With the Patriots coming off the bye, this week's "penalty watch" will take on a different look. The following is the total accepted penalties against all NFL teams this year, ranking clubs from least penalized to most penalized.
Note that the Patriots, with eight games played, rank 11th best out of 32 teams. The Patriots are averaging six accepted penalties per game.
This week's opponent, the Bills, is tied for seventh-fewest accepted penalties.
(8 games) Atlanta – 26/207 (3.25 avg.)
(9 games) NY Giants – 43/339 (4.77)
(8) Jacksonville – 43/458 (5.375)
(8) Carolina – 44/362 (5.5)
(8) Miami – 44/364 (5.5)
(9) Minnesota – 50/438 (5.55)
(8) Buffalo -- 45/325 (5.625)
(8) Cincinnati -- 45/424 (5.625)
(8) Kansas City -- 46/370 (5.75)
(9) Green Bay – 53/509 (5.88)
(8) New England -- 48/394 (6.0)
(8) Houston – 50/392 (6.25)
(9) Seattle –57/477 (6.33)
(8)Denver -- 51/415 (6.375)
(8) NY Jets – 51/475 (6.375)
(8) Oakland – 51/411 (6.375)
(8) San Diego – 51/400 (6.375)
(9)Cleveland -- 58/528 (6.44)
(8) New Orleans – 52/451 (6.5)
(9) Tennessee – 59/472 (6.55)
(8) Pittsburgh – 55/585 (6.875)
(8) San Francisco – 55/463 (6.875)
(9) Arizona – 62/540 (6.88)
(8) Chicago – 56/389 (7.0)
(8) Indianapolis -- 56/489 (7.0)
(8) Philadelphia – 56/492 (7.0)
(8) Detroit – 57/539 (7.125)
(8) Tampa Bay – 60/492 (7.5)
(8) Dallas – 61/433 (7.625)
(8) St. Louis – 61/488 (7.625)
(8) Baltimore -- 66/577 (8.25)
(9) Washington – 75/649 (8.33)