The Read Optional RODS Ratings — Week 4

The Read Optional RODS ratings are our own developed statistical metric of team performance, analyzing the play of all three phases of the game. Within the RODS ratings there are two measures of performance. Firstly, the Standard RODS that is an aggregate of the Offensive, Defensive and Special Teams ratings and is based purely on what happens on the field, taking into consideration no outside factors. Secondly there is the Adjusted RODS, which applies some additional factors that are not measured in terms of box score stats, including weightings for includes strength of schedule, Divisional and Conference games and games played later in the season. For a further breakdown of how the ratings are derived, you can find the full breakdown of the RODS ratings here.

RODS Ratings Week 4

The Texans posted the highest rating this week and the second highest rating of any team this season with a +90.0% effort as they demolished the Titans 57–14 in Houston. It was a franchise record score for the Texans who had never posted a 50 point game in there history. Their previous best was a 45–21 victory in 2014, again over the Titans. Not surprisingly after scoring 50 points, the Texans had the top rated offense of week 4. The Titans on the flip side posted the second lowest rating of 2017 with a -97.1% grade. Interestingly though, and despite conceding 57 points, the Titans defense ranked a lofty 30th this week, with the Patriots and Bears defenses both posting lower ratings this week.

The Saints made it back-to-back wins as they defeated the Dolphins in London and the 20–0 defeat gave them the second highest Standard RODS rating this week with a +75.7% grade. The Dolphins in response posted a -80.0% rating with the joint lowest offensive rating of the week with -6.3% alongside the Titans. The Dolphins are the only team in the NFL to have posted multiple negative offensive grades, and have done it in back-to-back weeks.

There were three teams that can count themselves unlucky this week, as the Vikings, Cowboys and 49ers all produced a higher Standard RODS ratings in losing than the team that defeated them.

RODS Ratings — 2017 Season to Date

The Chiefs, who are the only undefeated team left in the NFL, lead the way in the season-long ratings. Their offense ranks as number 1 in the NFL and is supported by the second rated special teams unit. The defense surprisingly is only rated as 20th, despite the Chiefs having the greatest point differrential in the league so far this year (+45 points).

The Steelers are currently second in the RODS ratings thanks to their number one rated defense. The Steelers’ defense have 30 negative plays already on the season (15 sacks, 15 tackles for loss) and are top 3 in both yards and points allowed.

The surprise package of the season so far, the Los Angeles Rams sit third in the league through four games and can boast the second-rated offense which leads the league in points scored.

The Dolphins sit at the bottom of the rankings through 3 games with the bottom rated offense and 27th rated defense. They’ve essentially been shut out in the last two games, having scored with the last play of the week 3 defeat to the Jets and then losing 20–0 to the Saints in week 4.

The Patriots sit with the biggest variance between their offense (3rd) and defense (32nd). The only teams with ‘balanced’ offenses and defenses are the 30th and 31st rated teams in RODS ratings, the Browns (Offense and defense 28th) and the Colts (Offense and defense 30th).

I’ll be back next week with the updated week 5 rankings. You can find me on Twitter @PaddiCooper or @ReadOptional.