The Patriots are a tough team, statistically speaking

Tough guys wear onesies
I've always heard that the way to tell a tough team is where they rank in rushing and where they rank in stopping the run.

That's the tell tale sign of a physical team, that's tough to play. Over the past few years, the Patriots have not been particularly great in the rushing category. They've also usually been an average run defense.

Not so far this year.

The Patriots defense is fifth best in the league in fewest rushing yards per game (82.7), fourth best in terms of yards per carry allowed (3.2). They are the best in the NFL in allowing the fewest rushing yards after contact with 1.05. They have only allowed one rushing touchdown to a running back all year long (Ray Rice in Week 3). On top of that, the Patriots are one of only two teams (Houston being the other) that has yet to allow a 20 yard run.

Keep in mind that the Patriots have in fact faced some good backs - Ray Rice, C.J. Spiller, Fred Jackson, Willis McGahee and Marshawn Lynch. All those guys are owned in people's fantasy leagues anyway. The only bad day they had against the run was on the road at Baltimore.

The pass defense has been awful, granted. Yet when it comes to the battle in the trenches, the Patriots have come out on top

That's true on both sides of the ball, as the Patriots are also right on top of the league in rushing. Stevan Ridley is tied with Adrian Peterson for most runs over 15 yards in the NFL (9). The Patriots are the fourth best rushing offense in the NFL, with 152.3 yards on the ground per game. They are tied for 9th in yards per carry at 4.2 and are second in the league in rushing touchdowns, with 10. They are also first in the league in rushing attempts per game, with 36.2

Mind you, when Stevan Ridley sees the ball 20 times, the Patriots have yet to lose. When he doesn't they have yet to win.

So what does this all mean? It hasn't exactly translated to many wins. Still, while that might be true this is a tried and true winning formula in January. Being able to run the ball and stop the run is something you hear over and over again when it comes to the recipe for playoff teams to go far in the post-season. It's something the Patriots have struggled to do recently. If they can keep this up, and fix all the problems they've been having, this team looks to be in great shape for the final stretch.