Sports blog information from USA TODAY.
Looking at the major metrics, here is where the Chargers stand after Week 6.
The Chargers are now 2-3 after losing to the Cowboys on Monday night.
Now that Week 6 is in the rearview, we now know how the Bolts rank statistically compared to the rest of the NFL. Looking at the major metrics, here is where L.A. stands.
Touchdown Wire’s Doug Farrar brings forth one stat that matters for every NFL team coming into the 2022 season.
When you ask NFL coaches, executives, and scouts about analytics, you’ll get all kinds of answers which tend to reveal which teams value them — and which teams are paying lip service, because they don’t really consider advanced metrics, but they don’t want to be pilloried on social media as dinosaurs.
The teams that don’t value analytics, or don’t want you to know that they do, will tend to give more generic answers. Teams that are all in will be more specific.
Whether you believe that analytics can help your player evaluation process or not, the simple fact is that they represent a tool that can be helpful in the right hands. In the wrong hands, it’s just statistical noise.
We’re not sure if my hands are the right ones or not, but in this article, I have endeavored to find one specific metric for each NFL team that reveals a larger strength or weakness each team will either benefit from, or must address, in the 2022 season.
So, get your tape-repaired glasses, dust off your pocket protectors, and let’s nerd out with one stat that matters for every NFL team!
(All advanced metrics courtesy of Sports Info Solutions, Pro Football Focus, and Football Outsiders unless otherwise indicated).
Some coaches believe that stats are for losers. But advanced metrics can reveal a lot, and here’s one stat that matters for every NFL team.
“Stats are for losers.”
You’ve heard that from coach after coach, up to and including Bill Belichick, and though Coach B knows better (he’s had Ernie Adams and a cadre of metric and situational analysts for decades), there are coaches and executives who still believe this, and it’s too bad for them. While base statistics and advanced metrics aren’t the be-all and end-all, the ability to match numbers to tape puts you ahead of the pack — whether you’re an analyst, a coach, or an executive.
To that end, let’s take a look at one number of meaning for every NFL team coming into the 2021 season. Whether you believe that stats matter or not, we promise to make them as relevant as possible.
(All statistics include postseason performances whenever possible and applicable. All advanced metrics are courtesy of Pro Football Focus, Sports Info Solutions, Pro Football Reference, and Football Outsiders unless otherwise indicated).
Running back Derrick Henry of the Titans isn’t just the best back in the NFL today — he also has the NFL’s most ridiculous statistic.
“Facts are stubborn things, but statistics are pliable.” — Mark Twain
Well, at times, they are. At other times, statistics reveal truisms we can’t get away from. For example, if I were state clearly for the record that Derrick Henry of the Tennessee Titans is the NFL’s best running back in terms of speed, power, and the ability to create yardage after contact, you might come back with a few other names: Nick Chubb of the Cleveland Browns, Dalvin Cook of the Minnesota Vikings, or Ronald Jones of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, for example. And you’d have solid cases for each back.
Per Pro Football Focus, and including the postseason, Chubb gained 883 of his 1,212 rushing yards after contact in 2020. Cook gained 1,039 of his 1,515 rushing yards that way, and Jones (a highly underrated power runner) gained 802 of his 1,117 yards after the first defender tried to stop him.
But Derrick Henry lives in an entirely different galaxy after contact. How do we know? Here’s how we know: Over the last two seasons, Henry doesn’t just lead the NFL in rushing yards with 3,567 in the regular season and 4,052 if you include the postseason, but he also has more yards after contact — 3,130 — than any other NFL back has in total rushing yards. Cook ranks second with 2692, Chubb ranks third with 2561, and Ezekiel Elliott of the Cowboys ranks fourth with 2,336. Imagine gaining 438 more yards after contact in a two-year period than any other running back gains in rushing yards no matter the situation.
It’s highly unusual, at best. In 2018, Elliott led the league in yards after contact with 1,083, and there were eight backs who exceeded that total in pure rushing yards. In 2017, Kareem Hunt of the Chiefs led the league with 861 yards after contact, and there were 21 backs who exceeded that in total rushing yards. In 2016, it was Elliott once again with 1,018 yards after contact, and 12 backs exceeded that total in total rushing yards. And so on.
So, although Henry was best-known in 2020 for becoming the eighth back in NFL history to exceed 2,000 rushing yards in a regular season (2,027), his most remarkable statistic came after he was first contacted by those unfortunate defenders who tried — and failed — to bring him down.
