NEWPORT "Defensive Playoff Statistics" A must read!!!!

[NEWPORT]

I have pulled three categories of Defense that of 6 playoff teams that I find to be very interesting an I think wil provide some preview of what is to come.

The three categories and I rank them in this order because I think this is their importance.

1. TIME OF POSSESSION "AGAINST" THE DEFENSE 32 TEAM RANK

2. YARDS PER PLAY 32 TEAM RANK

3. YARDS PER GAME


The 3rd one is as old of a stat in the NFL, but still a big one. Time of possession against the defense I think is the most interesting and overlooked stat. Many times when we look at the likes of an Indianapolis Colts team, and I do not mean to separate them, but I guess I am. We forget how much time their defense is on the field, because of their prolific offense. So their offense mght be the cause for such a weak defense. Anyways here goes. Comments welcome of course!!!

1 Time of Possession against the defense 32 team rank

PITT 1
SANDIEGO 6
NEW ENGLAND 7
INDY 22
PHILLY 24
ATLANTA 26

2 Yards per Play given up by the defense 32 team rank

PITT 3
PHILLY 7
NEW ENGLAND 10
ATLANTA 16
SANDIEGO 20
INDY 27

3 Yards per game given up by the defense

PITT 1
NEW ENGLAND 9
PHILLY 10
SANDIEGO 14
ATLANTA 15
INDY 29

Now these are only defensive stats, so YOU cannot fully estimate how much a GOOD offense can make up for these defensive statististics. Right now Pitt looks very strong and rightfully so, but can this defense stop an Indianapolis. Time will tell. I do NOT think so, but I think when you get down to the Time of Possession, you can see that in a slow down game a team that can take the time off the clock, and reduce the power of the other teams offense is favorable, and then just the opposite in a shoot out, whose defense will stand the pressure better. I would have never thought that Philly and Atlanta had as poor of TOP against their defenses. This favors the AFC majorly in this up coming Super Bowl. Neither Philly or Atlanta have an offense that can match up with the top three in the AFC, and if their defense is staying on the field this long....NOT GOOD

Not GOOD for INDY either. Their defense is on the field long as well, and so they might score, but they have a high probability of being matched especially when you look at yards per game as well.

NEWPORT

 

[FairWarning]

1 Time of Possession against the defense 32 team rank

PITT 1
SANDIEGO 6
NEW ENGLAND 7
INDY 22
PHILLY 24
ATLANTA 26


This one is hard to figure (Atlanta-26). All you hear is how Atlanta is the leading rushing team, but this stat contradicts that. Not sure what to make of it.


I would like to see how Carolina and Buffalo stand up in this. Carolina is the only team that I see can string 3 wins together in the NFC. There could be some nice ML plays on this. Thanks Newport.

 

[NEWPORT]

BUFF 10

CAROLINA 16.

My thought on Atlanta is that in their offense, some runs are like passes....long runs

I got the info from CBS sports. gl NEWPORT

 

[FairWarning]

I will have to look into this more. I might run something like the last 6 weeks stats and see what happens. I believe the last 6 weeks would have more influence than season-long numbers. Thinking NE defense might slide a little. Buffalo and Carolina would be near the top, Pitt at the top, Eagles might drop, etc. Good stuff here. Could be a good tool for totals too.

 

[mhk]

Agree you need to look at defense in the playoffs, but the stats that matter (you can look them up back 10 years, but to save you the time, trust me, its a fact) are defensive yards given up per point. The higher the number the better. Its uncanny how the team thats #1 in this catagory ends up being the SB champ. Combine that with rushing attempts against, you will find the ml winners all the way through to the SB.. Of course the rushing attempts against is kind of the same as TOP, but allows a team not that good at running the football (think NE last year) to still rank higher that TOP would.. Good thread..