Bottom-line stats (9 games)

[percyhoward]

W-L is the bottom-line stat, but the Cowboys have improved over 2012 in three other good ones that correlate highly with successful seasons.

Since 2008, there have been 37 teams that finished the season ranked among the top 12 in pass rating differential, turnover differential, and points-per-drive differential. All 37 teams made the playoffs or won at least 10 games.

2012 GB Sea SF Atl Was NE Hou Cin Bal Chi
2011 GB NE Hou SF Det Bal Atl
2010 GB NE Pit Bal Chi Atl Phi TB
2009 GB NO SD Bal Min Phi NE
2008 Bal Ind SD NYG Ten

Going into last week's game, Dallas had ranked among the top 12 in all three categories. The close win against the Vikings dropped them out of the top 12 in points per drive differential, by only thousandths of a point.

Pass Rating
2013
offense 6th
defense 18th
differential 6th

2012
offense 9th
defense 29th
differential 18th

Give/Take
2013
offense (give) 7th
defense (take) 3rd
differential 2nd

2012
offense (give) 25th
defense (take) 29th
differential 27th

Points Per Drive
2013
offense 10th
defense 17th
differential 13th

2012
offense 10th
defense 26th
differential 20th

 

[Nation]

Great stuff. The more of this sort of thing the better. Somehow won't get as many posts as Clutch, Fire Garrett, Kiffin's Old, or No More Jerry talk, but infinitely more interesting.

 

[perrykemp]

Thanks for the writeup Percy.

Passing Differential is the "Mother of All NFL Stats" as it relates to wins/losses because it has an very high correlation to victories and championship success. Nice to see the Cowboys in the top 10 in that.

 

[Idgit]

Nice touch to give us the 2012 numbers for comparison. I'm rooting hard for an extra thousandth of a point/drive this weekend.

 

[TonyRomo17]

dont forget red zone efficiency, we are 2nd in league atm,

 

[DFWJC]

No doubt that this is a better team than last year's.
Sure hope it shows up in win and loses

 

[DFWJC]

Nice play by RG3.
He's healthy now.

Come on Vikings!