Three crazy stats about this year's win ugly Patriots
Remember in the beginning of the year when we called every win an ugly win?
I guess you get used to the ugly after awhile, because with all of the injuries to this Patriots team, we've started to learn to take any type of victory we can get.
Surprisingly, we've still gotten 10 of them so far, but they haven't come easy. Here are three stats that put the Patriots' whirlwind season into perspective.
1. ESPN Stats and Information informs us that this is a very special year for Tom Brady. Maybe not in a good way.
Our favorite quarterback has put the ball in the air a lot this year, especially at the end of games. In fact he's more than doubled his previous career high of pass attempts in the final two minutes of the fourth quarter. He currently has 62 pass attempts in that time period, where his previous career high was 30 in 2002. Plus, we still have two games to go. That 62 number also leads the NFL.
2. That stat shouldn't make the next one that surprising. The Patriots actually have a chance to break or at least tie an NFL record this season. Again, maybe not one they'd prefer to have. According to Football Outsiders' Scott Kacsmar the NFL record for wins by 3 points or less is seven. The Patriots currently have six wins of three points or less.
What are those wins? Week 1 vs the Bills, Week 2 vs the Jets, Week 6 vs the Saints, Week 12 vs the Broncos, Week 13 vs Texans, Week 14 vs Browns.
3. All of this seems to indicate that this week's game against the Ravens should be a close one. And the stats back that up too. According to WEEI's Christopher Price, five of the eight games between the Ravens and Patriots since 2004 have been decided by six points or less.
These games are always tight, and this one should prove to be no exception. As if you needed anymore motivation for this game, the Ravens are fighting for their playoff lives, and so are the Patriots.
The Patriots could very well tie the record for wins by three points or less in this one, and Brady could add to his already high total of passes at the end of the fourth.
It's been a wild season and it seems like we're in store for a fitting ending.
I guess you get used to the ugly after awhile, because with all of the injuries to this Patriots team, we've started to learn to take any type of victory we can get.
Surprisingly, we've still gotten 10 of them so far, but they haven't come easy. Here are three stats that put the Patriots' whirlwind season into perspective.
1. ESPN Stats and Information informs us that this is a very special year for Tom Brady. Maybe not in a good way. Our favorite quarterback has put the ball in the air a lot this year, especially at the end of games. In fact he's more than doubled his previous career high of pass attempts in the final two minutes of the fourth quarter. He currently has 62 pass attempts in that time period, where his previous career high was 30 in 2002. Plus, we still have two games to go. That 62 number also leads the NFL.
2. That stat shouldn't make the next one that surprising. The Patriots actually have a chance to break or at least tie an NFL record this season. Again, maybe not one they'd prefer to have. According to Football Outsiders' Scott Kacsmar the NFL record for wins by 3 points or less is seven. The Patriots currently have six wins of three points or less.
What are those wins? Week 1 vs the Bills, Week 2 vs the Jets, Week 6 vs the Saints, Week 12 vs the Broncos, Week 13 vs Texans, Week 14 vs Browns.
3. All of this seems to indicate that this week's game against the Ravens should be a close one. And the stats back that up too. According to WEEI's Christopher Price, five of the eight games between the Ravens and Patriots since 2004 have been decided by six points or less.
These games are always tight, and this one should prove to be no exception. As if you needed anymore motivation for this game, the Ravens are fighting for their playoff lives, and so are the Patriots.
The Patriots could very well tie the record for wins by three points or less in this one, and Brady could add to his already high total of passes at the end of the fourth.
It's been a wild season and it seems like we're in store for a fitting ending.
