PatSunday
Third String But Playing on Special Teams
- Joined
- Sep 23, 2007
- Messages
- 601
- Reaction score
- 195
We heard about the Patriots and Broncos all season long, but the NFC has picked up steam in Power Rankings over the last weeks. So, let's take a look!
The Packers became the undisputed #1 ranked team in the NFL two weeks ago by beating an AFC East opponent by one score. Minutes ago, they are now #6 in the playoff race after playing another AFC East opponent, this time a loss by one score.
In fact, all games were within a TD or field goal against the AFC East. Their margin of scoring victory against the AFC East is -5 on the road, +6 at home, a swing of 11 points.
at Bills, loss, (8)
at Fins, win, 3
vs Pats, win, 5
vs Jets, win, 7
That's an advantage of ZERO points against the 3 playoff-calibre teams in the AFC East.
What about the Lions, who took over home-field advantage from Green Bay today?
at Pats, loss (25)
vs Bills, loss (3)
vs Fins, win, 4
at Jets, win, 7
They really make the Packers look good. Ignoring the Jets again, the Lions have an advantage in scoring margin of *negative* 24 against a random pick of the 3 playoff-calibre teams.
Worse than this news? That's if you include the Jets, the worst team in the NFL by many standards, because the scoring margin doesn't change much since the Jets, the worst performer in the analysis, only lost by a touchdown to both of these NFL leaders.
In conclusion, we know that three AFC East teams have playoff hopes. On the other hand, the biggest accomplishment for two NFC teams who played 8 games against the AFC East and fighting to clinch "home field advantage", was beating the Jets by 7 points each.
The Packers became the undisputed #1 ranked team in the NFL two weeks ago by beating an AFC East opponent by one score. Minutes ago, they are now #6 in the playoff race after playing another AFC East opponent, this time a loss by one score.
In fact, all games were within a TD or field goal against the AFC East. Their margin of scoring victory against the AFC East is -5 on the road, +6 at home, a swing of 11 points.
at Bills, loss, (8)
at Fins, win, 3
vs Pats, win, 5
vs Jets, win, 7
That's an advantage of ZERO points against the 3 playoff-calibre teams in the AFC East.
What about the Lions, who took over home-field advantage from Green Bay today?
at Pats, loss (25)
vs Bills, loss (3)
vs Fins, win, 4
at Jets, win, 7
They really make the Packers look good. Ignoring the Jets again, the Lions have an advantage in scoring margin of *negative* 24 against a random pick of the 3 playoff-calibre teams.
Worse than this news? That's if you include the Jets, the worst team in the NFL by many standards, because the scoring margin doesn't change much since the Jets, the worst performer in the analysis, only lost by a touchdown to both of these NFL leaders.
In conclusion, we know that three AFC East teams have playoff hopes. On the other hand, the biggest accomplishment for two NFC teams who played 8 games against the AFC East and fighting to clinch "home field advantage", was beating the Jets by 7 points each.