![]() In this case, there were 21 drives, which is slightly below average. The style of play dictates fewer drives.A ‘typical’ game provides a team with 11-12 drives, which means 11-12 scoring opportunities.Here’s how the ‘game script’ works for the Redskins: The defense actually scored on one of those takeaways, as already mentioned. Having already limited opponents scoring opportunities to a below-average number, having a ‘plus’ turnover margin means that the team is taking even more scoring opportunities away from the other team, and creating added scoring opportunities for themselves in a game where such opportunities come at a huge premium.Īgainst the Cowboys, the Redskins forced two defensive takeaways while the offense protected the ball and didn’t give it up via fumble or interception. With 21 total drives, the game offered fewer scoring opportunities for both teams.Ĭreating turnovers defensively while protecting the ball on offense has a multiplier effect on the Time of Possession battle. In the Dallas game, each team had 5 drives in the first half (10 in total), and in the second half, the Cowboys had 6 drives while the ‘Skins had 5 due to the Redskins defensive TD, which gave Dallas back-to-back drives. Long-term statistics tell us that there are about 24 drives per game, or usually around 12 per team typically about 6 drives per half.Ī team like the Redskins, that can rely on the running game to control the clock, can, in effect, ‘shorten’ the game for the opponents by giving them fewer opportunities to possess the ball - meaning, fewer drives that provide the opportunity to score. It’s only been in recent years that I have begun to appreciate that each NFL game is made up of a limited number of drives. It makes for exciting games and makes the team a favorite for prime time broadcasts, but as I’ve said before, the NFL doesn’t give any points for style. Teams like the Kansas City Chiefs are put together to win track meets by simply outscoring the opponent. Hoping I don’t have to always repeat the caveat about points being the ultimate statistic, to me, these two metrics - Turnover Differential and Time of Possession - are the most critical measures of success for teams that are “built” like the 2018 Redskins. You can see that the Redskins rank 2nd in the NFL in Time of Possession. Since my focus here it defensive, I have posted the ToP allowed in the chart above. It is, perhaps, the ultimate team statistic. 2012 fanatical football fiend kirk cousins full#We normally think of Time of Possession as an offensive statistic, but it is really a full team statistic that takes into account both offensive and defensive play. In my personal experience of watching football for half a century - aside from the obvious statistic of points scored - I don’t believe any statistic is more indicative of a team’s likelihood of winning games than turnover margin.īut there is a multiplier effect for the Redskins that I think is important: Time of Possession. The Redskins are fourth in the league in turnover differential. Again, only the Ravens have achieved a better mark than that in the season to date. In their five other games, the Redskins have given up 6, 21, 17, 17, and 17 (an average of 15.6 ppg). The Redskins, again, have one outlier on the season, having given up 43 points to the Saints. You can see from the chart that the NFC East has transformed into a defensive division, with the Cowboys and Eagles both ranked even higher than the Redskins in points per game, at 2nd and 6th respectively. The Redskins are not in that category, giving up just 20.2 ppg, good for 7th in the NFL. We sometimes see examples of teams that limit yards but give up points. Only one team in the NFL (the Ravens) is giving up less than 300 yards per game for the season. In the other 5 games, the Redskins have given up an average of 298 yards per game. The Redskins had one significant outlier in the six games they’ve played - the blowout loss to the Saints on Monday Night Football in Week 5 when they gave up 461 total yards of offense. The Redskins defense ranks 5th in the NFL and 2nd in the NFC in yards per game. Total Yards per game Rushing defense - yards per game They are winning with suffocating defense. The Redskins are winning, and they are winning in a way that many Redskins fans aren’t accustomed to. ![]()
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