Giants vs. Patriots: New England's Defensive Revival Is Not That Impressive

The book on the New England Patriots says that they're a great offensive team, but a downright awful defensive team.

The Pats have spent the playoffs defying that reputation, and people have noticed. Take a look around at the millions of Super Bowl pre-game articles, and you'll invariably come across one praising the Patriots for their improved defense.

The numbers do indeed support the notion. During the regular season, the Patriots allowed 411.1 total yards per game, 31st in the NFL. They allowed 293.9 passing yards per game, also 31st in the NFL.

Against the Denver Broncos in the Divisional Round, the Patriots allowed a grand total of 252 yards and held the Broncos to just 10 points. They bent a little bit more against the Baltimore Ravens in the AFC Championship Game, as the Ravens gained 398 yards, but the Pats held them to 20 points and won the game.

The numbers support the idea of a defensive revival in New England, and so does the eye test. The Patriots have played with a lot of energy on defense in the playoffs, especially along the defensive line. The New York Giants' D-line is getting all the hype, but New England's D-line isn't looking too shabby these days.

So yes, the Patriots' defense is not as awful as its reputation suggests.

It's still not very good, though.

You have to consider the opponents. Yes, New England's defense dominated the Broncos, but it would be stupid for any of us to overlook the fact that Denver's offense is (or was) a one-trick pony led by a quarterback who couldn't hit water if he fell out of a boat.

Once the Patriots got up early and forced the Broncos to pass, the game was over.

Baltimore's offense is slightly better, but nobody ever accused it of being an elite unit. The Pats' defensive line was outstanding, but the Ravens' offensive line was a mess all season and Joe Flacco has the pocket mobility of a Sherman tank.

As it is, he still managed to pass for over 300 yards. It was his first 300-yard passing game since Week 9 of the regular season.

So in the playoffs, the Pats dominated one bad offense and barely outlasted a mediocre offense. That doesn't make New England's defense great. It makes it better than bad.

We don't have to limit our gaze to the playoffs. The eight-game win streak the Patriots finished the regular season on is pretty telling in its own way.

Let's take a look.

Week 10 against a mediocre New York Jets offense: 14 total points and 268 total yards allowed.

Week 11 against a Tyler Palko-led Kansas City Chiefs offense: three points and 334 total yards allowed.

Week 12 against a Vince Young-led Philadelphia Eagles offense: 20 points and 466 total yards allowed.

Week 13 against an atrocious Indianapolis Colts offense: 24 points and 437 total yards allowed.

Week 14 against a bad Washington Redskins offense: 27 points and 463 total yards allowed.

Week 15 against the Broncos: 23 points and 393 total yards allowed.

Week 16 against a mediocre Miami Dolphins offense: 24 points and 374 total yards allowed.

Week 17 against a bad Buffalo Bills offense: 21 total points and 402 total yards allowed.

Long story short, that's eight straight wins against eight mediocre-to-bad offenses. It just so happens that trend continued once the Patriots reached the playoffs.

The Giants don't have a bad offense. On the contrary, they have a very good offense, and they're also very hot. The only team that has made the Giants look bad in their last five games was the San Francisco 49ers, perhaps the best defensive team in the NFL.

New England's defense is going to be overmatched. The Pats' defensive line will probably look good once again—as New York's offensive line is nothing special—but the rest of the defense will have its hands full.

To boot, Eli Manning is the best quarterback the Pats have been matched up against since, well, Eli Manning.

If the Patriots win the Super Bowl, it will be because of their offense, not their defense. 

In other words, they'll have to win the Patriot way.