Points For vs. Points Against: What Does It All Mean?
After tweeting the Top Five for Points For and Points Against in the National Football League, entering Week 10, I wondered one thought: What does it all mean?
Let’s start with the raw statistics:
— the 32 teams in the NFL have scored 5,795 points, while giving up 5,795 points;
— the NFC has scored 137 more points than the AFC;
— the AFC has allowed 57 more points than the NFC;
— the highest scoring division is the NFC East (Eagles, Cowboys, Redskins, Giants) with 815 points, while the lowest scoring division is the AFC North (Steelers, Ravens, Bengals, Browns) with 605 points;
— the division allowing the most points is the AFC South with 778, while the division allowing the least points is the AFC North with 662;
— the Kansas City Chiefs (253 PF, 208 PA) and the Houston Texans (229 PF, 208 PA) are the two teams that have scored and given up 200 points;
— the best Points Scored/Points Allowed differential is two points, held by both the Atlanta Falcons (170 PF, 172 PA) and the L.A. Chargers (150 PF, 152 PA);
— the widest point differential belongs to the L.A. Rams (263 PF, 155 PA); and;
— the team scoring the most points is the Philadelphia Eagles (283), while the team allowing the least points is the Jacksonville Jaguars (117).
Those last two stats make the most sense. The Rams (6–2), a winner in three straight games, including a shellacking of the Giants last week, looks great on both sides of the football. The Eagles (8–1) — can’t seem to lose a beat —score quicker than a human can blink, averaging 31.4 points per game. And the Jaguars (5–3) are so unflappable on defense that they made A.J. Green — a good dude — mad enough to lose his mind and throw punches.
But how are the Miami Dolphins 4–4 with a 63-point (116 PF, 179 PA) negative differential? Clearly, the team has some luck. The Indianapolis Colts, giving up 260 points, probably should not have three wins; they’re within reach in the AFC South. Everything about the Browns (0–8), 49ers (0–9), and Giants (1–7) checks out; these teams have scored low and get scored on a lot, which is a losing formula.
Did we learn anything? Maybe. Either way, we churned our brains for a minute or two.
Editor’s Note: The Seattle Seahawks (5–3) are playing the Arizona Cardinals (4–4) right now. Interesting stuff happens if Arizona wins.
