Check out Warren Sharp’s statistical analysis of fumbles by NFL teams for all regular season games since the 2010 season. Here is an excerpt from Sharp’s data-detective post: “… the Patriots, visually, are off the chart. There is no other team even close to being near to their rate of 187 offensive plays (passes+rushes+sacks) per fumble.  The league average is 105 plays/fumble. Most teams are within 21 plays of that number.” Given these data, it’s hard to believe the New England Patriots are not bending the rules (i.e. cheating) as a matter of course. Update (11/10/19): It turns out that Sharp’s statistical analysis was bullshit.