Skyline_BNR34 wrote:
The Saints are like the Colts, their offense is built to throw for 400 yards and score points, but their defense still lacks that finishing drive. You can't win in the NFL playoffs without a solid defense, the 2008 Superbowl with the Patriots would like to show you that.
That is another reason why I think the Pats won't win against the Jets, or whoever wins the Steelers/Ravens game, if they beat the Jets, and especially if they make the Superbowl. They honestly have the worst defense in these playoffs, statistically speaking of course.
the only thing sort of right about your post is that the pats defense is statistically one of the worst teams in the playoffs. they are in fact second worst, behind the seahawks.
The Saints defense was missing one of their key players and they were ranked 4th....that's in the top 12% of the league...4th! in overall defense of the year. They were also 7th, that's the top 20ish % of the league in points allowed.
in 2008, the patriots gave up 17 points in the super bowl. since super bowl 25, only 8 teams have scored 17pts or less in the super bowl (that's out of twenty years). the defense wasn't the problem in that game. the reason the patriots lost is poor clock management and the inability to get a late first down. the giants also deserve more credit than the patriots do blame. if david tyree didn't come down with that one in a billion catch against his helmet, the game was over.
let's break down the patriots defense over the playoff teams since week 8.
week 10- patriots 39, steelers 26. absolute decimation of the steelers. 16 of the steelers points came in the 4th. roethlisberger threw 50 passes so they are bound to gain yards. the steelers were 1/2 in a 1st and goal situation and 2/5 in the red zone. 1 INT (returned for TD) and 5 sacks. was the NE defense great? no. but they played well.
week 11, pats 31 colts 28. they didn't play well, but they picked off manning 3 times and allowed 3.5 yards per carry for rushing.
week 13. pats 45 jets 3. ABSOLUTE WRECKING of one of the top 4 teams in the league at that point. 25% 3rd down conversion. they could have played better against the run. but they had such a lead they dropped their linebackers back to coverage most of the time. 3 INTs. jets were 0/2 in the red zone.
week 14. pats 36, bears 7. 2 ints, allowed 3.5 yds/rush, 12 first downs, less than 200 net yards. allowed only 20 minutes of ball control and 1/2 goal to go situations.
week 15. pats 31 pack 27. the d was 2/5 in the red zone and 1/2 in goal to go situations. they also were on the field for 40 minutes, which is a long, long time. they also had 5 sacks. did they play as well as they should have? no, but they did a lot of successful things.
at worst, they've been better than average in the last ten weeks against playoff teams. very few analysts, or even knowledgeable fans would say that the pats defense has been less than effective and has gotten better as the season progressed, which makes it the most dangerous. not to mention belicheck owns every team in the playoffs but the colts, has played them all numerous times, and has had two weeks to prepare for the jets.
i'm not saying the patriots are goin to win it all, but i am saying they are definitely a team to be respected.
god i miss when the bills were in the playoffs. FLUTIE COME BACK
Edit: tl;dr
the patriots defense kicked a lot of butt in the last couple months and the saints defense was very good this year. WHY AREN'T THE BILLS GOOD