Stat check

A look at some key NFL statistics and where the Patriots rank among the league's 31 other teams after 12 games (not including Bears-Redskins game last night), while also adding this week's opponent, the Steelers, into the mix:

Points scored
This week: 1st (39.0 per game)
Last week: 1st (40.1 per game)
Steelers: 6th (24.6 per game)

Points allowed
This week: 5th (17.4 per game)
Last week: tied-5th (16.8 per game)
Steelers: 1st (12.9 per game)

Turnover difference
This week: 1st (plus-17, 27 takeaways, 10 giveaways)
Last week: 1st (plus-16, 25 takeaways, 9 giveaways)
Steelers: tied-13th (plus-3, 21 takeaways, 18 giveaways)

Third-down offense
This week: 1st (69 of 137, 50.4 percent)
Last week: 1st (67 of 125, 53.6 percent)
Steelers: 3rd (85 of 173, 49.1 percent)

Third-down defense
This week: 5th (45 of 133, 33.8 percent)
Last week: 5th (42 of 122, 34.4 percent)
Steelers: tied-11th (62 of 160, 38.8 percent)

Red-zone offense
This week: 2nd (58 possessions, 42 TDs, 72.4 percent)
Last week: 2nd (54 possessions, 39 TDs, 72.2 percent)
Steelers: 6th (43 possessions, 25 TDs, 58.1 percent)

Red-zone defense
This week: 32nd (28 possessions, 20 TDs, 71.4 percent)
Last week: 32nd (24 possessions, 17 TDs, 70.8 percent)
Steelers: 14th (24 possessions, 12 TDs, 50 percent)
Note: The Steelers have allowed the fewest red-zone trips in the NFL