I am trying to remember where I read this, but it was years ago. Someone wrote that the Constellation class "frigates" were cheating.
The average Royal Navy frigate carried 36 guns with smaller bores, the Constitution and her sisters mounted 44 heavier cannon. With her
speed and well built timbers she was more like a pocket battle ship.
The RN had a tradition of winning single ship combat no matter what the force differential, so they weren't too happy about the 1812 losses.