Numbers game: Through 12 games, 12 stats that tell the story of the 2017 Patriots

With three-quarters of the regular season in the books and the playoffs looming, here are 12 stats that shed some light on where the 2017 Patriots have been, and where they’re going.


6: Since the start of the 2016 season (31 games, including the postseason), the Patriots have had Tom Brady, Rob Gronkowski, Julian Edelman and Dont’a Hightower on the field together for a total of six games, none of them this year. (For the record, New England is 5-1 in those games.)

18.6: The points per game average allowed by the Patriots over the first 12 games of the 2017 season, a total of 223. If New England stays on its current pace for the rest of the regular season, it would yield 297 points on the year. Under Bill Belichick, it would be the eighth time the Patriots have allowed fewer than 300 points in a season.

284:56: The current total time, in minutes and seconds, the Patriots have not trailed in game action, dating all the way back to the Oct. 29 win over the Chargers. In that one, New England fell behind 7-0, but a 2-yard touchdown pass from Brady to Gronkowski with 14:56 left in the second quarter tied the game at seven. The Patriots have not trailed since. (For what it’s worth, that streak of four-plus game is impressive, but it still pales in comparison to last year, when the Patriots did not trail from the late stages of a Nov. 27 win over the Jets in North Jersey until the second quarter of Super Bowl LI, a streak of almost eight full games.)

14: The number of consecutive road wins achieved by the 2016 and 2017 Patriots. Here’s a look at the all-time greatest win streaks away from home in NFL history:

18: San Francisco, 1988-1990
14: New England, 2016-current
12: New England, 2006-08
11: L.A. Chargers/San Diego, 1960-61
San Francisco, 1987-88
Pittsburgh, 2004-05
Indianapolis, 2008-09

40: Here’s a breakdown, via Pro Football Reference, of the best seasons for any 40-year-old quarterback, as sorted by passer rating. If he continues on his current pace, Brady will surpass Brett Favre in most every major category, including passing yards, touchdowns, fewest interceptions (minimum 10 starts) and completion percentage.



4: Dion Lewis (590 rushing yards) and Mike Gillislee (355 yards) are the two rushing leaders through 12 games. Unless something crazy happens, one of then will lead the team in rushing for 2017. That will mean that the Patriots will have had four different backs lead the team in rushing in the regular season over the last five years: Lewis/Gillislee, LeGarrette Blount (2016, 2015), Jonas Gray (2014) and Stevan Ridley (2013).

781: The total number of defensive snaps played by safety Devin McCourty through the first 12 games of the 2017 season. It leads the New England defense.

0: The number of penalties called on McCourty this season, tied for lowest total of any starter on the team on either side of the ball. (Duron Harmon has played 573 snaps and not been called for a penalty this year.) For what it’s worth, McCourty has been called for just one penalty dating back to the start of the 2016 season, an offensive holding flag he got on a punt in last November’s win over the Jets.

860: The total number of offensive snaps played by right guard Shaq Mason through the first 12 games of the 2017 season. It leads the New England offense.

1: The number of penalties called on Mason this season. He was whistled for offensive holding on an October win over the Falcons.

51: With Alan Branch hitting the reset button because he was benched earlier in the year, the longest consecutive regular-season games-played streak among Patriots’ regulars now belongs to defensive tackle Lawrence Guy, who has played in 51 straight. (That’s fourth-longest at his position — for some perspective, New York’s Damon Harrison is tops at 77 straight.) When you’re talking about time in a New England uniform, however, that honor goes to James White (36 straight, fifth-best among running backs). And among kickers, Stephen Gostkowski is at 108 straight and counting, fifth-best at his position.

.542: The winning percentage of New England’s opponents over the final four games of the regular season. The numbers are skewed a bit because of the Dec. 17 game against the 10-2 Steelers in Pittsburgh (and the fact that the Steelers and some other AFC North teams still have the winless Browns on their schedules), but among the AFC playoff contenders, it represents the toughest road the rest of the way.