Giants vs Patriots: Why New England's Defense Is Much Better Than 31st Ranking

Whether the skeptics choose to recognize it or not, the New England Patriots have a much better defense than their No. 31 ranking from the 2011 regular season.

Head coach Bill Belichick's unit may have allowed 411.1 total yards per game, however, they cut that number down to a 325-yard average in just two playoff games (which would have ranked No. 9 in the regular season).

So how did the Pats do it?

Well, let's take a look at why the Patriots are better than advertised.

Pass Rush

During the regular season the Pats finished with 40 sacks which ranked them No. 14 and significantly ahead of teams with similar weak pass defenses like Green Bay, New Orleans and Atlanta.

The Patriots even compiled more sacks than the Pittsburgh Steelers and only two less than the San Francisco 49ers.

As for the postseason, Belichick's crew has collected eight sacks in just two games, which ranks No. 4 among playoff teams. Only the Giants, 49ers and Texans have more as each have played at least two postseason games.

They put more quarterback pressure on the opposition than Pittsburgh, Baltimore, and Denver combined, each of which are suppose to have a much better pass-rushing unit.

Therefore, the Giants need to prepare wisely because the only way to really slow down an explosive offense is to bring the pain, and Belichick will do that.

Red Zone Defense

If you look closely at the picture, you can see the ball beginning to come out of Lee Evans' possession in the end zone for the go ahead touchdown in the AFC Championship game.

Despite actually making the catch, the ball was knocked from Evans' hands by rookie corner Sterling Moore and it fell incomplete.

That's just one minuscule play that describes how stout the Pats are with their backs against the wall.

Between both playoff games against Denver and Baltimore, each combined for seven red zone appearances against New England.

And each team only managed to score one time inside the red zone.

The Broncos were 1-of-3 and the Ravens were 1-of-4. No matter how much talent resides on a team, failing to score even field goals when inside the opponents' red zone will never result in wins, especially against an offense like New England's.

What's also ironic is that both Denver and Baltimore won the time of possession battle by roughly seven minutes each. So regardless of the situation and circumstances, the Pats defense has made the best of every series. 

Points Allowed

In relation to red zone defense is the average points allowed per game.

Well, despite allowing an average of over 400 total yards per game throughout the regular season, New England ranked No. 15 in allowing just 21.4 points per game.

And if you count their stellar play through two postseason games, that average dips down to 20.7, which would rank them No. 12 in the league.

Backed by an explosive offense that averaged 32.1 points per game, it would have been easy to lay low and let Tom Brady and Co. outscore every opponent but that's not what happened.

Teams like Green Bay and New Orleans had to do that but not New England.

The Patriots would either force turnovers or allow tons of yards, but still stand tall when backed up. Any way you slice it, that's impressive to remain consistent despite lacking when with the field position advantage.

Creating Turnovers

Definitely not impressive when you look at how many yards the Patriots allow per game, but when it comes down to picking your poison so to speak, what would you rather have?

Here are the options.

A defense that allows tons of yards and points but does not get turnovers or a defense that allows tons of yards but not too many points and forces turnovers?

Personally, the latter is more appealing because a defense that thrives off turnovers is the worst-case scenario when it comes to allowing tons of yards.

And with an offense like the Pats have, why not be opportunistic and try to get those additional possessions to change the field position and time of possession factor? New England's turnover differential this season was plus-17 (rank No. 3) thanks to 23 picks and 11 recovered fumbles.

The interesting aspect is that the Pats lost the turnover battle in both playoff games with a minus-3 differential.

Can you imagine if they had forced turnovers like the regular season?

Nevertheless, Bill Belichick's defense is peaking at the right time, and if the Giants aren't careful, Super Bowl XLVI could turn against them quickly.

John Rozum on Twitter.