Great game coming up tonight. Possible Super Bowl preview. A stat-geek’s dream matchup. There’s a lot of stuff, so let’s get right to it:

* - ESPN has been playing up the fact that the Patriots are playing their 7th unbeaten team this season and are 3-3 in those games so far. Obviously, they are including Week 1 (Buffalo) in their list of “unbeatens” played, which is a bit misleading but technically correct. I’ve gone back to 1990 and no other team has played even 6 unbeatens in a season. Here’s the list of teams that faced 5 in a season (also includes week 1 teams that are 0-0) since 1990:

Baltimore, 2009 (went 3-2)
Buffalo, 2007 (went 0-5)
Houston, 2005 (went 0-5)
Tampa Bay, 2000 (went 3-2)
Kansas City, 1998 (went 3-2)
Washington, 1998 (went 0-5)

* - New England leads the NFL in first half scoring:

19.6 - New England Patriots
18.1 - New Orleans Saints
17.4 - Philadelphia Eagles

* - While the Saints lead the league in second half scoring:

18.8 - New Orleans Saints
16.9 - Minnesota Vikings
14.5 - San Diego Chargers

The Patriots rank 19th in second half scoring (9.4).

* - The Saints have a 3.33 TD/FG ratio this season, the best mark in the league. The Patriots rank 16th for the season (1.55), but have been even worse over teh last 4 weeks (1.29). One other note: Over the last 4 weeks (3 games), the Patriots defense has allowed a league worst 8.00 TD/FG ratio (8 TD and 1 FG).

* - New Orleans has been the NFL’s best offense on the first possession of the game, racking up 38 points on their 10 opening drives (5 touchdowns and a field goal). Of course, the Saints have ALLOWED 28 points (4 TD) on their opponents’ first drives (27th). The Pats have scored 13 points and allowed 13 points on opening drives this season.

* - The Saints have forced more turnovers (29) and scored more points off turnovers (117) than any team in the NFL this season. Meanwhile, the Patriots have committed 10 turnovers this season and allowed only 3 scores (one FG, one interception return, and a fumble return).

* - New Orleans has scored 8 “miscellaneous” touchdowns this season (5 interception returns, 2 fumble returns, 1 kickoff return). No other team has more than 4 such touchdowns. The 2004 Buffalo Bills are the only team since 2000 to have 10 such touchdowns in one season.

* - The Patriots and Saints rank 1-2 in offensive first downs as the Pats are averaging 24 per game and are 2nd in passing first downs (15.2), while the Saints are averaging 22.1 firsts per game and rank 2nd in RUSHING first downs (8.3).

* - Although the Patriots have had far more long drives (10+ plays) than New Orleans (25 to 19), the Saints have made much more of those drives, scoring on 18 of their 19 (95%, highest in the NFL) and averaging 4.95 points per long drive (2nd). New England has scored 3.52 points (15th) and scored on 76% of their long drives (14th). Over the last four weeks, the Saints have averaged 5.50 points on 8 long drives (1st) while the Pats have averaged just 2.00 points on 6 long drives (last; zero touchdowns).

* - Even worse (from the Pats’ perspective), the Saints have allowed only 2.69 points on 13 long drives by their opponents (4th) while the Patriots have allowed 4.50 points (29th) and allowed a score 93% of the time (13 out of 14).

* - One other note: On the 90 drives that have been SHORTER than 10 plays, the Patriots have averaged 2.73 points (1st), while the Saints have averaged 2.71 points (2nd; 102 drives).

* - The Pats and Saints rank 1-2 in first down efficiency as New England has gained 4 or more yards on first down 55.5% of the time and the Saints have done it 52.5%. Defensively, New England has allowed 4+ yards on first down 48.1% of the time (24th) compared to the Saints (25th). The Patriots’ first down defense has been especially bad lately, allowing 4+ yards 54% of the time over the last four weeks (31st).

* - New England continues to have the fewest three and outs in the NFL with only 18 all season (16% of all their drives). The Saints have had 25 three and outs (20.7%; 10th).

