Defensive Rankings

[Crunked]

Defensive Rankings


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This is the first week a defense begins to be defined. Previous to this squads were gelling. They were learning new schemes, they were rusty. They were just trying to establish a baseline. Week 5 is where defensive analysis starts to get fun, because teams don't tend to fluctuate as wildly statistically, technically week 8 is the median precisely, but for the purposes of tracking a defense, for the purposes of asking is this defense for real. You can begin to see who is legit and who might just be benefiting from a little luck or a soft schedule. I guarantee the formula is going to start to hurt some feelings on a regular basis, so if your team is sucking....you might want to get your crying towel. But before I get ahead of myself lets talk about what the league has going for it moving into week 5. SF, Vikes, Pats and KC really stink it up this week, and although there were no glaring defensive stallwarts, the Colts, TB, SD, and Denver really helped themselves in the formula by turning in solid defensive showings.

#1: http://us.i1.yimg.com/us.yimg.com/i/us/sp/v/nfl/teams/1/80x60/tam.gif (http://sports.yahoo.com/nfl/teams/tam) 1st last week
Ranked #1 by the NFL as the overall best defense.#1 against the run. Thats good enough for me.



#2: http://us.i1.yimg.com/us.yimg.com/i/us/sp/v/nfl/teams/1/80x60/was.gif (http://sports.yahoo.com/nfl/teams/was) 4th last week
#3: http://us.i1.yimg.com/us.yimg.com/i/us/sp/v/nfl/teams/1/80x60/mia.gif (http://sports.yahoo.com/nfl/teams/mia) 5th last week
#4: http://us.i1.yimg.com/us.yimg.com/i/us/sp/v/nfl/teams/1/80x60/cin_2.gif (http://sports.yahoo.com/nfl/teams/cin) 8th last week
Leading the league in turnovers, and turn over ratio as a team. Marv has the Bengals firing on all cylinders.2nd in points allowed with 9.5 per game average
#5: http://us.i1.yimg.com/us.yimg.com/i/us/sp/v/nfl/teams/1/80x60/pit.gif (http://sports.yahoo.com/nfl/teams/pit) 2nd last week
#6: http://us.i1.yimg.com/us.yimg.com/i/us/sp/v/nfl/teams/1/80x60/jac.gif (http://sports.yahoo.com/nfl/teams/jac) 10th last week
#7: http://us.i1.yimg.com/us.yimg.com/i/us/sp/v/nfl/teams/1/80x60/phi.gif (http://sports.yahoo.com/nfl/teams/phi) 3rd last week
#8: http://us.i1.yimg.com/us.yimg.com/i/us/sp/v/nfl/teams/1/80x60/buf.gif (http://sports.yahoo.com/nfl/teams/buf) 7th last week
The number one defense against the pass, but as far as the run? well lets not talk about that.
#9: http://us.i1.yimg.com/us.yimg.com/i/us/sp/v/nfl/teams/1/80x60/ind.gif (http://sports.yahoo.com/nfl/teams/ind) 12th last week
#1 in points allowed with a 6.5 average points allowed per game (insert Crunked smilie here)
#10: http://us.i1.yimg.com/us.yimg.com/i/us/sp/v/nfl/teams/1/80x60/nwe.gif (http://sports.yahoo.com/nfl/teams/nwe) 6th last week
#11: http://us.i1.yimg.com/us.yimg.com/i/us/sp/v/nfl/teams/1/80x60/car.gif (http://sports.yahoo.com/nfl/teams/car) 9th last week

