After 12 games, the Green Bay Packers can claim statistical superiority in two important areas: turnovers and in the red zone.
The sample size is big enough. There’s now little doubt about where this team is undeniably good.
Coach Matt LaFleur and defensive coordinator Mike Pettine have preached “winning the ball” all season, and the emphasis has paid off. The Packers rank second in the NFL in giveaways (8), seventh in takeaways (19) and second in turnover margin (+11).
No team in the NFL has more total games with zero turnovers than the Packers, who have eight. They also have six games with two or more takeaways, which ranks tied for fifth.
When the Packers don’t have a giveaway in 2019, they’re 7-1. They’re 2-2 with one or more. Maybe more importantly, the Packers are a perfect 8-0 when they produced at least one takeaway in a game this season.
Turnover margin has long been a strong barometer of winning. The Packers rarely give it away and they’re taking it away at a reasonable enough clip.
LaFleur’s team is also strong inside the 20-yard line.
Despite an inconsistent offense and a defense that has given up too many big plays, both groups have operated efficiently inside the red zone.
The Packers have scored touchdowns on 28 of 40 red-zone trips, ranking second in the NFL. They’ve also allowed only 19 touchdowns on 40 opponent red-zone trips, good for a 47.5 percentage that ranks sixth in the NFL.
Aaron Rodgers has thrown two interceptions inside the 20-yard line, but he’s also fifth in the NFL in red-zone touchdowns with 15. He has spread out the scores to six different players, including six touchdowns to running backs. Speaking of running backs, Aaron Jones is tied for the NFL lead with 11 red-zone rushing touchdowns, even though he has only 28 total attempts.
Let Ben Fennell of The Athletic explain the Packers’ dominance on defense in the red zone:
#Packers Red Zone Defense
🔸Scoring Efficiency – 75.0% (3rd)
🔸QB Rating – 65.9 (2nd)
🔸Completions – 45.9% (2nd)
🔸TD Percentage – 11.5% (1st)
🔸Interceptions – 4 (1st)Team gives up chunk plays & 3rd downs conversions.. but they are one stingy team when the field shortens up
— Ben Fennell (@BenFennell_NFL) December 2, 2019
The Packers rank in the top three in the NFL in scoring percentage, passer rating, completions, touchdown percentage and interceptions in the red zone this season.
The red zone and turnovers are both big reasons why the Packers are 9-3 after 12 games. In addition to some injury luck, they’ve played well situationally and haven’t beaten themselves with turnovers. It’s been a winning formula for a team that hasn’t tasted the postseason since 2016.