It’s time to take the New England Patriots’ pass defense seriously.
The Patriots allowed just 213 yards through the air to the Washington Redskins in Sunday’s 27-10 win. They’re now allowing just 244.8 yards per game, a 62-percent completion percentage and 80.6 passer rating.
Sunday’s success was more to do with coverage than pass rush. No. 1 cornerback Malcolm Butler and safety Patrick Chung were among the Patriots’ standout performers.
Check out this week’s advanced passing stats:
PASS COVERAGE
Game stats:
Logan Ryan: 5-9, 88 yards, INT, PBU
Justin Coleman: 3-5, 29 yards, two PBUs
Devin McCourty: 2-3, 21 yards
Jerod Mayo: 1-1, 16 yards
Malcolm Butler: 3-6, 15 yards, PBU
Patrick Chung: 2-6, 14 yards, PBU
Rob Ninkovich: 1-1, 6 yards
Jordan Richards: 1-2, 3 yards, TD
Jonathan Freeny: 0-1
Jon Bostic: 0-1
— Chung continues to impress in man coverage this season. He spent most of the game on tight end Jordan Reed.
— Butler covered DeSean Jackson for most of the game, while Ryan defended Pierre Garcon and Coleman tracked Jamison Crowder.
— Ryan gave up 34 yards on the final drive, when the Patriots loosened up their coverage.
— Butler had one of his best games of the season in a tough matchup.
— Coleman continues to impress. It’s very surprising he was cut by the Minnesota Vikings at the 75-man roster cut.
Season stats:
PASS RUSH
Game stats:
Rob Ninkovich: three QB hits, hurry
Dominique Easley: QB hit, two hurries
Chandler Jones: sack, QB hit
Akiem Hicks: QB hit
Jon Bostic: QB hit
Malcom Brown: hurry
Devin McCourty: hurry
— The Patriots didn’t have their best game in pass rush, but they were missing Jabaal Sheard (ankle) and Jamie Collins (illness)
— Easley is becoming one of the Patriots’ most consistent pass rushers, providing pressure from defensive tackle.
— Ninkovich is heating up as the season goes along.
— Jones leads the NFL with 9.5 sacks.
Season stats:
PASS PROTECTION
Game stats:
Josh Kline: two hurries
David Andrews: two hurries
Sebastian Vollmer: hurry
Shaq Mason: hurry
Michael Williams: hurry
— Center Bryan Stork filled in at right tackle, with Cameron Fleming moving over to left tackle once Sebastian Vollmer suffered a head injury. Neither second-year pro surrendered a pressure.
— Shaq Mason was supposed to be behind the eight ball in pass protection because he came from an option offense, but he’s only allowed seven pressures all season.
Season stats:
PASSING ACCURACY
1. Broken up by defender (Julian Edelman)
2. Drop (Dion Lewis)
3. Broken up by defender (Scott Chandler)
4. Overthrow (Edelman)
5. Overthrow (Chandler)
6. Bad decision on interception (Edelman)
7. Overthrow (Rob Gronkowski)
8. Overthrow (Brandon LaFell)
9. Wide (LaFell)
10. Overthrow (Danny Amendola)
11. Behind (Brandon Bolden)
12. Pressure (LaFell)
13. Broken up by defender (LaFell)
— Brady was just 1 for 4 on deep passes. Lewis’ drop was on a perfectly thrown deep pass that would have been a touchdown, however.
— Brady, as usual, would rather play it safe with overthrows toward the sideline and out of the end zone than risk interceptions.
— Brady’s interception was the first of the season that can be blamed on the Patriots quarterback. His first interception of 2015 bounced off Edelman’s hands.
Thumbnail photo via Greg M. Cooper/USA TODAY Sports Images
