Check out Warren Sharp’s statistical analysis of fumbles by NFL teams for all regular season games since the 2010 season. In the meantime, here is an intriguing 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.