* - A couple of notes on third down conversions: Both offenses rank in the top 6 in overall third down conversion percentage. The Saints are 3rd (46.9%) while the Pats are 6th (45.7%)… New England’s defense has allowed 29% conversions on third and 10+ (9 for 31), the 4th worst mark in the league… Of course, over the last four weeks, the Saints offense has only FACED 3rd and 10 or more five times, the fewest in the NFL… Over the past four weeks, the Saints’ third down defense has been the 3rd best in the NFL on 3rd and 5 or less (37%), but the league’s worst on 3rd and 6 or more (42.6%) in that span.

* - New Orleans blitzes a lot (on 49% of opponent pass plays, 3rd highest percentage in the NFL) and has held opponents to 45% completions when they blitz (lowest percentage in the league) with 5 TD, 12 interceptions, and 12 sacks. New England has only allowed 2 sacks all year and have thrown 8 TD versus just 1 interception against blitzes.

* - When the Saints are on offense, opponents have apparently given up on blitzing, as only 24% of New Orleans’ pass plays have come against a blitz, the lowest percentage in the NFL. Tampa Bay blitzed only one time against the Saints last week (1 for 1, 12 yards). While they’ve completed 68% of passes against blitzes (3rd), they’ve got just a 3-3 TD/INT ratio (and 7.5% sacks). Against non-blitzes, they still complete 68%, but with a 19-6 ratio and just 2.8% sacks. Maybe using the blitz against the Saints when they get into the red zone would work? One more thing: Over the last four weeks, the Saints have 76% completions versus blitzes (13 for 17, 1st) while New England has 74% completions versus blitzes (35 for 47, 2nd).

* - Inside the 30 yard line, the Patriots have an outstanding 12-1 TD/INT ratio. Pats’ opponents have a 13-1 ratio when inside the 30 and over the last 4 weeks have allowed a league worst 11.00 yards per attempt on those throws. The Saints pass defense inside the 30 is the best in the NFL (allowed a 51 rating) including a 6-6 ratio and 5.6% sacks.

* - For the season, the Saints rank 2nd in kickoff returns (26.9), but they’ve been even better over the last 4 weeks, averaging a league best 31.8 yards per return.

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AIR TRAFFIC CONTROL - 2009 STATS
Week 12 vs New Orleans Saints

NEW ORLEANS SAINTS PASS OFFENSE - 320 Att / 68% Completions / 8.58 YA / 22 TD / 9 INT

LEFT: 36% of tries / 70% / 8.69 / 3 / 2
MIDDLE: 11% of tries / 53% / 8.28 / 3 / 2
RIGHT: 53% of tries / 70% / 8.57 / 16 / 5

BEHIND LINE: 21% of tries / 71% / 4.00 / 3 / 1
1 TO 10 YDS: 43% of tries / 72% / 6.20 / 8 / 3
11 TO 20 YDS: 24% of tries / 66% / 11.95 / 5 / 1
21 TO 30 YDS: 17 of 26 / 65% / 23.00 / 4 / 3
31 TO 40 YDS: 3 of 5 / 60% / 22.60 / 2 / 0
41+ YDS: 0 of 7 / 0% / 0.00 / 0 / 1

NOTES: The Saints lead the league in yards/attempt (8.58), passing TD (22), and TD percentage (6.9%)… They also lead the league in completion percentage on passes thrown 11 to 20 yards (66%) and passes thrown 21+ yards (53%). Houston is the only other team over 40% on passes thrown 21+ yards… Look at that TD pass distribution: 16 to the right side leads the NFL but only 3 to the left side ranks 26th.

NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS PASS DEFENSE - 316 Att / 56% Completions / 6.38 YA / 14 TD / 13 INT

LEFT: 45% of tries / 55% / 5.52 / 6 / 9
MIDDLE: 9% of tries / 67% / 7.57 / 2 / 0
RIGHT: 46% of tries / 55% / 6.98 / 6 / 4

BEHIND LINE: 15% of tries / 65% / 4.20 / 2 / 0
1 TO 10 YDS: 51% of tries / 59% / 5.21 / 7 / 4
11 TO 20 YDS: 24% of tries / 57% / 9.99 / 2 / 2
21 TO 30 YDS: 6 of 19 / 32% / 8.00 / 2 / 4
31 TO 40 YDS: 2 of 8 / 25% / 8.50 / 1 / 1
41+ YDS: 0 of 5 / 0% / 0.00 / 0 / 2

NOTES: The Patriots have allowed 56% completions this season, 3rd best in the NFL… The Pats have allowed 57% on passes thrown 11 to 20 yards (10th worst) and 25% on passes thrown 21+ yards (9th worst).

NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS PASS OFFENSE - 404 Att / 67% Completions / 7.68 YA / 20 TD / 6 INT

LEFT: 41% of tries / 62% / 6.82 / 9 / 3
MIDDLE: 15% of tries / 75% / 9.64 / 2 / 1
RIGHT: 44% of tries / 68% / 7.79 / 9 / 2

BEHIND LINE: 16% of tries / 75% / 6.22 / 2 / 1
1 TO 10 YDS: 55% of tries / 76% / 6.35 / 8 / 0
11 TO 20 YDS: 19% of tries / 57% / 11.36 / 5 / 1
21 TO 30 YDS: 6 of 21 / 29% / 11.00 / 3 / 1
31 TO 40 YDS: 3 of 10 / 30% / 12.40 / 1 / 1
41+ YDS: 1 of 10 / 10% / 6.30 / 1 / 2

NOTES: New England continues to throw a lot (404 attempts, the most in the league) but have not been the most efficient (7th in completion percentage and 10th in yards/attempt)… However, their interception percentage (1.5%) is 3rd… 6.22 yards/attempt on passes thrown behind the line ranks 2nd.

NEW ORLEANS SAINTS PASS DEFENSE - 370 Att / 53% Completions / 6.19 YA / 9 TD / 20 INT

LEFT: 39% of tries / 60% / 7.96 / 6 / 8
MIDDLE: 13% of tries / 47% / 5.24 / 0 / 0
RIGHT: 47% of tries / 49% / 4.98 / 3 / 12

BEHIND LINE: 16% of tries / 57% / 2.93 / 0 / 0
1 TO 10 YDS: 53% of tries / 63% / 5.66 / 1 / 8
11 TO 20 YDS: 19% of tries / 47% / 10.43 / 4 / 6
21 TO 30 YDS: 1 of 19 / 5% / 1.53 / 1 / 3
31 TO 40 YDS: 3 of 18 / 17% / 8.56 / 2 / 2
41+ YDS: 1 of 4 / 25% / 17.00 / 1 / 1

NOTES: 53% completions allowed and 20 interceptions are NFL bests, while 6.19 yards/attempt allowed ranks 2nd… They lead the league in interceptions versus these different pass categories: Overall, Right Side, 1 to 10 yard throws, 11 to 20 yard throws.

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GROUND TRANSFERS - 2009 STATS
Week 12 vs NEW ORLEANS SAINTS

NEW ORLEANS SAINTS RUSHING OFFENSE - 323 Att / 4.80 Avg / 18 TD / 26% First Downs / 11% Stuffs

1st DOWN - 169 / 4.68 / 10 TD / 15% FD / 11% Stuffs
2nd DOWN - 111 / 5.27 / 4 TD / 32% FD / 10% Stuffs
3rd DOWN - 35 / 5.00 / 3 TD / 54% FD / 9% Stuffs

2nd/3rd & SHORT (2 yds or less) - 32 / 4.16 / 2 TD / 72% FD / 0% Stuffs
2nd & MEDIUM (3 to 7 yds) - 53 / 6.40 / 3 TD / 38% FD / 9% Stuffs
3rd & MEDIUM (3 to 7 yds) - 11 / 8.64 / 2 TD / 55% FD / 0% Stuffs
2nd & LONG (8+ yds) - 42 / 4.45 / 0 TD / 12% FD / 14% Stuffs
3rd & LONG (8+ yds) - 8 / 0.75 / 0 TD / 0% FD / 38% Stuffs

Versus BLITZ - 15 / 6.87 / 1 TD / 40% FD / 13% Stuffs
Versus 6+ Defenders on Line - 25 / 3.84 / 1 TD / 32% FD / 12% Stuffs

NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS RUSHING DEFENSE - 246 Att / 4.45 Avg / 3 TD / 19% First Downs / 10% Stuffs

1st DOWN - 144 / 4.22 / 2 TD / 11% FD / 10% Stuffs
2nd DOWN - 78 / 4.99 / 0 TD / 24% FD / 9% Stuffs
3rd DOWN - 20 / 4.45 / 1 TD / 45% FD / 10% Stuffs

2nd/3rd & SHORT (2 yds or less) - 22 / 4.27 / 1 TD / 64% FD / 5% Stuffs
2nd & MEDIUM (3 to 7 yds) - 30 / 3.23 / 0 TD / 17% FD / 13% Stuffs
3rd & MEDIUM (3 to 7 yds) - 4 / 9.25 / 0 TD / 50% FD / 25% Stuffs
2nd & LONG (8+ yds) - 37 / 6.30 / 0 TD / 16% FD / 8% Stuffs
3rd & LONG (8+ yds) - 5 / 3.40 / 0 TD / 20% FD / 0% Stuffs

Versus BLITZ - 15 / 1.07 / 0 TD / 0% FD / 40% Stuffs
Versus 6+ Defenders on Line - 58 / 3.43 / 0 TD / 24% FD / 5% Stuffs

NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS RUSHING OFFENSE - 284 Att / 4.01 Avg / 11 TD / 24% First Downs / 11% Stuffs

1st DOWN - 149 / 4.16 / 3 TD / 12% FD / 11% Stuffs
2nd DOWN - 92 / 4.29 / 7 TD / 28% FD / 8% Stuffs
3rd DOWN - 38 / 3.11 / 1 TD / 53% FD / 16% Stuffs

2nd/3rd & SHORT (2 yds or less) - 37 / 3.03 / 6 TD / 78% FD / 8% Stuffs
2nd & MEDIUM (3 to 7 yds) - 45 / 4.51 / 2 TD / 27% FD / 11% Stuffs
3rd & MEDIUM (3 to 7 yds) - 7 / 3.14 / 0 TD / 14% FD / 0% Stuffs
2nd & LONG (8+ yds) - 34 / 4.35 / 0 TD / 9% FD / 6% Stuffs
3rd & LONG (8+ yds) - 7 / 4.00 / 0 TD / 14% FD / 43% Stuffs

Versus BLITZ - 13 / 5.23 / 0 TD / 23% FD / 8% Stuffs
Versus 6+ Defenders on Line - 21 / 3.00 / 2 TD / 29% FD / 10% Stuffs

NEW ORLEANS SAINTS RUSHING DEFENSE - 254 Att / 4.56 Avg / 12 TD / 26% First Downs / 11% Stuffs

1st DOWN - 135 / 4.33 / 7 TD / 14% FD / 11% Stuffs
2nd DOWN - 85 / 5.27 / 3 TD / 32% FD / 12% Stuffs
3rd DOWN - 31 / 3.81 / 1 TD / 61% FD / 10% Stuffs

2nd/3rd & SHORT (2 yds or less) - 31 / 4.58 / 3 TD / 77% FD / 10% Stuffs
2nd & MEDIUM (3 to 7 yds) - 43 / 5.16 / 1 TD / 30% FD / 12% Stuffs
3rd & MEDIUM (3 to 7 yds) - 6 / 2.50 / 0 TD / 33% FD / 17% Stuffs
2nd & LONG (8+ yds) - 29 / 4.48 / 0 TD / 14% FD / 14% Stuffs
3rd & LONG (8+ yds) - 7 / 8.14 / 0 TD / 43% FD / 0% Stuffs

Versus BLITZ - 26 / 3.81 / 0 TD / 23% FD / 12% Stuffs
Versus 6+ Defenders on Line - 24 / 3.33 / 4 TD / 42% FD / 13% Stuffs

One Comments for “Patriots-Saints Monday Night Nuggetpalooza!”

1. Jeremy Says:
   November 30th, 2009 at 11:15 pm

   we just resigned Moss but since acquiring Moss we have not won any rings is he really worth it?

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