Wednesday, Dec. 22, 1999

By the Numbers

A look at defense

By Ron Pollack, Editor-in-chief

This week I am taking a look at the defensive side of the ball:

• Eagles LB Jeremiah Trotter has been a tackling machine of late. He has four double-digit tackle games this season, but two of them have come in his last two games, and three of them have come in his last five games.

• Browns LB Wali Rainer has been a real road warrior this season. He has had six double-digit tackle games this season, five of which have come on the road. He is averaging 10.8 tackles per game on the road, compared to 6.9 per game at home.

• Buccaneers LB Derrick Brooks has been the opposite of Rainer. Clearly, Brooks has enjoyed home cooking. Of Brooks’ six double-digit tackle games this season, five have come at home. He is averaging 11.6 tackles per game at home, compared to 7.4 on the road.

• Here’s a quirky fact. Ravens LB Ray Lewis has had double-digit tackles in every game played in September, October and December this season. In four November games this season, however, he was held under 10 tackles every outing.

• Colts LB Cornelius Bennett forced only one fumble in his first eight games this season, but he has turned the trick four times in his last six games. He has forced a fumble in each of the last three games. On a separate note, Bennett must wish he could play the Patriots every week of the season. His two best tackle totals this season came against the Patriots. Bennett had 15 and 12 tackles in his two outings against New England. He has only one other double-digit-tackles game this season (10 vs. Miami Oct. 10).

• Titans DE Jevon Kearse has had at least half a sack in eight consecutive games. He was held without a sack in five of the six games before that to start the season.

• Lions DE Robert Porcher has had half a sack or more in all but four of the games he has played in this season. However, the Packers have had his number this season, as Porcher was held without a sack in two games vs. Green Bay this year.

• Sacks have come in bunches or not at all for Colts DE Chad Bratzke. Bratzke has had two or more sacks in five games this season. In each of the other games he has played in this season, Bratzke has been held without a sack.

• It would appear that Broncos DT Trevor Pryce loves to travel to Florida. He had three sacks on the road against the Buccaneers in September. He had another three sacks on the road against the Jaguars earlier this month.

Editor's note: To see the NFL statistical section that Pollack refers to, click here, and to see the NCAA statistical section that is also available, click here.

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