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Time on Patriots' side

Email|Link|Comments (4) Posted by Mike Reiss, Globe Staff November 10, 2008 01:34 PM

The Patriots once again had a decisive time-of-possession advantage, marking the seventh time in their nine games that they've won the clock battle.

The team is averaging 32:59 per game, which ranks fourth in the NFL.

A look at the team's time of possession numbers this season (Patriots' time/opponents' time):

Bills
37:40/22:20

Colts
34:24/25:36

Rams
30:35/29:25

Broncos
33:57/26:03

Chargers
31:34/28:26

49ers
39:52/20:08

Dolphins
27:27/32:33

Jets
31:35/28:25

Chiefs
29:49/30:11

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4 comments so far...

Seeing that near 10 minute advantage in the Colts game, brought all of us Pats fans back to a dark night ... CATCH THE BALL GAFFNEY !

Thanks Mike for this post. This is going to be how they win games this year. Run the ball and make timely throws when needed.

Give some props to Cassel for making great throws to Welker and Moss off of play action yesterday. His pocket awareness is getting better. I think this is due in part to the return of Neal at RG.

Mike, why did he leave the game yesterday in the 2nd half ? He was still on the sidelines and looked fine. Was it a move to keep him fresh on a short week ?

Posted by Blair from Canada November 10, 08 02:11 PM

Hi Blair. When an injury update on Neal was requested by reporters during the game, the response was that the Hochstein-for-Neal switch was not injury related.
--Mike

Posted by Mike Reiss November 10, 08 02:34 PM

Mike, very interesting analysis.

Although it doesn't seem an automatic victory when you win the time of posession battle, it does however seem to favor the winner.

Posted by Sean in Taunton November 10, 08 04:49 PM

Teams that win stats don't alway win games. It's not so much how much time you had with the ball, it is moreso what you did and what plays you called to use that time to the max. Example: even with the Gaffney drop, decent play calling in the red zone would have given the Pats a win, and with a substantial margin.

Posted by Mike Allen November 10, 08 09:04 PM

DO NOT HIT THE SUBMIT BUTTON MORE THAN ONCE!

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Mike Reiss, Christopher L. Gasper and the rest of the Globe team provide regular updates –and a behind-the-scenes look– on the daily happenings of the Patriots.

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