2011 Packers (15-1) had the worst defense

[xwalker]

Yes it helps probablity but as I mentioned below odds increase with turnover but it is not the turnover by itself it is the points accumlated off the turnover. Defensively again your right you take the ball away on a posession you take away the scoring oppertunity for that poesession however our defense did that and still gave up an avg of 27 points a game. We did pretty good about winning turnover battle and offense did not turn the ball over much but the end result was 8-8 the stats has meaning but it is not the be all, you have to do something with the turnover and defensive you got the stop the other team when you turn the ball over.

It seems apparent that the takeaways were what allowed them to be 8-8. Without the takeaways they would likely have had a much worse record considering that the defense was last in yards allowed.

I will reiterate my original example. If a team gave up a lot of yards but got an interception each time the defense was on the field, then the other team would never score. It seems highly likely that if two teams had the same offense and both teams gave up 400 yards per game but 1 defense had 1 turnover per game while the other had 3 turnovers per game, the team with more turnovers is highly likely to win significantly more games.

 

[burmafrd]

did that 15-1 team win the SB? NO. So what is the point?

 

[xwalker]

Interesting those numbers are close. My guess some if it can be attributed to the fact the Packers absolutely blew people out early and then sat on leads and stopped accumulating big offensive yard stats whereas the Cowboys were constantly playing catch-up and had opportunities to run up big yardage totals.

At the end of the day, I'm not sure the yardage matters that much -- at least not compared to scoring (obviously).

That's my conclusion also. Scoring is the number one stat that matters; although, turnovers do give the offense more opportunities.

 

[KJJ]

I read somewhere that total yards given up by a defense isn't necessarily correlated with number of wins (that 1000 page Romo stats thread I think?)

It's not the total yards that kill you it's having them result in points. You can bend but don't break.

 

[dfense]

The 2011 Packers team that went 15-1 had the 32nd ranked defense in the league.

I found that interesting because there have been some questions about how much the Cowboys offense could carry the team this year if the defense just improved a little.

Cowboys 2013 415.3 yards/game

Packers 2011 411.6 yards/game

What saved the Packers defense was that they were tied for 1st in total takeaways with 38.

In 2013, the Cowboys were tied for 13th with 28 total takeaways.

That can be misleading to though. The Packers were a scoring machine which put their defense on the field a lot and teams were forced to just air it out to try and catch up.

 

[Animosity]

That's the difference between an elite QB and an alright QB. Romo isn't good enough to win a SB. He gets paid like Rodgers just to go 8-8. Pathetic.

 

[casmith07]

The 2011 Packers team that went 15-1 had the 32nd ranked defense in the league.

I found that interesting because there have been some questions about how much the Cowboys offense could carry the team this year if the defense just improved a little.

Cowboys 2013 415.3 yards/game

Packers 2011 411.6 yards/game

What saved the Packers defense was that they were tied for 1st in total takeaways with 38.

In 2013, the Cowboys were tied for 13th with 28 total takeaways.

Yards are fine, but what about scoring defense? (points against)

I couldn't care any less if the opponent moves the ball up and down the field between the 10s as long as we hold them to field goals or turnovers.

 

[BrassCowboy]

Also depends on how many times they were ahead by only 1 score to win or lose. If they game was in hand, they didn't need to defend a game winning drive.

I know where you are going with this, don't we have a WAY over-abundance of posts wasted on the subject.

 

[CCBoy]

That's the difference between an elite QB and an alright QB. Romo isn't good enough to win a SB. He gets paid like Rodgers just to go 8-8. Pathetic.

Not really, Tony Romo gets paid for a level of comparable pay in the current NFL.

Both he and Rogers have different teams...but even there, a Rogers isn't paid for team accomplishments, but what he does on it. Both, are pretty darn good...by any NFL standard of observations...individually related.

 

[CCBoy]

Yards are fine, but what about scoring defense? (points against)

I couldn't care any less if the opponent moves the ball up and down the field between the 10s as long as we hold them to field goals or turnovers.

My exception would be that there wasn't enough time to equal overall score.

 

[jazzcat22]

I know where you are going with this, don't we have a WAY over-abundance of posts wasted on the subject.

Not going anywhere with it. Was just making a comment.
And is there not an over-abundance of just about every topic on here, if you view it as a waste or not...

 

[gimmesix]

What is interesting is that the Cowboys were 14th in yardage allowed in 2012 but last 29th in takeaways as compared to 32nd and 8th in 2013. That's a big improvement on the takeaways.

