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Factoid

Patriots takeaways

New England wins turnover battle -- consistently

The Patriots have been the league’s dominant team over the last 18 years, and turnovers have played a huge role in their success. Year in and year out, they do a much better job taking care of the ball than other teams.

Tom Brady isn’t as flashy as some of the other uber-elite quarterbacks, but he’s always been very good at not giving it away on fumbles and interceptions. That’s played a big role in the Patriots on his watch (since 2001) piling up a plus-190 turnover ratio.

Brady has been the team’s starting quarterback for 18 years, and the Patriots have finished with a positive turnover ratio in all but one of those seasons (they were minus-6 in 2005). But far more typically, they finish with a double-digit advantage in takeaways.

Over the last 10 years, they’re plus-133 in turnovers. That’s 47 more than the Packers (who’ve been blessed to have Brett Favre and Aaron Rodgers at quarterback), 79 more than Seattle and 80 more than Kansas City.

Turnover ratio (last 10 years)
TeamRatio
New England133
Green Bay86
Seattle54
Kansas City53
Atlanta39
San Francisco34
Carolina32
Baltimore30
Houston9
Chicago8
New Orleans4
Cincinnati3
Buffalo0
LA Chargers0
LA Rams0
Philadelphia-5
Minnesota-7
Dallas-8
NY Giants-8
Pittsburgh-19
Indianapolis-21
Denver-22
Washington-25
Arizona-26
Detroit-26
Tampa Bay-29
Miami-36
Tennessee-40
Oakland-49
Jacksonville-51
Cleveland-53
NY Jets-63

The turnovers have played a role in the Patriots winning six Super Bowls in the last 18 years. Since the league moved to 32 teams in 2002, New England has won 34 more games than anyone else.

REGULAR SEASON WIN-LOSS RECORDS SINCE 2002
TeamWLTPct
New England209630.768
Pittsburgh175952.647
Indianapolis174980.640
Green Bay1631072.603
Philadelphia1591121.586
Seattle1561151.575
Denver1561160.574
Baltimore1541180.566
New Orleans1531190.563
LA Chargers1511210.555
Dallas1501220.551
Atlanta1461251.539
Carolina1441271.531
Kansas City1411310.518
Minnesota1391312.515
NY Giants1351370.496
Cincinnati1331363.494
Chicago1311410.482
Tennessee1311410.482
Arizona1221491.450
Miami1221500.449
NY Jets1221500.449
Houston1211510.445
San Francisco1171541.432
Buffalo1161560.426
Washington1131581.417
Tampa Bay1121600.412
LA Rams1111601.410
Jacksonville1081640.397
Detroit1001720.368
Oakland961760.353
Cleveland831881.307

—Ian Allan

Fantasy Index