NFL Team #1 Defense and #1 Offense Not Make Playoffs? (3 Viewers)

[Islander]

Has there ever been a team ranked #1 in defense and #1 in offense (yards per game) not make the playoffs? Currently, the Chargers allow 282 yds per game on defense, in front of Giants at 291 and Bears at 300. On offense, the Chargers are almost #1 in the league: Eagles 401, Chargers 397, Saints 389.

With the soft schedule remaining, it's possible at this point that they keep this up and finish #1 on both offense and defense, go 3-1 for the rest of the year and not make the playoffs. Heck, it's even mathematically possible they go 4-0 and still not make it.

If you told me that after 12 games a team could be 6-6 and almost eliminated while being #1 and #2 on defense and offense, I would have said it's almost impossible. That's how bad their special teams have hurt them, among other things.

 

[Bud]

Very possible scenario and they can thank their horrible special teams.

 

[Islander]

Update after 14 weeks:

The Chargers only allowed 67 yards of total offense to the Chiefs last Sunday, compared to the Giants 164 yards allowed. So the Chargers extended their lead in first:

SD 265

NYG 281

NYJ 293

On offense, both the Chargers and Eagles got about 425-430 yards so rankings stay similar except that the Saints fall a bit behind

PHI 403

SD 400

NO 386

Chargers finishing #1 on both sides is still very much alive. But their playoff chances have gone up with the win vs Chiefs.

 

[BoltBacker]

Turnover Margin. 26th in the NFL.

One of the reasons I rail about how fumbles lost and interceptions should hurt you more in FF but very few people seem to agree with me. Think about it... how many times have you been watching an NFL game and the turnover battle was the biggest reason one team beat another?

While so many people were wringing their hands over the SD WR situation in the early going it was the fumbles that were just killing them in those close losses.

Yardage is way over-valued in general but even more so by the FF community. I'm thinking I'd rather go back to leagues with distance-scoring methods that rewards for scores and penalizes for TO's rather than giving yardage as much weight as most FF leagues do now.

 

[GroveDiesel]

Turnover Margin. 26th in the NFL.One of the reasons I rail about how fumbles lost and interceptions should hurt you more in FF but very few people seem to agree with me. Think about it... how many times have you been watching an NFL game and the turnover battle was the biggest reason one team beat another?While so many people were wringing their hands over the SD WR situation in the early going it was the fumbles that were just killing them in those close losses.Yardage is way over-valued in general but even more so by the FF community. I'm thinking I'd rather go back to leagues with distance-scoring methods that rewards for scores and penalizes for TO's rather than giving yardage as much weight as most FF leagues do now.

The Football Outsiders' DVOA rankings have the Chargers ranked 6th offensively and 3rd defensively. Yardage is a useful stat, but doesn't tell the entire story.

 

[Breesisdaman]

http://www.nfl.com/stats/team

Chargers: #1 Offense #1 Defense

...OUT of the playoffs

That is insane!!!! Has any team ever even accomplished that in the regular season? And then to do it and not make the playoffs.

 

[David Yudkin]

2010 SDC (9-7): +1984 net yards from scrimmage

2010 NEP (14-2): -44 net yards from scrimmage

 

[bicycle_seat_sniffer]

stats lie.

Given how that Defense played against the Bengals I dont see how they could possibly be ranked #1 in defense

Ranking 32nd in special teams, specfically punt coverage (wrost ever at 19 some yards allowed per punt return)

 

[Breesisdaman]

Mean while the Chargers get to watch the Seahawks host a playoff game. The first playoff team with a losing record to make the playoffs and host a home game. That has to bite.

 

[Chase Stuart]

A perfect example that stats mean a lot:

New York Giants, lead league in giveaways, miss playoffs.

 

[TommyGilmore]

"#1 Defense" just means that they're #1 in yards-per-game. It doesn't account for Points Allowed, Penalties, Turnovers, 1st Downs, etc.

The Chargers have pioneered the "break but don't bend" defense.

 

[Chase Stuart]

http://www.pro-football-reference.com/play-index/tiny/E3y9Q

 

[I was in the pool]

YPG on offense/defense doesn't say a whole lot because its dependent on so many factors. I prefer all the in-depth stats on football outsiders if you do want to number crunch a team's Offense or defense.

 

[RedskinsFan]

May only mean something to me but how about the Redskins Defense?

