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

Rob Ninkovich

Through 13 games, the Patriots have 54 quarterback hits and 28 sacks as a team (tied for 19th in the league). 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: 11
DE Chandler Jones: Nine
LB Dont’a Hightower: Seven
DE Jermaine Cunningham: Six
LB Jerod Mayo: Five
DL Justin Francis: Four
LB Brandon Spikes: Four
DE Trevor Scott: Three
DL Vince Wilfork: Two
DL Brandon Deaderick: One
DL Kyle Love: One
CB Kyle Arrington: One

Sacks
Ninkovich: 7.5 (38 yards)
Jones: 6 (33 yards)
Mayo: 3 (24 yards)
Hightower: 3 (16 yards)
Cunningham: 2.5 (21 yards)
Scott: 2.5 (4 yards)
Wilfork: 2 (30 yards)
Love: 1.5 (4 yards)

By way of comparison, through 13 games last season, the Patriots had 71 quarterback hits, to go along with 29 sacks.