A "tingly" defensive stat for you

Seattle defense, 3rd/4th down conversions allowed, playoffs: 21/45 [46.7%]
New England defense, 3rd/4th down conversions allowed, playoffs: 10/33 [30.3%]

3rd down conversions matter, but I don't know how important it is compared to other stats. Consider the Bills led the league, and 3 of the top 5 teams last season didn't even make the play-offs (1. Bills, 3. Texans, 4. Giants). The Colts finished 2nd and made the playoffs but their defense still wasn't in the top half of the league in points allowed.

ctpatsfan77 said:

Seattle defense, 3rd/4th down conversions allowed, playoffs: 21/45 [46.7%]
New England defense, 3rd/4th down conversions allowed, playoffs: 10/33 [30.3%]

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All I know is that this years team was much much better at getting opposing offenses of the field when it matters most. And nothing exemplified that more than the final defensive play of the season.

I am nowhere near done gloating.....

Only stat that matters.

convertedpatsfan said:

3rd down conversions matter, but I don't know how important it is compared to other stats. Consider the Bills led the league, and 3 of the top 5 teams last season didn't even make the play-offs (1. Bills, 3. Texans, 4. Giants). The Colts finished 2nd and made the playoffs but their defense still wasn't in the top half of the league in points allowed.

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The Bills' defense is great, so I don't think that devalues this stat at all. If the Pats had the Bills' pass rush they'd never lose. Ever.

convertedpatsfan said:

3rd down conversions matter, but I don't know how important it is compared to other stats. Consider the Bills led the league, and 3 of the top 5 teams last season didn't even make the play-offs (1. Bills, 3. Texans, 4. Giants). The Colts finished 2nd and made the playoffs but their defense still wasn't in the top half of the league in points allowed.

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The reason for the Bills not making the playoffs wasn't their defense, the defense was the only reason that they where even close to a wild card spot(one win less than the wildcard teams). That they have jack **** for QB shouldn't devalue their defense which was very good.

Concussion Protocol said:

The Bills' defense is great, so I don't think that devalues this stat at all. If the Pats had the Bills' pass rush they'd never lose. Ever.

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Their DL might be the best in the league, but bear in mind they also spent over $30M on it too. Mario Williams had a higher cap hit than our starting 4. I wonder if that is money well spent.

And none of the other top 5 seemed particularly scary on D so the third down D stat isn't that significant to me.

convertedpatsfan said:

3rd down conversions matter, but I don't know how important it is compared to other stats. Consider the Bills led the league, and 3 of the top 5 teams last season didn't even make the play-offs (1. Bills, 3. Texans, 4. Giants). The Colts finished 2nd and made the playoffs but their defense still wasn't in the top half of the league in points allowed.

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I think you're looking at the stat from a narrow perspective. No doubt that one stat (other than the final score) doesn't make a championship team. Buff had major issues elsewhere that diluted the contribution of that stat.

3rd down conversion on offense and 3rd down stops on defense are a HUGE stat whose importance cannot be underestimated.
3rd down stops on D almost always equal a turnover or denying a touchdown.
3rd down conversions on offense almost always mean the opposing offenses are provided less time to score. Successful 3rd down conversion rate on offense also means elevated scoring opportunities for the O.

3rd down conversion rates on O and D are a major BFD....

convertedpatsfan said:

Their DL might be the best in the league, but bear in mind they also spent over $30M on it too. Mario Williams had a higher cap hit than our starting 4. I wonder if that is money well spent.

And none of the other top 5 seemed particularly scary on D so the third down D stat isn't that significant to me.

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The Texans' D was good. Not really sure how the Colts' is up there. The Bills definitely have a limited window to find an O to combine with their D. The Williams's aren't getting any younger, and as you mentioned, they have a lot of money allocated to that line. I happen to think 3rd down D is huge, but if you get shredded on 1st and 2nd it won't save you.

Marinlik said:

The reason for the Bills not making the playoffs wasn't their defense, the defense was the only reason that they where even close to a wild card spot(one win less than the wildcard teams). That they have jack **** for QB shouldn't devalue their defense which was very good.

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I feel like I'm not being clear or perhaps being misread. Let me try this again.

I agree with what you're saying. But my point is that having a dominant DL doesn't translate to wins the same way other positions might.

Having a great QB matters, that's a no brainer. But lately we're seeing dominant secondaries matter a lot.

TheBostonStraggler said:

I think you're looking at the stat from a narrow perspective. No doubt that one stat (other than the final score) doesn't make a championship team. Buff had major issues elsewhere that diluted the contribution of that stat.

3rd down conversion on offense and 3rd down stops on defense are a HUGE stat whose importance cannot be underestimated.
3rd down stops on D almost always equal a turnover or denying a touchdown.
3rd down conversions on offense almost always mean the opposing offenses are provided less time to score. Successful 3rd down conversion rate on offense also means elevated scoring opportunities for the O.

3rd down conversion rates on O and D are a major BFD....

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I would rather be good at it than bad at it, agreed. I just don't think it's one of the more important stats.

Offenses that convert on 3rd down a lot tend to convert on all downs anyways. Last year, the Saints led the league in 3rd down conversion rate, 98 of 203 (48%). They also converted 1st downs 253 times on 1st and 2nd down, or more conversions than 3rd downs even came up. Their offense was great on 3rd down, but also on 1st and 2nd down.

Concussion Protocol said:

The Texans' D was good. Not really sure how the Colts' is up there. The Bills definitely have a limited window to find an O to combine with their D. The Williams's aren't getting any younger, and as you mentioned, they have a lot of money allocated to that line. I happen to think 3rd down D is huge, but if you get shredded on 1st and 2nd it won't save you.

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The Texans had an amazing D, I agree. And I have no clue what the Colts are doing up there either. But the Broncos were too and I didn't think too highly of that D. I just don't think it's a definitive indicator of a defense's quality is all I'm saying. I'd rather be good at it than bad at it though.

signbabybrady said:

Only stat that matters.

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I want that shirt!!!

Heh. I found it on Amazon this morning and ordered it.