The Incredible Offensive Performance

[ivanvamp]

I have a lot to say about how clutch the defense was this year for the Patriots, but the offense….my goodness.  They faced the #6, #19, and #1 defenses in the league during their three-game playoff run.  Those teams gave up, on average, 18.9, 23.0, and 15.9 points, and 337, 343, and 267 yards, respectively.  
 
Against those three opponents, the Patriots' offense put up:
 
35 points, 422 yards vs Bal
45 points, 397 yards vs Ind
28 points, 377 yards vs Sea
 
So against Baltimore, they scored 16.1 more points and gained 85 more yards than Baltimore gave up on average.  Against Indy they scored 22 more points and gained 54 more yards than the Colts gave up on average.  And against Seattle they scored 12.1 more points and gained 110 more yards than the Seahawks gave up on average.
 
And they did this without any special teams or defensive touchdowns.  This was all offense.  Brady threw for 921 yards and 10 touchdowns over this span.
 
Just…..incredible.  
 
Compared to their previous 5 Super Bowl runs, here's how this year stacked up. 
2001:  20.0 pts, 297.0 yds
2003:  24.3 pts, 375.7 yds
2004:  28.3 pts, 326.0 yds
2007:  22.0 pts, 341.3 yds
2011:  28.3 pts, 396.0 yds
2014:  36.0 pts, 398.7 yds
 
Phenomenal postseason performance by the offense.  Against some very nasty defenses.  

 

[Morgan's Magic Snowplow]

Josh McDaniels had one of the best runs for an offensive coordinator that I can remember. Not only was each of these game plans individually superb, they were all really different.

The offensive execution was also phenomenal, especially in "gotta have it" situations. Pretty much every time I remember thinking to myself, "We absolutely need 7 here," the offense produced a touchdown.

 

[simplyeric]

Are those full-season averages?
What happens to those averages if you remove the Patriots games from those? (Wouldn't change dramatically, but interested to see how those teams fared against 'everyone except the Patriots')

Edit: sorry to be lazy...I'm in meetings and conference calls all afternoon.

 

[ivanvamp]

Are those full-season averages?
What happens to those averages if you remove the Patriots games from those? (Wouldn't change dramatically, but interested to see how those teams fared against 'everyone except the Patriots')

Edit: sorry to be lazy...I'm in meetings and conference calls all afternoon.

 
Those average points and yards allowed by those opponents were during the regular season, which may or may not have included games against the Patriots.  But they don't include the playoffs.

 

[NortheasternPJ]

In two of those game, Balt and Seattle, Brady threw some crippling interceptions that many teams would have gone off the rails after.
 
The interception at the end of the half against Baltimore was a potential killer and the two INT in the Super Bowl were brutal. 
 
Even with that they put up a ton of points and yards. Yards are an indicator of both the offense playing well (except what's noted above) and playing behind for the Baltimore game. 
 
I'd include the Super Bowl, but the Drive to Nowhere: The Sequel didn't really cost them as it was so early and they got the ball right back.

 

[rodderick]

In two of those game, Balt and Seattle, Brady threw some crippling interceptions that many teams would have gone off the rails after.
 
The interception at the end of the half against Baltimore was a potential killer and the two INT in the Super Bowl were brutal. 
 
Even with that they put up a ton of points and yards. Yards are an indicator of both the offense playing well (except what's noted above) and playing behind for the Baltimore game. 
 
I'd include the Super Bowl, but the Drive to Nowhere: The Sequel didn't really cost them as it was so early and they got the ball right back.

The second pick against Seattle wasn't brutal. It was an extremely athletic play by Irvin, defensive players get paid too. Throwing a pick on your side of the field to open a half sucks, but not all interceptions are terrible plays by the quarterback.

 

[DJnVa]

Brady's complete postseason numbers this year: 93/135, 68.9%, 921 yards, 10/4 TD/INT, 100.3 QB rating.

 

[Kevin Youkulele]

Josh McDaniels had one of the best runs for an offensive coordinator that I can remember. Not only was each of these game plans individually superb, they were all really different.

The offensive execution was also phenomenal, especially in "gotta have it" situations. Pretty much every time I remember thinking to myself, "We absolutely need 7 here," the offense produced a touchdown.

Without taking anything away from McDaniels' game plans, you have to salute the roster construction too.  They had exploitable matchups no matter what.  Wherever a defense had a vulnerability, they could take advantage and do what they needed to do.  That is how you build an unstoppable offense.

 

[MainerInExile]

For all the talk about how the much-improved defense would be the difference this year, it really was the offense that looked a lot better in the SB this year.

 

[dbn]

You are all wrong. This is the lead on ESPN.com right now with the tagline of "Defense won the Superbowl for the second straight year."
 
FTR, Seattle matched their regular season average in points scored and slightly exceeded it in yards gained. 

 

[Kevin Youkulele]

You are all wrong. This is the lead on ESPN.com right now with the tagline of "Defense won the Superbowl for the second straight year."
 
FTR, Seattle matched their regular season average in points scored and slightly exceeded it in yards gained. 

Did CNN and ESPN merge while no one was looking?  They're just saying stuff, like they get to decide what the truth is.

 

[Morgan's Magic Snowplow]

Good Bucky Brooks piece breaking down how McDaniels attacked the Seahawks defense.