Super Bowl Matchup: Passing Defenses

Super Bowl Preview Pieces:
Rushing Offense
Rushing Defense
Passing Offense

The Patriots have the more consistent passing attack, but Seattle has the more explosive one. Let's look at the pass defenses.

PASS DEFENSE
	Passes	Rank	Yards	Rank	YPA	Rank	25+ Yard Pass	Rank
New England	574	24	4119	18	6.5	12	36	28
Seattle	507	1	3204	1	5.8	2	14	1

Seattle's passing defense is dominant, as their reputation would suggest. New England's defense doesn't seem to match their reputation. They have tremendous talent in their secondary, and their linebackers have drawn rave reviews this season as well, but their numbers are just middle of the pack.

	PASS DEFENSE
	Passing Offense: Season			Passing Offense: Matchup
	Attempts	Yards	YPA	Attempts	Yards	YPA
@ Miami	595	4066	6.83	32	169	5.28
@ Minnesota	517	3566	6.90	36	163	4.53
Oakland	629	3456	5.49	34	174	5.12
@ Kansas City	493	3428	6.95	26	236	9.08
Cincinnati	503	3551	7.06	29	241	8.31
@ Buffalo	579	3856	6.66	38	268	7.05
New York Jets	498	3206	6.44	34	205	6.03
Chicago	609	4035	6.63	35	231	6.60
Denver	607	4779	7.87	57	429	7.53
@ Indianapolis	661	5062	7.66	39	303	7.77
Detroit	604	4284	7.09	46	244	5.30
@ Green Bay	536	4447	8.30	35	236	6.74
@ San Diego	574	4296	7.48	33	163	4.94
Miami	595	4066	6.83	47	308	6.55
@ New York	498	3206	6.44	27	191	7.07
Buffalo	579	3856	6.66	23	164	7.13
Baltimore	554	3986	7.19	45	292	6.49
Indianapolis	661	5062	7.66	33	126	3.82
Seattle	454	3492	7.69
Schedule Average	10746	75700	7.04	649	4143	6.38
NFL Average	17879	128898	7.21

A few interesting notes about the above numbers:

• The Patriots were held below their opponent's average YPA-against 5 times. Those 5 games included 2 of the Patriots' 4 losses, 2 one-score wins, and the blowout win over Indianapolis. 
• Thirteen of New England's 18 games came against teams with below-average passing attacks (by YPA). The Patriots allowed an average YPA of 6.50 in those games. 
• In their 5 games against above-average passing attacks (by YPA), the Patriots allowed an average YPA of 6.16
• In their 18 games, New England's passing defense allowed a worse ypa against their opponent than their opponent averaged 6 times. 

	PASS DEFENSE
	Passing Offense: Season			Passing Offense: Matchup
	Attempts	Yards	YPA	Attempts	Yards	YPA
Green Bay	536	4447	8.30	33	175	5.30
@ San Diego	574	4296	7.48	37	276	7.46
Denver	607	4779	7.87	49	296	6.04
@ Washington	547	4461	8.16	36	275	7.64
Dallas	476	4008	8.42	32	239	7.47
@ St. Louis	515	3695	7.17	21	173	8.24
@ Carolina	545	3828	7.02	22	152	6.91
Oakland	629	3456	5.49	41	189	4.61
New York Giants	607	4470	7.36	44	270	6.14
@ Kansas City	493	3428	6.95	16	108	6.75
Arizona	568	3990	7.02	26	140	5.38
@ San Francisco	487	3407	7.00	29	100	3.45
@ Philadelphia	621	4581	7.38	20	82	4.10
San Francisco	487	3407	7.00	19	105	5.53
@ Arizona	568	3990	7.02	45	187	4.16
St. Louis	515	3695	7.17	37	203	5.49
Carolina	545	3828	7.02	36	230	6.39
Green Bay	536	4447	8.30	34	171	5.03
New England	609	4291	7.05
Schedule Average	10465	76504	7.31	577	3371	5.84
NFL Average	17879	128898	7.21

A few interesting notes about the above numbers:

• Seattle allowed one team in 18 games to pass for a higher ypa than that team's season average: the St. Louis Rams with Austin Davis (wait...what?). 
• Just 3 teams broke 7 ypa against Seattle, and none since St. Louis in week 7. 
• Seattle faced below-average passing attacks in 10 of their 18 games. They allowed an average YPA of 5.69 in those games. 
• In their 8 games against above-average passing attacks (by YPA) Seattle allowed an average YPA of 6.15. 

After looking a bit deeper, I think New England's mediocre numbers come down to a) teams get more chances to throw against the Patriots than they do the Seahawks (Seattle tends to shorten the game with their rushing attack), and New England's defense just isn't as consistent at suffocating their opponent's passing offense as Seattle's defense is (unless they're playing the Colts outside).