A statistical comparison of 2011 and 2012 Patriots offense through nine games

Wes Welker

When it comes to the New England offense, here are a few statistical comparisons between last year’s team and this year’s team through nine games:

PASSING GAME
•Brady through nine games in 2011: 238-for-360 for 3,032 yards, with 23 touchdowns and 10 interceptions.
•Brady through nine games in 2012: 232-for-358 for 2,645 yards, with 18 touchdowns and 3 interceptions.

•Welker through nine games in 2011: 72 catches on 101 targets for 1,006 yards and 6 TDs.
•Welker through nine games in 2012: 66 catches for 94 targets for 810 yards and 2 TDs.

•Gronkowski through nine games in 2011: 52 catches on 73 targets for 709 yards and 8 TDs.
•Gronkowski through nine games in 2012: 46 catches on 68 targets for 611 yards and 8 TDs.

•Hernandez through nine games in 2011 (7 games because of injury): 37 catches on 55 targets for 374 yards and 5 TDs.
•Hernandez through nine games in 2012 (3-plus games because of injury): 17 catches on 24 targets for 143 yards and 2 TDs.

Targets by position through nine games in 2011:
Running back: 25 catches on 35 targets
Tight end: 89 catches on 129 targets
Wide receiver: 124 catches on 195 targets
Other: 0 catches on 1 target

Targets by position through nine games in 2012:
Wide receiver: 130 catches on 208 targets.
Tight end: 68 catches on 103 targets.
Running back: 35 catches on 46 targets.

RUNNING GAME
•Running game through nine games in 2011: 227 rushes on 953 rushing yards for an average of 4.2 yards per carry and 6 TDs.
•Running game through nine games in 2012: 305 rushes on 1,314 rushing yards for 4.3 yards per carry and 14 TDs.