BAH GAWD DERRICK HENRY THAT MAN HAS A FAMILY!pic.twitter.com/XvonOym3vf
— DraftKings (@DraftKings) October 14, 2020
Through 15 games this season, Ryan and Ridley each rank in the top five in total yardage at their respective positions.
Atlanta Falcons quarterback Matt Ryan showed the most poise he has all season during Sunday’s 17-14 loss to the Kansas City Chiefs on the road. Ryan completed 27 of 35 passes for 300 yards, two touchdowns and posted a 121.1 passer rating.
Wide receiver Calvin Ridley also showed up big in Week 16, making five catches for 130 yards (26 yards per reception) and proving that the Falcons’ offensive weapons haven’t been the problem this year.
Through 15 games this season, Ryan and Ridley each rank in the top five in total yardage at their respective positions. Ryan has thrown for 4,316 passing yards, good for fourth-highest total in the league. Take a look at the top five passing yardage leaders below.
As for Ridley, he’s blown away his preseason prediction of 1,000 receiving yards. He’s caught 82 passes for 1,322 yards this season, the fifth-most in the NFL.
As the Falcons prepare to bring in a new general manager and in all likelihood, a new head coach, it’s pretty clear that Ryan and Ridley will be a key part of the team’s future in 2021 and beyond.
Atlanta finishes the season against Tampa Bay in Week 17 and could cement a top-five pick in next year’s draft with another loss.
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Numbers can tell a story. As we look ahead to the 2020 season here is a metric for each team to keep in mind.
Numbers can tell stories.
As we await word on how the 2020 NFL season will look, we can begin to think about how that season will unfold on the field. Both the draft and free agency are behind us, and we now have a clearer picture of how the teams will look on the field.
The beauty of both the draft and free agency is that it provides us with a window into how teams feel about their rosters. Media driven events such as press conferences, interviews and the like often find the subjects guarded. General managers and head coaches do not want to give much away, and that leads to boiler plate phrases like “we feel good about where we are” or “we are looking to improve at every position” or of course, “we’re on to Cincinnati.”
But the draft and free agency are active periods of time, where teams have to made decisions that can be analyzed. What teams do during those periods informs us more than anything people in positions of power can say during a press conference. They are forced to make choices and those choices guide our thinking. If a team, for example, signs multiple offensive linemen during free agency and drafts another in the first round, they probably do not feel good about where they are along the offensive line.
*Stares at Adam Gase.*
Numbers can be used to illustrate this point further. That brings us the “Metrics that Matter” series here at Touchdown Wire. The beauty of covering the NFL in 2020 is that more and more information is available to us every single day. In this series, we will point to a statistic for each team from their 2019 season to highlight an area of concern, and then examine how the organization is seeking to rectify that problem for the 2020 campaign.
Some statistics are more straight-forward, such as sacks allowed, while others might need a bit more of an explanation, such as Adjusted Net Yards per Attempt or Expected Points Added. But as we imagine the 2020 season, we can use these statistics to imagine how the season will play out.
(Note: This is an ongoing series and will be updated as each new piece is published. Ten of the 32 teams are currently available).
Buffalo Bills – Why Josh Allen’s downfield passing is critical to the Buffalo Bills in 2020, and how Stefon Diggs could be the answer.
Miami Dolphins – Why the Miami Dolphins addressed the offensive line in a variety of ways this off-season, and how a new scheme could be in place to help protect Ryan Fitzpatrick and Tua Tagovailoa.
New England Patriots – As the New England Patriots transition to life with a new quarterback, they will need improved play from the tight end position. Drafting a pair of rookies is a solid first step.
New York Jets – The New York Jets struggled to throw the football last season. Having Sam Darnold out at the start of the year did not help, but there are other things the organization has done to improve their passing game.
Dallas Cowboys – The Dallas Cowboys look primed to put up big offensive numbers, with the addition of CeeDee Lamb and Amari Cooper back in the fold. However, their defense took a step back in 2019. Will new coaching and new faces see that unit improve?
New York Giants – Daniel Jones surpassed expectations in his first year as the New York Giants’ starting quarterback. However, 18 fumbles are a problem. What can be done to fix this issue?
Philadelphia Eagles – Doug Pederson’s West Coast offense is predicated upon yardage after the catch. However, the Philadelphia Eagles struggled in this area in 2019. Could a new offensive system be the answer?
Washington Redskins – The Washington Redskins’ defense struggled to get off the field last season. Is Chase Young the answer?
