These three teams interest me in terms of comparison. Most experts argue that GB is the clear favorite to win it all, and that NO is probably the most complete team, but most folks seem to think that, while Brady gives them a chance, their defense really is so bad as to make a championship not much more than a pipe dream. So let's put that to the test and compare the three teams.
OFFENSE
Yds/G
NO - 456.7 (#1)
NE - 424.5 (#2)
GB - 395.5 (#5)
Pass Yds/G
NO - 331.4 (#1)
NE - 316.1 (#2)
GB - 297.0 (#3)
Pass Y/A
NO - 8.2 (#5)
NE - 8.5 (#2)
GB - 9.2 (#1)
QB Rating
NO - 109.0 (#2)
NE - 105.1 (#3)
GB - 120.9 (#1)
Rush Yds/G
NO - 125.4 (#10)
NE - 108.4 (#20)
GB - 98.5 (#27)
Rush Y/A
NO - 4.7 (#6)
NE - 4.0 (#22)
GB - 4.0 (#21)
3rd Down %
NO - 54.8% (#1)
NE - 45.6% (#4)
GB - 48.0% (#2)
Points Per Game
NO - 32.6 (#2)
NE - 30.9 (#3)
GB - 34.3 (#1)
TO/G
NO - 1.1 (#4)
NE - 1.1 (#3)
GB - 0.8 (#2)
Red Zone Efficiency
NO - 57.1 (#8)
NE - 64.2 (#3)
GB - 65.1 (#2)
Time of Possession
NO - 31:51 (#5)
NE - 28.44 (#25)
GB - 30:24 (#12)
oSRS (profootball-reference.com)
NO - 9.7 (#2)
NE - 8.7 (#3)
GB - 11.0 (#1)
DEFENSE
Yds/G
NO - 366.1 (#25)
NE - 412.1 (#32)
GB - 400.7 (#31)
Pass Yds/G
NO - 256.1 (#28)
NE - 294.7 (#32)
GB - 286.3 (#31)
Pass Y/A
NO - 7.1 (#15)
NE - 8.2 (#29)
GB - 7.7 (#26)
QB Rating
NO - 86.4 (#23)
NE - 88.2 (#26)
GB - 78.3 (#8)
Rush Yds/G
NO - 109.9 (#12)
NE - 117.5 (#17)
GB - 114.4 (#16)
Rush Y/A
NO - 4.9 (#30)
NE - 4.6 (#25)
GB - 4.7 (#26)
3rd Down %
NO - 32.8 (#5)
NE - 44.1 (#29)
GB - 42.9 (#28)
TO/G
NO - 0.9 (#32)
NE - 2.0 (#4)
GB - 2.3 (#2)
Red Zone Efficiency
NO - 64.7% (#31)
NE - 53.5% (#18)
GB - 53.1% (#17)
dSRS (profootball-reference.com)
NO - 0.0 (#18)
NE - 0.0 (#18)
GB - 0.8 (#15)
The overall profile of Green Bay and New England couldn't be more similar. Not in every exact category, obviously, but in the vast majority. It seems to me that it's clear that NE is the #3 team of this group, but it's a lot closer than people would like to think.
Interestingly, NO probably has the best overall statistical profile. But they'll have to go on the road to beat Green Bay (assuming both teams advance that far), and NE would at least get GB (or NO, of course) on a neutral field.
OFFENSE
Yds/G
NO - 456.7 (#1)
NE - 424.5 (#2)
GB - 395.5 (#5)
Pass Yds/G
NO - 331.4 (#1)
NE - 316.1 (#2)
GB - 297.0 (#3)
Pass Y/A
NO - 8.2 (#5)
NE - 8.5 (#2)
GB - 9.2 (#1)
QB Rating
NO - 109.0 (#2)
NE - 105.1 (#3)
GB - 120.9 (#1)
Rush Yds/G
NO - 125.4 (#10)
NE - 108.4 (#20)
GB - 98.5 (#27)
Rush Y/A
NO - 4.7 (#6)
NE - 4.0 (#22)
GB - 4.0 (#21)
3rd Down %
NO - 54.8% (#1)
NE - 45.6% (#4)
GB - 48.0% (#2)
Points Per Game
NO - 32.6 (#2)
NE - 30.9 (#3)
GB - 34.3 (#1)
TO/G
NO - 1.1 (#4)
NE - 1.1 (#3)
GB - 0.8 (#2)
Red Zone Efficiency
NO - 57.1 (#8)
NE - 64.2 (#3)
GB - 65.1 (#2)
Time of Possession
NO - 31:51 (#5)
NE - 28.44 (#25)
GB - 30:24 (#12)
oSRS (profootball-reference.com)
NO - 9.7 (#2)
NE - 8.7 (#3)
GB - 11.0 (#1)
DEFENSE
Yds/G
NO - 366.1 (#25)
NE - 412.1 (#32)
GB - 400.7 (#31)
Pass Yds/G
NO - 256.1 (#28)
NE - 294.7 (#32)
GB - 286.3 (#31)
Pass Y/A
NO - 7.1 (#15)
NE - 8.2 (#29)
GB - 7.7 (#26)
QB Rating
NO - 86.4 (#23)
NE - 88.2 (#26)
GB - 78.3 (#8)
Rush Yds/G
NO - 109.9 (#12)
NE - 117.5 (#17)
GB - 114.4 (#16)
Rush Y/A
NO - 4.9 (#30)
NE - 4.6 (#25)
GB - 4.7 (#26)
3rd Down %
NO - 32.8 (#5)
NE - 44.1 (#29)
GB - 42.9 (#28)
TO/G
NO - 0.9 (#32)
NE - 2.0 (#4)
GB - 2.3 (#2)
Red Zone Efficiency
NO - 64.7% (#31)
NE - 53.5% (#18)
GB - 53.1% (#17)
dSRS (profootball-reference.com)
NO - 0.0 (#18)
NE - 0.0 (#18)
GB - 0.8 (#15)
The overall profile of Green Bay and New England couldn't be more similar. Not in every exact category, obviously, but in the vast majority. It seems to me that it's clear that NE is the #3 team of this group, but it's a lot closer than people would like to think.
Interestingly, NO probably has the best overall statistical profile. But they'll have to go on the road to beat Green Bay (assuming both teams advance that far), and NE would at least get GB (or NO, of course) on a neutral field.