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The Horned Frogs defense is that good again.
"For us, we want to hold (opponents) to one point less, and score one more," Patterson repeated after TCU's latest dominating performance, a 41-0 victory Saturday over UNLV.
BCS buster hopeful TCU (8-0, 4-0 Mountain West) moved up two spots to No. 6 in the new AP poll Sunday, its highest ranking since 1956. The Frogs' 10-game winning streak is shorter only than Florida (18), Iowa (13) and Texas (12).
In the new Bowl Championship Series standings released Sunday night, TCU remained sixth and a spot ahead of Boise State (8-0), the only other undefeated team from a non-automatic qualifying BCS conference.
The Broncos, who beat San Jose State 45-7 on Saturday for their eighth consecutive victory since losing to TCU in the Poinsettia Bowl last December, were up a spot to fifth in the AP poll.
After allowing UNLV only 160 yards total in their first shutout of the season, and sixth at home since 2003, the Frogs moved up four spots to No. 1 in total defense (235.7 yards a game) - the position they've finished three of the previous nine seasons. They are third in scoring defense, giving up only 11 points a game.
"There were a few mistakes here and there," safety Tejay Johnson insisted after the UNLV game.
OK, so they didn't have a sack for only the second time this season.
Like Patterson, the Frogs' defensive coordinator before his promotion at the end of the 2000 season, TCU players are never completely satisfied. But there is no defense playing better right now.
UNLV (3-6, 1-5) got one-fourth of its offense on a 40-yard run by a backup quarterback and was shut out for the first time since 2003, a span of 69 games. Only three of the Rebels' 14 possessions ended in TCU territory, the deepest being the Frogs 34 on the same drive as the long run.
"They were fast and physical," UNLV offensive lineman Evan Marchal said.
"I don't remember ever in my career playing against as good a defense as that," coach Mike Sanford said.
The 160 yards were the fewest allowed by the Frogs this season and the third time they have held an opponent to less than 200. The most they gave up was 309 yards at Clemson in the third game of the season.
Despite losing two fumbles in the first quarter, TCU built an early 17-0 lead, including Antoine Hicks' 75-yard touchdown catch from Andy Dalton. Hicks has seven TDs (four receiving, three rushing) on 17 touches this season.
At that point, UNLV had punted five times with only two first downs.
TCU finished with a season-high 578 yards and 390 yards rushing, its most since 2003. The Frogs are 11th nationally scoring 35.3 points a game, and 12th in total offense at 447 yards.
"We still haven't played our best game," said Dalton, who threw for 178 yards and three TDs. "We still have a lot of things we can improve on. ... We have a lot of potential, hopefully we can put it together soon."
The Frogs have a 12-game winning streak at home, outscoring their opponents by an average margin of 43-9 since their last loss at Amon Carter Stadium against Utah two years ago. The 17th-ranked Utes (7-1), likely the biggest obstacle for TCU to get through the regular season undefeated, will be in Fort Worth in two weeks.
TCU plays next Saturday at San Diego State (4-4, 2-2). The Frogs are 8-0 for only the second time since their 1938 national championship, the other in 2003, when they won their first 10 before losing at Southern Miss.
