Patriots Are The 25th Team To Have +200 Points Differential (1 Viewer)

[David Yudkin]

The Patriots are the 25th team in the SB era to have a scoring differential of 200 points or more. You would think that those teams would have romped through the playoffs, but historically that has not been the case . . .

Team, Points Differential, End Result

2007 NEP 315 L SB

1999 STL 284 W SB

1991 WAS 261 W SB

1998 MIN 260 L CC

1985 CHI 258 W SB

1968 BAL 258 L SB

1984 SFO 248 W SB

1996 GBP 246 W SB

1969 MIN 246 L SB

1968 DAL 245 L DIV

1967 OAK 235 L SB

2001 STL 230 L SB

1968 OAK 220 L CC

1984 MIA 215 L SB

1972 MIA 214 W SB

1975 PIT 211 W SB

1973 LAR 210 L DIV

1994 SFO 209 W SB

1983 WAS 209 L SB

1997 SFO 206 L DIV

1966 DAL 206 L CC

2010 NEP 205 ???

1976 PIT 204 L CC

1967 LAR 202 L DIV

1968 KCC 201 L DIV

CC = Conference Champsionship Game

DIV = Divisional Round Game

Note that some years had more than one team with +200 points differential, so obviously two teams couldn't win the SB.

As always, none of this will have any bearing on what happens on the field this year, but I thought it was interesting to research what had happened previously.

 

[bicycle_seat_sniffer]

quiet a few Superbowl L's in there too

 

[wilked]

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/football/...irst/index.html

Still can't believe the Vikes didn't win that game

 

[The_Man]

To me, the true mark of greatness is a team that outscores its opponents by a 2-1 margin for an entire season. A team can have a +200 differential and still give up a ton of points, as long as their offense is truly prolific (like this year's Patriots).

Here are teams since 85 to outscore their opponents by a 2-1 margin for the entire season:

85 Bears

91 Redskins

96 Packers

99 Rams

00 Ravens

07 Patriots

Only the 16-0 Patriots didn't go on to win the Super Bowl.

 

[CletiusMaximus]

where are the point differentials listed? I was looking yesterday on NFL.com and couldn't find that stat (unless I were to do the math myself).

 

[CalBear]

8 out of 25 is actually a very high ratio in a single-elimination tournament; if you have a 69% chance of winning each game, you would expect to win three games in a row 8 out of 25 times.

 

[OPS]

8 out of 25 is actually a very high ratio in a single-elimination tournament; if you have a 69% chance of winning each game, you would expect to win three games in a row 8 out of 25 times.

 

[rick6668]

Interesting that in 1968, 4 teams had over 200 points differential and none of them won the Superbowl.

1968 BAL 258 L SB

1968 DAL 245 L DIV

1968 OAK 220 L CC

1968 KCC 201 L DIV

The Chiefs-Raiders had a Western Division Playoff in which the Raiders won who then lost to the Jets.

The Cowboys lost to the Brown who ended up losing to the Colts. Colts lost to the Jets.

7 teams were in the playoffs (Raiders/Chiefs tied at 12-2 and needed a playoff to see who advanced). 4 of those 7 had the 200 point differential and no one them won the superbowl.

The Jets had a 139 point differential that year.

 

[Sam Quentin]

Interesting that in 1968, 4 teams had over 200 points differential and none of them won the Superbowl.1968 BAL 258 L SB1968 DAL 245 L DIV1968 OAK 220 L CC1968 KCC 201 L DIVThe Chiefs-Raiders had a Western Division Playoff in which the Raiders won who then lost to the Jets.The Cowboys lost to the Brown who ended up losing to the Colts. Colts lost to the Jets.7 teams were in the playoffs (Raiders/Chiefs tied at 12-2 and needed a playoff to see who advanced). 4 of those 7 had the 200 point differential and no one them won the superbowl.The Jets had a 139 point differential that year.

intersting that the NY market team with the most marketable star would overcome those odds to help initiate the merger and accelerate the process of making the NFL the billion dollar industry it is today... :(

 

[guderian]

So, 24 teams have had the 200 point differential (NE is #25) and 8 won the Superbowl--1-in-3 odds ain't bad in a tournament that currently features 12 teams.

 

[DropKick]

8 out of 25 is actually a very high ratio in a single-elimination tournament; if you have a 69% chance of winning each game, you would expect to win three games in a row 8 out of 25 times.

That was my first thought too. Tough to win in a "one and done" format.

 

[Adebisi]

8 out of 25 is actually a very high ratio in a single-elimination tournament; if you have a 69% chance of winning each game, you would expect to win three games in a row 8 out of 25 times.

 

[DoubleG]

To me, the true mark of greatness is a team that outscores its opponents by a 2-1 margin for an entire season. A team can have a +200 differential and still give up a ton of points, as long as their offense is truly prolific (like this year's Patriots).Here are teams since 85 to outscore their opponents by a 2-1 margin for the entire season:85 Bears91 Redskins96 Packers99 Rams00 Ravens07 PatriotsOnly the 16-0 Patriots didn't go on to win the Super Bowl.

The point of course being (please forgive the cliche) while offense wins regular season games, defense wins post season games. I also din it interesting that so mnay of his years playoff teams are almost completely devoid of a viable running attack - some of the teams either simply don't run the ball well, or do, but don't seem to run enough.

 

[Richard_the_Vampire]

The top four teams on this list were incredibly dominant, SB win or no. 98 Vikes and 07 Patriots were incredible teams. The 91 Skins and 99 Rams dominated the NFL from start to finish.

 

[bostonfred]

Are they the first team ever with a +200 points differential but a negative yardage differential?

 

[yabahos]

Note that some years had more than one team with +200 points differential, so obviously two teams couldn't win the SB.

Eliminating the years (1968 and 1984) with more than one +200 point differential teams gives you 7 of 18 (~39%) winning the SB and 12 of 18 (67%) making it to the SB. In 1984 there were two +200 and both made it to the SB.