Ranked 31st

They lost 10 games this year, in 6 of those losses they lost by a combined 17 points in total. They also went to overtime the most out of any team this year. Interesting to me at least

 

[David Yudkin]

As for the question in the OP, no, the Chargers are not the first team to lead the league in offense and defense and miss the playoffs. Here are all the teams that did it since the NFL called themselves the NFL starting in 1950:

1952 Browns 8-4

1953 Eagles 7-4-1 (missed playoffs)

1964 Bills 12-2

1965 Chargers 9-2-3

1972 Dolphins 14-0

1973 Rams 12-2

1977 Cowboys 12-2

1987 49ers 13-2

Interesting that this is the second time the Chargers have ranked #1 in offense and defense.

 

[Fodasme69]

As for the question in the OP, no, the Chargers are not the first team to lead the league in offense and defense and miss the playoffs. Here are all the teams that did it since the NFL called themselves the NFL starting in 1950:

1952 Browns 8-4

1953 Eagles 7-4-1 (missed playoffs)

1964 Bills 12-2

1965 Chargers 9-2-3

1972 Dolphins 14-0

1973 Rams 12-2

1977 Cowboys 12-2

1987 49ers 13-2

Interesting that this is the second time the Chargers have ranked #1 in offense and defense.

49ers at 13-2 missed the playoffs?73 rams and and 77 boys made they playoffs!

Didn't the 14-0 Dolphins win it all?

 

[David Yudkin]

As for the question in the OP, no, the Chargers are not the first team to lead the league in offense and defense and miss the playoffs. Here are all the teams that did it since the NFL called themselves the NFL starting in 1950:

1952 Browns 8-4

1953 Eagles 7-4-1 (missed playoffs)

1964 Bills 12-2

1965 Chargers 9-2-3

1972 Dolphins 14-0

1973 Rams 12-2

1977 Cowboys 12-2

1987 49ers 13-2

Interesting that this is the second time the Chargers have ranked #1 in offense and defense.

49ers at 13-2 missed the playoffs?

No. These are all the teams that ranked first in offense and defense. Only the 1953 Eagles missed the playoffs.

 

[FreeBaGeL]

As for the question in the OP, no, the Chargers are not the first team to lead the league in offense and defense and miss the playoffs. Here are all the teams that did it since the NFL called themselves the NFL starting in 1950:

1952 Browns 8-4

1953 Eagles 7-4-1 (missed playoffs)

1964 Bills 12-2

1965 Chargers 9-2-3

1972 Dolphins 14-0

1973 Rams 12-2

1977 Cowboys 12-2

1987 49ers 13-2

Interesting that this is the second time the Chargers have ranked #1 in offense and defense.

49ers at 13-2 missed the playoffs?

I think that was just a list of the teams that had the #1 offense and defense. The 1953 Eagles are the only other team to miss the playoffs.

 

[Sigfawn]

As for the question in the OP, no, the Chargers are not the first team to lead the league in offense and defense and miss the playoffs. Here are all the teams that did it since the NFL called themselves the NFL starting in 1950:

1952 Browns 8-4

1953 Eagles 7-4-1 (missed playoffs)

1964 Bills 12-2

1965 Chargers 9-2-3

1972 Dolphins 14-0

1973 Rams 12-2

1977 Cowboys 12-2

1987 49ers 13-2

Interesting that this is the second time the Chargers have ranked #1 in offense and defense.

49ers at 13-2 missed the playoffs?

You skipped over the 1972 Dolphins? *lol*

 

[gandalas]

As for the question in the OP, no, the Chargers are not the first team to lead the league in offense and defense and miss the playoffs. Here are all the teams that did it since the NFL called themselves the NFL starting in 1950:

1952 Browns 8-4

1953 Eagles 7-4-1 (missed playoffs)

1964 Bills 12-2

1965 Chargers 9-2-3

1972 Dolphins 14-0

1973 Rams 12-2

1977 Cowboys 12-2

1987 49ers 13-2

Interesting that this is the second time the Chargers have ranked #1 in offense and defense.

49ers at 13-2 missed the playoffs?73 rams and and 77 boys made they playoffs!

Didn't the 14-0 Dolphins win it all?

Reading comprehension fail...those are all the teams that led the league. As marked, the 1953 Eagles also missed the playoffs at 7-4-12

 

[Ghost Rider]

I'd say that it is more accurate to say that stats are not meaningless, but they don't mean everything.

Look at Sam Bradford's YPA this year. It was pretty bad, and not at all indicative of how he played. That is an indictment of his lack of weapons in the passing game, but anyone who watched him with their eyes (aside from just last night) knows that he was pretty damn good this year.

