Pressure Points: Which New England defenders have done best job getting after QB in 2012?

Rob Ninkovich

Through 10 games, the Patriots have 40 quarterback hits and 21 sacks as a team. Based on gamebooks, here’s a quick look at some pass-rush numbers for the Patriots to this point in the 2012 season:

Quarterback hits
DE Rob Ninkovich: 10
DE Chandler Jones: Nine
DE Jermaine Cunningham: Six
LB Brandon Spikes: Four
LB Dont’a Hightower: Four
DL Vince Wilfork: Two
DE Trevor Scott: One
LB Jerod Mayo: One
DL Brandon Deaderick: One
DL Kyle Love: One
DL Justin Francis: One

Sacks
Ninkovich: 7 (36 yards)
Jones: 6 (33 yards)
Cunningham: 2.5 (21 yards)
Hightower: 2 (10 yards)
Love: 1.5 (4 yards)
Mayo: 1 (7 yards)
Wilfork: 1 (10 yards)

Through the first 10 games last season, the Patriots had 58 quarterback hits and 23 sacks.