats can be deceiving. Just ask Bills quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick, who commented on New England’s 32nd-ranked defense Wednesday.
“Sometimes statistics lie. A lot of times they don’t," Fitzpatrick told the media. "When you’re ahead, people are going to throw on you constantly. They’re going to rack up the yards, whether it’s at the end of a half or at the end of the game. The fact that they’re always up and lot of times up by a lot, so teams are being forced to throw and they are being forced to play some of the prevent stuff at the end.”
There may be something to say in that respect, as 38 percent of the total scoring against the Pats this season has come in the fourth quarter, with their game against Indianapolis a prime example, as they led the Colts by 28 going into the final quarter, eventually giving up 21.
But for any of that to happen, you have to have a lead first. And when you’re third in the league in points per game (31), yards per game (425) and total points (464), leads aren’t hard to come by.
“They light up the scoreboard,” Fitzpatrick said. “They’re a team that you try to limit their points but you know they’re going to get them. For us it’s going to be about trying to control the ball and trying to keep their offense off the field. We can’t settle for field goals versus these guys. You’ve got to get touchdowns because they score so many points.”
Buffalo’s defense was semi-successful against Tom Brady and the Pats the first time around, getting four interceptions and the win despite giving up four touchdowns and nearly 500 yards. New England tight end Rob Gronkowski acknowledged via conference call with the New England media Wednesday that the offense would have come out fast and furious this time around to be successful.
“They’ve got a good secondary, good linebackers, good line and everything and they are playing well together," Gronkowski said. "I mean, they’ve got a solid defense and that’s what we’ve got to be prepared for. On offense, we’ve got to come out playing fast and ready to be physical because that’s what they are.”
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