 

[Michael Brown]

"#1 Defense" just means that they're #1 in yards-per-game. It doesn't account for Points Allowed, Penalties, Turnovers, 1st Downs, etc.The Chargers have pioneered the "break but don't bend" defense.

I don't agree with this. I watched all of their games, and while they didn't remind anyone of the 85 Bears out there I would say they were one of the better defensive teams in the league. Their tackling, which had been suspect in recent seasons, was very good. Their run defense was excellent, and until the Bengals game they didn't give up many/any significantly long offensive plays through the air. They also weren't bad in penalties.The points allowed stat is skewed by all of the special teams points they allowed early in the season as well with the kick and punt returns to KC and Seattle, the blocked punts in their own end zone against Oakland, etc. And their offensive turnovers had nothing to do with the quality of the defense, except for the fact that it often gave the opposition a shorter field to work with and thus an easier avenue to score points against them.

 

[BobbyLayne]

since the NFL called themselves the NFL starting in 1950:

They started using that name in 1922...

 

[Johnny Rock]

First name that popped into my head was 2010 Brandon Marshall.

86 rec

1,014 yds

3 TD

Looks decent on paper at first glance but he was a complete non-factor this year and couldn't be trusted even though he mopped up with a couple 100 yd games and 2 TD's at the end of the year.

 

[SWC]

i am always coming up with stats that dont mean anything like when i tell my wife that she leads the league in doing the dishes and should PROTECT THAT HOUSE and she just tells me im' stupid and i should do the damned dishes by myself so i guess the point is that stats can say anything but at the end of the day if it doesnt translate into wins your just doing the damned dishes

 

[squistion]

As for the question in the OP, no, the Chargers are not the first team to lead the league in offense and defense and miss the playoffs. Here are all the teams that did it since the NFL called themselves the NFL starting in 1950:

1952 Browns 8-4

1953 Eagles 7-4-1 (missed playoffs)

1964 Bills 12-2

1965 Chargers 9-2-3

1972 Dolphins 14-0

1973 Rams 12-2

1977 Cowboys 12-2

1987 49ers 13-2

Interesting that this is the second time the Chargers have ranked #1 in offense and defense.

49ers at 13-2 missed the playoffs?73 rams and and 77 boys made they playoffs!

Didn't the 14-0 Dolphins win it all?

Reading comprehension fail...those are all the teams that led the league. As marked, the 1953 Eagles also missed the playoffs at 7-4-12

Perhaps, but what was written was at the very least ambiguous. The teams that did "it" would seem to be referring to those teams who didn't make the playoffs, not just those who lead the league in offense and defense. Now, it is qualified by the parenthesis after the 53 Eagles team, but the awkward earlier phrasing caused some understandable confusion.

 

[Sigfawn]

The OP thinks he's "debunking" stats.

When actually, those stats probably mean the coach should be fired. The team was VERY good on both sides of the ball. Special teams, late game moves, time management, getting his team ready to play, a lot of that falls on the coach.

The stat speaks to the talent level.

Missing the playoffs speaks to how poorly the team was coached.

So the stats don't lie, they actually show how messed up an extremely talented team was.

 

[Chase Stuart]

The OP thinks he's "debunking" stats.When actually, those stats probably mean the coach should be fired. The team was VERY good on both sides of the ball. Special teams, late game moves, time management, getting his team ready to play, a lot of that falls on the coach.The stat speaks to the talent level.Missing the playoffs speaks to how poorly the team was coached. So the stats don't lie, they actually show how messed up an extremely talented team was.

Hard to understand why you wouldn't credit the coach for turning in the league's #1 ranked offense and #1 ranked defense. Would seem to be an example of good coaching, to me. Does Houston's DC get a pass because he was coaching an extremely terrible defense based on their rankings?

 

[aquateen]

The OP thinks he's "debunking" stats.When actually, those stats probably mean the coach should be fired. The team was VERY good on both sides of the ball. Special teams, late game moves, time management, getting his team ready to play, a lot of that falls on the coach.The stat speaks to the talent level.Missing the playoffs speaks to how poorly the team was coached. So the stats don't lie, they actually show how messed up an extremely talented team was.

Hard to understand why you wouldn't credit the coach for turning in the league's #1 ranked offense and #1 ranked defense. Would seem to be an example of good coaching, to me. Does Houston's DC get a pass because he was coaching an extremely terrible defense based on their rankings?

I'd say he did get a free pass, he should have been fired 8 weeks ago.

