The Myth about the NFL Total Offense and Total Defense - Part 5

   In this series on why the NFL’s Total Offense (Yards Gained) and Total Defense (Yards Allowed) statistics are totally wrong to use as a ranking method I have discussed Yards vs Points, Interceptions and Fumbles, Penalties, and why they should be considered in a ranking system. Today I want to continue to build our ranking method by adding another statistic that is important in determining how an offense and defense actually should be ranked.

The Red Zone

   There are a lot of teams that move the ball down the field, gain a lot of yards, but when they get into the Red Zone they falter. They can’t score Touchdowns. What good is it to move the ball down the field just to be stopped cold in the Red Zone? The have to settle for a field goal or worse they get pushed back out of field goal range and punt. A team that can’t score touchdowns is usually not very good! A team that scores touchdowns most of the time in the red zone usually is pretty good!

   On the defensive side, a team that is stingy in the red zone is what we all want. Who cares if they give up a lot of yards just as long as they stop the opposing offense from scoring touchdowns? I would rather that my defense prevented them from getting to the red zone at all, but I am happy when they force a field goal attempt. A defense that does not allow touchdowns in the red zone is probably going to the playoffs.

   Once again I am forced to say that the NFL does not consider this important statistic when determining Total Offense and Total Defense rankings. Remember the only statistic they consider important is Yards Gained and Yards Allowed.

   Just how can one statistic tell you how good your offense or defense actually is, how they should be ranked? Well it can’t!

   The red zone statistic is one of the fifteen statistics used in Pro Football Ranking.com’s ranking method.  While yards gained\allowed is important it is just one of the stat’s that is important.

   We at Pro Football Ranking.com think there is more than just the yards stat to be considered when determining how a team should be ranked on offense and defense, the RED Zone is important, which is why it is one of fifteen offensive and defensive stats in our ranking method.

In my next post, Part 6, I will talk about Time of Possession.

Which ranking method do you think is better? Leave a comment and tell the world.