Points per drive stats for current playoff bound teams

[Zman5]

This according to football outsiders. Current ranking in parenthesis. I know it's early and stats don't equate to wins and losses but I feel this stat give us the best indication of how well the teams are playing.

As you can see, only team that come close to matching us equally is Seattle.

Team Offense Defense​

1. DAL 2.91 (1) , 1.94 (14)
2. SEA 1.97 (14), 1.53 (2)
3. DET 2.24 (11), 2.36 (26)
   
4. ATL 2.88 (2), 2.57 (30)
5. NY 1.72 (23), 1.70 (9)
6. WAS 2.44 (5), 2.17 (22)

And just for fun, here is the stat for NE.

NE 2.57 (4), 1.70 (8)

 

[DandyDon52]

# 1 in ppd is pretty good, even beat atlanta !

 

[Outlaw Heroes]

This according to football outsiders. Current ranking in parenthesis. I know it's early and stats don't equate to wins and losses but I feel this stat give us the best indication of how well the teams are playing.

As you can see, only team that come close to matching us equally is Seattle.

Team Offense Defense​

1. DAL 2.91 (1) , 1.94 (14)
2. SEA 1.97 (14), 1.53 (2)
3. DET 2.24 (11), 2.36 (26)
   
4. ATL 2.88 (2), 2.57 (30)
5. NY 1.72 (23), 1.70 (9)
6. WAS 2.44 (5), 2.17 (22)

And just for fun, here is the stat for NE.

NE 2.57 (4), 1.70 (8)

We are the clear leaders, among that group, in points per drive differential. By a wide margin.

 

[Zman5]

We are the clear leaders, among that group, in points per drive differential. By a wide margin.

What's interesting is we have an elite offense and an average defense and Seattle has an elite defense and an average offense. I guess we'll find out if defense really wins championships if we get to play them in a NFC championship game.

 

[Doomsay]

It would be interesting to see the trailing 4-5 week average.

 

[JohnsKey19]

Atlanta is a dangerous opponent. Shanahan is a very good OC , 2 versatile RBs, and they have the ultimatest weapon at WR. Shanahan will scheme you to death, much like his father.

To be honest, there really is no weak opponent in the playoff picture. Usually the wildcard teams are counterfeit - not this year. Maybe Minnesota if they somehow sneak in...

 

[theogt]

All teams, ranked on PPD differential.

 

[plasticman]

No team has scored more offensive TD's than the Dallas Cowboys. The Cowboys average 3.6 TD's a game. Tennessee is actually 2nd place with 3.5. Atlanta is 3.3. New England is also 3.3.

 

[theogt]

Going back to 2005, only 4 other teams have had a higher PPD on offense than this team.

 

[VACowboy]

Which concerns you more: a team with an elite offense and average defense or vice versa?

 

[theogt]

Which concerns you more: a team with an elite offense and average defense or vice versa?

Elite offenses scare me more. We can score on elite defenses. An elite offense that can keep up with us, or surpass us if we make mistakes, is what is most likely to get us.

 

[VACowboy]

Elite offenses scare me more. We can score on elite defenses. An elite offense that can keep up with us, or surpass us if we make mistakes, is what is most likely to get us.

Me too. Always been my sentiment.

Much rather play Baltimore than Atlanta.

 

[percyhoward]

Football Outsiders is still a game behind with their drive stats. Including the game against the Skins, we're at 3.01 ppd. For a full season that would be 3rd-highest since 1997, behind the 2007 Patriots and 2011 Packers. (Yes, we're ahead of the 2013 Broncos).

2007 Patriots 3.37 ppd
2011 Packers 3.05 ppd
2016 Cowboys 3.01 ppd
2013 Broncos 2.98 ppd
2011 Saints 2.98 ppd
2004 Colts 2.93 ppd
1998 Vikings 2.92 ppd
2016 Falcons 2.88 ppd
2000 Rams 2.85 ppd
2012 Patriots 2.82 ppd

And with our long, time-consuming drives, this team has the added dimension of limiting opponents' scoring opportunities. Compare all those teams' opponents' average # of possessions per game.

2016 Cowboys 9.8
2016 Falcons 10.6
2007 Patriots 10.9
2004 Colts 10.9
2011 Saints 11.1
2011 Packers 11.2
1998 Vikings 11.4
2000 Rams 11.8
2012 Patriots 12.2
2013 Broncos 12.6

Our defense faces an average of two fewer possessions per game than those other teams', and almost a full possession less than the team behind us.

 

[guag]

As you can see, only team that come close to matching us equally is Seattle.

Team Offense Defense​

1. DAL 2.91 (1) , 1.94 (14)
2. SEA 1.97 (14), 1.53 (2)
3. DET 2.24 (11), 2.36 (26)
   
4. ATL 2.88 (2), 2.57 (30)
5. NY 1.72 (23), 1.70 (9)
6. WAS 2.44 (5), 2.17 (22)

According to that chart, Atlanta looks to be pretty close to us, at least with offensive PPD. But yeah, when factoring in the defensive PPD as well, Atlanta's net PPD does bring them down a bit.

 

[JBS]

Going back to 2005, only 4 other teams have had a higher PPD on offense than this team.

How did those 4 teams fare in the postseason?

 

[Biggems]

If we have Mo and Barry back, the fear is much, much less. Without them, this D looks like something straight outta Austin......and that gives me a severe case of diarrhea.....just sayin.

Btw, if the refs keep calling the same hokie fouls on us that that refuse to call on our opponents, then of course that will ruin some of our drives, lowering our numbers, while not affecting theirs. I am so sick of the tick tack penalties being called on our OL every game, while our opponents get away with obvious fouls. Can Beasley please buy a facemask call.

I want to see more Zeke and no Dunbar. If he needs a breather, bring in Morris or DMac. I want more passes to Zeke, especially in space. A screen pass or two per game would be nice. A couple of misdirection plays would be nice.....just to frustrate the Hell out of defenses. Feed Zeke More.

 

[TheHerd]

Interesting that Philly is #5 in differential.

 

[Zman5]

According to that chart, Atlanta looks to be pretty close to us, at least with offensive PPD. But yeah, when factoring in the defensive PPD as well, Atlanta's net PPD does bring them down a bit.

The full chart Theogt posted above should give a better indication which team is closer to us.

 

[percyhoward]

How did those 4 teams fare in the postseason?

None of the eight teams with the highest ppd prior to this season won a Super Bowl. Historically, teams with great offenses and average-to-bad defenses have come up short in the postseason.

2007 Patriots 3.37 ppd
2011 Packers 3.05 ppd
2016 Cowboys 3.01 ppd
2013 Broncos 2.98 ppd
2011 Saints 2.98 ppd
2004 Colts 2.93 ppd
1998 Vikings 2.92 ppd
2016 Falcons 2.88 ppd
2000 Rams 2.85 ppd
2012 Patriots 2.82 ppd

However, there is something interesting about our defense. So far this season, Dallas has allowed touchdowns on 24 of its opponents' 108 drives (22.2%), which is about the league average. But the defense has allowed TD on 7 of the 13 drives it has faced.in the 4th quarter when the Cowboys are leading by more than one score (9+ points). That's about 42% more than the league average when leading by more than one score in the 4th.

 

[Cowboys22]

They do seem to be able to score evertime they really want or need to. Just take the skins game. Every time the skins made it a one score game, Dak drove right down to make it a two score game again. He simply refused to give them the ball back with a chance to take the lead.