3rd down D
FOXBOROUGH -- While the Patriots' offense has generated much of the buzz through the first nine games of the season, perhaps one overlooked area has been the team's defensive excellence on third down.
The Patriots lead the NFL in third-down defense, with opponents converting just 30 of 99 chances (30.3 percent).
The unit's ability to "get off the field" has contributed to the Patriots ranking second in the NFL in time of possession -- at 33:42. Only the Steelers are better (34:59).
Defensive coordinator Dean Pees revealed today the Patriots usually have one practice devoted almost solely to third down.
"It’s not only third-and-long. It’s third-and-short, a lot of situations," Pees said. "I think one of the things that Coach Belichick does best as a head coach is dealing with a lot of special situations, whether it be two-minute, four-minute at the end of a game -- just a lot of different situations. I think he does a great job of giving us time and allotting time to work on those things."
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