3 Stats Patriots Fans Should Be Concerned About Heading Into Wild Card Matchup

The New England Patriots have a favorable matchup against the Tennessee Titans on Wild Card weekend as well as the best defense in all of football. But that doesn't mean that Bill Belichick's crew will roll into the postseason with tons of momentum, especially given the team's skittish end to the regular season. There are quite a few troubling statistical trends that should give Patriots fans a bit of anxiety as the playoffs draw near.

3. They Have Exactly One Legit Wide Receiver

New England Patriots WR Julian Edelman / Adam Glanzman/Getty Images

Only two players on the 2019 Patriots topped 400 yards receiving. One of them is running back James White, and the other is star wide receiver Julian Edelman, who is currently nursing a shoulder injury. If either of those two receiving threats are taken out of the game, who will Tom Brady rely on? Rookies like N'Keal Harry and Jakobi Meyers? Underperforming veterans like Philip Dorsett and Mohamed Sanu? Brady has been adaptable in the past, but he doesn't have a trump card like Rob Gronkowski to fall back on should he need a clutch conversion or two.

2. Wild Card Weekend Isn't Great for Team's Super Bowl Odds

New England Patriots HC Bill Belichick / Adam Glanzman/Getty Images

The NFL switched its playoff format to the current model in 1990, and lesser ranked teams have had a rough go of things thus far. Only 12 teams that have played on Wild Card Weekend have made it to the Super Bowl in the almost 30-year history of this format, and the most recent team to make it was the Baltimore Ravens in 2012. The odds are stacked against them, but New England has made a habit of defying trends in recent years.

1. Tom Brady's Statistical Regression

New England Patriots QB Tom Brady / Adam Glanzman/Getty Images

Tom Brady's 24 TD/eight interception season doesn't sound too bad, but a deeper dive into the numbers proves he's struggled a bit this year. Since 2006, Brady has only had two seasons with a passer rating lower than 2019's 88.0, and his lowest during that span was 87.3. His completion percentage of 60.8 is the lowest it has been since 2013, and his 6.6 YPA is the second-lowest of his entire career. Brady always turns it up a notch in the playoffs, but Patriots fans and haters alike are aware of how he played in the regular season.