PATSNUTme

It seems that many in the media and some fans dwell on the least meaningful stats and that is yards per game on both offense and defense.

Here are some stat's that are the most meaningful and usually tell the story about a team, IMVHO.

Points scored: Patriots 299 - #1 in the NFL
Points allowed: Patriots 201- tied for #13 in the NFL
Give away- take away: Patriots are +16 which is #1 in the NFL
Red Zone offense: Patriots- 93% which is #6 in the NFL
Red Zone defense:Patriots - 81.5% which is #19 in the NFL

So by looking at those stat's you can usually tell which teams are a top contenders and which teams are not.

Certainly there is room for improvement in both points allowed and red zone defense. But I do get kind of sick hearing and reading about ypg, as if that is the most important thing.

Thoughts.

mayoclinic

I don't think that BB's approach tends to limit defensive yardage much. Even the 2003 defense, which finished #1 in the NFL I fewest points allowed and which is generally regarded as the best of the BB Pats defenses, still only finished 7th in total yardage and 15th in passing defense.

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"OVER Loading at ANY position can create a Fatal Advantage. THAT is what interests ME. Attacking With Concentrated Force. THAT is what WINS. In the words ~ more or less ~ of General Patton: 'I'm fighting a WAR, here. Let the B*****ES worry about their FLANKS.' " - Off the Grid

"The key to any successful organization is to anticipate things, not react to them." - Michael Lombardi

Deus Irae

Yards per game is a useful stat
TOP is a useful stat
Point differential is a useful stat
Turnover differential is a useful stat
Rushing yards allowed is a useful stat
Passing yards allowed is a useful stat
Number of defensive plays over 20/30/40 allowed is a useful stat
Number of offensive plays over 20/30/40 gained is a useful stat

As with the stats you cited, context is important. Without the context, pretty much any statistic can be misleading.

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"The object in life is not to be on the side of the majority, but to escape finding oneself in the ranks of the insane."
- Marcus Aurelius

VrabelJr

1. Points
2. Turnovers

That's it.

PATSNUTme

All stat's are useful depending on what you are using them for.

But the stat's that I cited will tell you more about a team than any others.

Deus Irae

Buffalo is #12 in the NFL in points, while Minnesota is #11.
Buffalo is -7 in turnovers, while Minnesota is -4

49ers are #17 in points, while the Steelers are #17
Steelers are even in turnovers, while SF is +4

Buccaneers are #4 in points and +11 (#4) in turnovers


The notion that points and turnovers are the only stats that matter is as flawed as the notion that only yards matter.

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"The object in life is not to be on the side of the majority, but to escape finding oneself in the ranks of the insane."
- Marcus Aurelius

Deus Irae

No, they won't. As with the other stats, they're far too often misleading without context.

__________________
"The object in life is not to be on the side of the majority, but to escape finding oneself in the ranks of the insane."
- Marcus Aurelius

PATSNUTme

Ok then, they won't tell you, but they will me.

I can look at those stat's and pretty much tell who has a winning record and who doesn't without looking at the standings. Not 100% but very close to it.

Ive_Killed_People

Least meaningful has got to be Time Of Possession.........which we lost to the Rams

PatsDeb

Seems to me the only stat that really matters is W-L and on that one we are 6-3, pretty good, but not stellar.