Just when you think you know all there is about the 13-year New England Patriots dynasty, there are stats that still surprise. Since 2010, Tom Brady and company have a remarkable record in games played in the second half of each NFL season. They’re off to a great start in 2014 too, going 3-0 thus far against three division leaders and winning those games by a combined score of 119-50. It’s domination, Belichick style. Here are five stats that will blow the toque off Tom Brady’s head.
1. Since 2010, the Patriots are 32-3 in games played during the second half of the season.
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Read it again: 32-3. Thirty-two and three! That’s 91.4%. That’s not a football winning percentage, that’s a test score for a UNC football player. Two of those three losses came on scores in the final two minutes. Two of three losses were to eventual playoff teams. Each of the games were within one score. Even when they’re losing, they’re almost winning.
2. In 2011, the Pats scored more points in the second half of the season (295) than seven NFL teams did for all 16 games.
(AP)
In fact, in each of the years since 2010, the Pats second-half total has eclipsed the full-season total of at least on team.
2013: Patriots (265), Jaguars (347)
2012: Patriots (295), Raiders (290), Dolphins (288), Jets (281), Eagles (280), Jaguars (255), Cardinals (250), Chiefs (211)
2011: Patriots (291), Redskins (288), Buccaneers (287), Jaguars (243), Colts (243), Browns (218), Chiefs (212), Rams (193)
2010: Patriots (299), Rams (289), Bills (283), Vikings (281), Dolphins (273), Browns (271), Panthers (196)
3. In 27 of the 35 games during this stretch, the Patriots have scored over 30 points.
(USA TODAY Sports Images)
This is impressive enough on its own. It’s even more impressive when you compare that to other teams (keep in mind that these totals are for the entire season, not just the back-half.)
• The New York Jets have taken a decade to score over 30 points as many times as the Pats have in their past 35 second-half games.
• You have to go all the way back to 2001 to get to the 27th time the Jacksonville Jaguars went over 30 points.
• Marc Bulger was tossing TDs to Torry Holt when the Rams went for 30+ the 27th time ago.
• NFL teams have gone over 30 points in 86 of 174 games this year. That’s 49% of games. The Patriots have gone 30+ in 77% of games in their recent second-half tear.
4. The Pats went for 40+ in 11 of those 35 second-half games.
(AP)
That’s more than the Carolina Panthers have done in their entire franchise history. The Jacksonville Jaguars have only done it 12 times. The Washington Redskins have scored 40 points 11 times since 1991. The Dallas Cowboys 40+ run goes back to 1990. Insane.
5. New England has more losses in its last eight playoff games (4) than in the 35 regular-season games before them.
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Unfortunately for the Pats, the hot streak doesn’t extend into January. Since 2010, New England is 4-4 in the playoffs, with three of those coming in surprising upset defeats.