#12: http://us.i1.yimg.com/us.yimg.com/i/us/sp/v/nfl/teams/1/80x60/sea.gif (http://sports.yahoo.com/nfl/teams/sea) 11th last week
#13: http://us.i1.yimg.com/us.yimg.com/i/us/sp/v/nfl/teams/1/80x60/chi.gif (http://sports.yahoo.com/nfl/teams/chi) 15th last week
Giving up the fewest yards per play in the NFL 4.2
#14: http://us.i1.yimg.com/us.yimg.com/i/us/sp/v/nfl/teams/1/80x60/det.gif (http://sports.yahoo.com/nfl/teams/det) 14th last week
#15: http://us.i1.yimg.com/us.yimg.com/i/us/sp/v/nfl/teams/1/80x60/den.gif (http://sports.yahoo.com/nfl/teams/den) 19th last week
#16: http://us.i1.yimg.com/us.yimg.com/i/us/sp/v/nfl/teams/1/80x60/stl.gif (http://sports.yahoo.com/nfl/teams/stl) 13th last week
#17: http://us.i1.yimg.com/us.yimg.com/i/us/sp/v/nfl/teams/1/80x60/nyj.gif (http://sports.yahoo.com/nfl/teams/nyj) 17th last week
#18: http://us.i1.yimg.com/us.yimg.com/i/us/sp/v/nfl/teams/1/80x60/bal_2.gif (http://sports.yahoo.com/nfl/teams/bal) 18th last week
#19: http://us.i1.yimg.com/us.yimg.com/i/us/sp/v/nfl/teams/1/80x60/nor.gif (http://sports.yahoo.com/nfl/teams/nor) 16th last week
#20: http://us.i1.yimg.com/us.yimg.com/i/us/sp/v/nfl/teams/1/80x60/sdg.gif (http://sports.yahoo.com/nfl/teams/sdg) 22nd last week
#21: http://us.i1.yimg.com/us.yimg.com/i/us/sp/v/nfl/teams/1/80x60/atl_2.gif (http://sports.yahoo.com/nfl/teams/atl) 23rd last week
#22: http://us.i1.yimg.com/us.yimg.com/i/us/sp/v/nfl/teams/1/80x60/kan.gif (http://sports.yahoo.com/nfl/teams/kan) 21st last week
#23: http://us.i1.yimg.com/us.yimg.com/i/us/sp/v/nfl/teams/1/80x60/hou.gif (http://sports.yahoo.com/nfl/teams/hou) 25th last week
#24: http://us.i1.yimg.com/us.yimg.com/i/us/sp/v/nfl/teams/1/80x60/ten.gif (http://sports.yahoo.com/nfl/teams/ten) 24th last week
Tied for lead in the league in yards per play allowed by a defense with 6.1 per play
#25: http://us.i1.yimg.com/us.yimg.com/i/us/sp/v/nfl/teams/1/80x60/dal.gif (http://sports.yahoo.com/nfl/teams/dal) 20th last week
#26: http://us.i1.yimg.com/us.yimg.com/i/us/sp/v/nfl/teams/1/80x60/oak.gif (http://sports.yahoo.com/nfl/teams/oak) 28th last week
#27: http://us.i1.yimg.com/us.yimg.com/i/us/sp/v/nfl/teams/1/80x60/ari.gif (http://sports.yahoo.com/nfl/teams/ari) 27th last week
#28: http://us.i1.yimg.com/us.yimg.com/i/us/sp/v/nfl/teams/1/80x60/gnb.gif (http://sports.yahoo.com/nfl/teams/gnb) 26th last week
Leading the league in fewest turnovers caused by a defense (2)
#29: http://us.i1.yimg.com/us.yimg.com/i/us/sp/v/nfl/teams/1/80x60/cle.gif (http://sports.yahoo.com/nfl/teams/cle) 30th last week
Tied for lead in the league in yards per play allowed by a defense with 6.1 per play
#30: http://us.i1.yimg.com/us.yimg.com/i/us/sp/v/nfl/teams/1/80x60/min.gif (http://sports.yahoo.com/nfl/teams/min) 29th last week
Giving up a league leading 178 yards per game rushing average.
#31: http://us.i1.yimg.com/us.yimg.com/i/us/sp/v/nfl/teams/1/80x60/nyg_2.gif (http://sports.yahoo.com/nfl/teams/nyg) 31st last week
#32: http://us.i1.yimg.com/us.yimg.com/i/us/sp/v/nfl/teams/1/80x60/sfo.gif (http://sports.yahoo.com/nfl/teams/sfo) 32nd last week
Giving up a league leading 33 points a game average. Giving up a league leading 368.2 yards passing per game. Leading the league with yards allowed per game at 473.5


Before I forget; there were 2 areas of the board where the teams were in a dead nuts tie (formula wise) the most glaring is 2nd-5th place so technically speaking they are ALL tied for 2nd, but thats no fun so I placed them on personal feel between 2nd and 5th.

[XPetey]

What's goin on here?

[mhwolfgang]

I'm surprised the Patriots even stayed as high as they did. You know I'm a fan, but for them to let down in the second half like they did is just unimaginable.