The emphasis on turnovers under Kiffin/Marinelli seemed to have really helped and we'll possibly be at least as good at it as we were last year. So much, though, is going to come down to whether this group of linemen can create adequate pressure. Plus, we're going to miss the takeaway machine that is Sean Lee.

It's just hard to foresee what this group will be able to do because there are so many unknowns, especially on the line.

 

[gimmesix]

What saved the Packers that year was Rodgers having an MVP season with over 4600 yards passing, 45 TD's and only 6 int's. He set an NFL record in 2011 with a 122.5 passer rating. Rodgers carried that team he had 2 off games all year and the Packers lost both to KC during the regular season and to the Giants in the playoffs. The loss to the Giants in the playoffs was the only game in which Rodgers didn't have more TD's than turnovers. The Packers averaged 35 points a game and had 5 games of over 40 points which forced opponents to have to put it up and take chances. This helped the Packers D set a record with 31 int's. Their D gave up a lot of yards but opposing offenses only averaged 22 points per game.

I will agree that Rodgers was phenomenal that year, but it no doubt helped having a defense that would make the lead stick by making plays.

 

[DFWJC]

That's the difference between an elite QB and an alright QB. Romo isn't good enough to win a SB. He gets paid like Rodgers just to go 8-8. Pathetic.

Must admit, I'm really getting sick of your garbage comments.
Rapidly catching up to the worst trolls on this site.
Take a bow.

 

[Doomsday101]

It seems apparent that the takeaways were what allowed them to be 8-8. Without the takeaways they would likely have had a much worse record considering that the defense was last in yards allowed.

I will reiterate my original example. If a team gave up a lot of yards but got an interception each time the defense was on the field, then the other team would never score. It seems highly likely that if two teams had the same offense and both teams gave up 400 yards per game but 1 defense had 1 turnover per game while the other had 3 turnovers per game, the team with more turnovers is highly likely to win significantly more games.

I will say this turnovers mean more to me than yardage. I have seen enough offenses who can move the ball from the 20 to the 20 with ease and at the end of the day have some good stats but unable to put the ball in the endzone, the end all be all stat. Yes Turnovers matter but you have to be able to score off of them or prevent a score when it is your offense who has turned the ball over. As for the 1 turnover vs 3 and the one with 3 is more likely to win? true if they can score off of them. Even you said 20% of the time. Turnover give you the oppertunity to put points on the board but you still have to put points on the board.

 

[KJJ]

That's the difference between an elite QB and an alright QB. Romo isn't good enough to win a SB. He gets paid like Rodgers just to go 8-8. Pathetic.

The team and the coaching hasn't been good enough to win a SB. There's been a number of alright QB's win SB's but they were part of solid teams that were well coached. It's been a step down in coaching ever since Parcells left. Romo can't carry a team that's been proven but even Rodgers fell short with a team that was having defensive issues. Eli lit up the Packers defense in the playoffs for 330 yards and 3 TD's.

The entire game was put on Rodgers shoulders due to his D bending and breaking and it resulted in 2 turnovers, only a 56% completion percentage and his lowest passer rating of the season of 78.5. The Packers ended up losing by 17 points at home. If your D doesn't step up in the playoffs it's going to lead to a struggle for even an elite QB who's having an MVP year.

 

[Doomsday101]

That's the difference between an elite QB and an alright QB. Romo isn't good enough to win a SB. He gets paid like Rodgers just to go 8-8. Pathetic.

No actually he does not get paid the same as Rodgers, Rodgers contract is 5 years 110 mill with a 35 mill signing bonus. Romo is 6 years 108 with 25 mill signing bonus. There is 7 other QB who get paid more and others who will get paid more once their current contract is done.

 

[itsaboat]

did that 15-1 team win the SB? NO. So what is the point?

A team can succeed and get to the playoffs without a dominant defense.

 

[Doomsday101]

A team can succeed and get to the playoffs without a dominant defense.

and a team can succeed and get to the playoffs without a dominant offense.

 

[KJJ]

I will agree that Rodgers was phenomenal that year, but it no doubt helped having a defense that would make the lead stick by making plays.

Rodgers was so on fire that season putting up TD's and not turning the ball over it forced opponents to have to throw to keep up which led to a record 31 int's for the Packers D. However Eli lit them up in the playoffs resulting in Rodgers having to force some throws which led to a season high 2 turnovers which included his only lost fumble of the season. That lost fumble along with Rodgers 56.5 completion percentage indicated the Giants D was putting a lot of heat on him.