 

[Fodasme69]

As for the question in the OP, no, the Chargers are not the first team to lead the league in offense and defense and miss the playoffs. Here are all the teams that did it since the NFL called themselves the NFL starting in 1950:

1952 Browns 8-4

1953 Eagles 7-4-1 (missed playoffs)

1964 Bills 12-2

1965 Chargers 9-2-3

1972 Dolphins 14-0

1973 Rams 12-2

1977 Cowboys 12-2

1987 49ers 13-2

Interesting that this is the second time the Chargers have ranked #1 in offense and defense.

49ers at 13-2 missed the playoffs?73 rams and and 77 boys made they playoffs!

Didn't the 14-0 Dolphins win it all?

Reading comprehension fail...those are all the teams that led the league. As marked, the 1953 Eagles also missed the playoffs at 7-4-12

Perhaps, but what was written was at the very least ambiguous. The teams that did "it" would seem to be referring to those teams who didn't make the playoffs, not just those who lead the league in offense and defense. Now, it is qualified by the parenthesis after the 53 Eagles team, but the awkward earlier phrasing caused some understandable confusion.

and thanks!

 

[Big_Russel]

"Stats are for losers, The final score is for winners."

--Bill Bellichick

 

[NE_REVIVAL]

The OP thinks he's "debunking" stats.When actually, those stats probably mean the coach should be fired. The team was VERY good on both sides of the ball. Special teams, late game moves, time management, getting his team ready to play, a lot of that falls on the coach.The stat speaks to the talent level.Missing the playoffs speaks to how poorly the team was coached. So the stats don't lie, they actually show how messed up an extremely talented team was.

Hard to understand why you wouldn't credit the coach for turning in the league's #1 ranked offense and #1 ranked defense. Would seem to be an example of good coaching, to me. Does Houston's DC get a pass because he was coaching an extremely terrible defense based on their rankings?

Allow me to channel my inermost BB; stats are for losers and coaches are paid (credited) to win games, not post meaningless statistics.IMHO, the ability of NFL coaches and players to do more with less and less with more are just a couple of many different variables/factors/intangibles that can never be broken down into a statistical formula no matter how well thought out and well intentioned that formula may be.

 

[Ghost Rider]

Allow me to channel my inermost BB; stats are for losers and coaches are paid (credited) to win games, not post meaningless statistics.IMHO, the ability of NFL coaches and players to do more with less and less with more are just a couple of many different variables/factors/intangibles that can never be broken down into a statistical formula no matter how well thought out and well intentioned that formula may be.

I gotta agree with this. But you'll never get Chase to get agree that stats don't mean everything.

 

[ninerfanatic492000]

of course they have the #1 yardage defense. how far did offenses need to go to score or kick a FG? 20-35yards tops? and thats if someone saved a return TD with a shoestring tackle

 

[Islander]

Wow, they did it.

Unbelievable!

 

[Leroy Hoard]

They will be ready and rested for next yea'rs fantasy drafts.

 

[David Yudkin]

Wow, they did it. Offense #1 with 396 yds per game, in front of the Eagles with 389 yds per game. Defense #1 with 272 yds per game, in front of the Steelers with 277 yds per game. You could say that if the Eagles had something to play for in week 17 it would not have happened, but the accomplishment is extraordinary anyway. Finishing #1 on both offense and defense must be extremely rare (can someone tell me if it happened before?), but missing the playoffs to top it off might never happen again in our lifetime.

I merged threads and answers to your questions are now listed earlier in this thread.

 

[Ghost Rider]

I think the '96 Packers finished first in both total offense and total defense. Or maybe it was scoring offense and defense. Cannot remember off hand...

 

[David Yudkin]

I think the '96 Packers finished first in both total offense and total defense. Or maybe it was scoring offense and defense. Cannot remember off hand...

First in points scored and fewest ponts allowed.

 

[Islander]

Wow, they did it. Offense #1 with 396 yds per game, in front of the Eagles with 389 yds per game. Defense #1 with 272 yds per game, in front of the Steelers with 277 yds per game. You could say that if the Eagles had something to play for in week 17 it would not have happened, but the accomplishment is extraordinary anyway. Finishing #1 on both offense and defense must be extremely rare (can someone tell me if it happened before?), but missing the playoffs to top it off might never happen again in our lifetime.

I merged threads and answers to your questions are now listed earlier in this thread.

Thanks David. I was wondering what happened there. I did not see anything new in my original thread so I posted, only to find a bunch of replies later.