They need a big turn around, and the rright player to step up and make this Defense gel again. I know Bill Belichick is going to be working the whole D in training hard this week. He will let the players know that the team can't play like they did last Sunday.

[Crunked]

Well their numbers were good enough, that taking the bad stats into account didn't hurt as much as it would have other teams

[Ben Stiller]

Dont allow a single point this week and fall 3 spots? I am outraged.

[Crunked]

How outraged are you? LOL

[Parrish]

I wonder if there is going to be a team that gives up more yards then us a game so that we can move up a spot, I doubt it. At least we haven't had a 100 yard rusher against us yet.

[cv290]

I don't see how Denver is still at 14, they had a bad game against Miami, but who wouldn't with the 3 top cb's out and a Safty playing cb.

Denvers D has won them their games, They held a good Jaguars running game to 12 Yards and they defended the pass well without there two starting cbs in that game(Champ Bailey and Darrent Williams were both out) The Denver D is doing phenominal and should be recognized for it.

I AM OUTRAGED ;)

[anditsgood]

patriots are atleast 7 spots too high

[GatorsRock]

Wow, Skins are 2? That's a shock. I pleasant shock that 2 out of my fav teams are 1 and 2.

[jjflr]

I don't see how Denver is still at 14, they had a bad game against Miami, but who wouldn't with the 3 top cb's out and a Safty playing cb.

Denvers D has won them their games, They held a good Jaguars running game to 12 Yards and they defended the pass well without there two starting cbs in that game(Champ Bailey and Darrent Williams were both out) The Denver D is doing phenominal and should be recognized for it.

I AM OUTRAGED ;)

I agree, the last 10 quarters, the Broncos have SHUT DOWN 2 potent offenses and 1 improving offense on the road...........

their D is playing VERY well..............better than 14, that's for sure

[nyGiants4life]

Dude how are the Giants at #31?

Is it all just the formula that ranks them..I mean they had 3 INT's on Bulger, they have a great turnover ratio, only 24 points vs the Rams (The Eagles let up just as many vs the Chiefs...or more I forgot), and we had a great rush defense.

[Crunked]

First I use a formula that places all teams based on statistical categories. Keeping that in mind here are SOME of the reasons NYG are 31st


NYG factoids:31st in yards allowed per game with 423
31st in yards per play average 6.0 turnover ratio places them 2nd in the NFL behind the Bengals. 31st against the pass. 17th against the run. 26th in points allowed. So as you can see only in turnovers are they above average in anything they do at this point.

[Crunked]

I love all this wailing and gnashing of teeth over these :) I am sick I know, lets look at the Broncos and see if its the stats or the man is holding them down:


Broncos:10th overall in points allowed per game. 18th overall against the pass. 4th overall against the run. 29th in created turnovers. 13th overall in yards allowed per play average.

...as you can see they are definitely on the rise and I wouldn't read too much into their 15th overall placement in that they are 2/10ths of a point away from being top 10. The thing that has held them back to this point was a combo of passing yards and turnovers created. The passing yards is improving and they will continue their climb without the turnovers, but they wont crack the top 5 without improving the turnovers to a respectable level.

[Crunked]

Just a reminder to everyone, these rankings are based on cumulative totals so one good week doesn't make you a top 10 defense, to share my own personal pain, last year the Colts in the first 4 weeks dug themselves a hole so deep, that statistically their defense was top 10 for 6 of the final 8 weeks and the highest they ever made it in this formula was 27th with 6 top 10 performances at the end!!!

[Azazel]

Dont allow a single point this week and fall 3 spots? I am outraged.


yes, i am shocked and appaledfor you as well....

[lawdog93]

any formula that has Denver ranked 15 is messed up.

[Crunked]

LOL that is your opinion and most probably the opinion of others too, to each his own thats why the NFL ranks defenses based on only 1 stat: Yards per game allowed. For me I like trying to get a more complete picture.

[nyGiants4life]

I really don't care. To me, these rankings mean nothing.

We are 3-1. That's all that matters. :D

[Crunked]

I really don't care. To me, these rankings mean nothing.

We are 3-1. That's all that matters. :D

Well 3-1 is a good thing but this has nothing to do with record or even with team performance this rates the defense only, I think you need some Power Ranking love, cause if you want defensive love ya gotta earn it ;)