I think the defense is better than last year and probably good enough to play .500 or better ball with more competence on offense and special teams, but there's no way I'd call this the 4th best defense in the league with the lack of pressures and turnovers.  Our sack numbers aren't horrible but they could be better as well.  It just seems that more often than not the opposing QB has a clean pocket and isn't hurried.  And being last in takeaways with only 8 is a real problem.

 

There's been a big decrease in opponents' 3rd down conversion percentage for us this season from last as we were near the bottom of the league last year and this year we're ranked 15th.  Over the last 3 games specifically, we're tied for 1st with the Giants in preventing 3rd down conversions.  With all the new pieces on defense, getting better as the season moved along is how I expected things to go for them this year.  Like most, I just didn't expect the offense and special teams to fall off a cliff.

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