The Myth about the NFL Total Offense and Total Defense - Part 6

   In today’s post on why the NFL’s version of Total Offense and Total Defense is a bad way of ranking NFL Offenses and Defenses I will add another statistic to consider. I have already talked about why the yards only statistic does not tell the whole picture in post 2 of this series. In part 3, I started to build my method of ranking.  I started by including Fumbles and Interceptions. In part 4, I added Penalties and in part 5, I included the Red Zone statistics.

Time of Possession

   If your team’s offense is on the field your team’s offense can score points and the opposing team’s offense can not score points. The longer your team has the ball the better it is because it leaves less time for your opponent. The longer your offense has the ball affects a whole range of other statistics such as the number of 1^st downs you have, yards gained, 3^rd down percentage, and more.  Teams that control the clock on offense tend to be playoff teams.

   A defense that is on the field for a long tends to give up a lot of points. A defense that can get off the field quickly stays fresh. A defense that can not get off the field becomes tired. A tired defense is easy to score against.

   This is one statistic where the offenses performance can help the defense. An offense that controls the ball for a large percentage of the game helps keep their defense rested. A defense that can get off the field quickly allows more opportunities for their offense to score.

I can’t understand how the NFL can disregard TOP (Time of Possession) in their Total Offense and Total Defense ranking method! In fact, I don’t understand how you can call the NFL’s one stat version of Total Offense and Total Defense a ranking method at all!

   Time of Possession is very important statistic and should be included in any comprehensive method of ranking a NFL team’s Offense or Defense. It, of course, is included in the Pro Football Ranking.com. method of Total Offense and Total Defense Ranking.

In my next post, Part 7, I will continue to build our comprehensive method of Total Offense and Total Defense Ranking by adding the next statistic.   3^rd Down Percentage

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