Some thoughts and some numbers regarding Super Bowl XLVI (Part 2)…

Although we’ve seen flashes of it in the playoffs, defense has taken somewhat of a holiday in the NFL this season and when it comes to this Super Bowl, we’ve seen quite a contrast from even a year ago. The Giants (400) and Patriots (342) have combined to allow 742 points in 2011; the Steelers (232) and Packers (240), who met in Super Bowl XLV, combined to allow 472 points in 2011. Be it New York or New England, we’re going to see one of the highest totals in terms of points allowed by a Super Bowl champion, the Top 3 spots owned by the 2006 Colts (2006), 2007 Giants (351) and 2009 Saints (341), who won Super Bowls XLI, XLII and XLIV, respectively… Continue reading →

Some thoughts and some numbers regarding Super Bowl XLVI (Part 1)…

For the second time in 5 years, the Giants and Patriots will square off in the season’s biggest game. And just was the case in 2007, the teams also met in the regular season when New England held off New York, 38-35, at since-demolished Giants Stadium enroute to a 17-14 setback in Super Bowl XLII at Glendale. This season, the Giants defeated the Patriots, 24-20, at Foxborough–the last game Bill Belichick’s team lost this season. This will mark the 13th time in Super Bowl history that teams that met during the regular season will face each other in the Super Bowl and the team who won the regular-season meeting is 5-7 in 12 previous Super Bowls. Stay tuned as Tom Coughlin’s club looks to snap the Pats’ 10-game overall winning streak… Continue reading →

Some thoughts and some numbers regarding Championship Game weekend of the 2011 season…

With the Packers and Saints already eliminated from this year’s postseason by the Giants and 49ers, respectively, it appears that there may be hope after all for defense this season. All kidding aside, the Ravens (whose defensive unit gave up only 21 touchdowns during the regular season) know how to put the clamps on the opposition as well, while the high-flying Patriots continue to outscore the opposition while giving up their share of yards and sometimes their share of points. We bring this up because in the history of the NFL playoffs (dating back to 1933), there have been a total of 30 shutouts and more than half of them (16) have come in the Championship Games. Of course, it’s also worth noting that we haven’t seen a team blanked in the postseason since the Panthers stymied the Giants, 23-0, in the 2005 NFC Wild Card Playoffs… Continue reading →

Some thoughts and some numbers regarding Divisional Playoff weekend of the 2011 season…

Last week we were quick to point out that the home team in the Wild Card Playoffs was just 7-9 the previous 4 seasons. But last Saturday and Sunday, the host Texans, Saints, Giants and Broncos all came away with wins, the first sweep by the home teams in that round since ‘06. This weekend, the 49ers, Patriots, Ravens and Packers get back to business knowing that home teams are just 12-12 in the Divisional Playoffs dating back to 2005 after going 49-11 in this round from 1990-04. It should also be noted that in last season’s playoffs, home teams were just 4-6 in 10 games, meaning the hosts have already equaled their 2010 postseason win total…

It’s one of those irresistible force/immovable object kind of games as Sean Payton’s hot team, winner of 9 straight games, head to San Francisco to face one of the league’s top defenses. Keep in mind that the including playoffs, the Saints  have scored 177 points and 23 offensive touchdowns in their last 4 games, while the 49ers have allowed 229 points and 23 offensive touchdowns in 16 games this season. Even more impressive is the fact that Jim Harbaugh’s club was the only team in the league in 2011 not to give up at least 30 points in any game this season…

Last season, New England set an NFL record (and tied by the 49ers this season) by committing just 10 turnovers, the fewest by any team in any season. Duplicating that kind of efficiency would be near impossible and through their first 8 games of 2011, Bill Belichick’s team had already coughed up the ball 14 times in the team’s 5-3 start. But since committing 4 turnovers in a Week 9 loss to the Giants, the Patriots have 3 turnovers in their last 8 games (8-0). For the season, Belichick’s club finished with a more-than respectable 17 turnovers, good enough for third in the league behind the aforementioned Niners (10) and Packers (14)…

A lot of credit for the Texans’ first playoff season has to go to defensive coordinator Wade Phillips, who transformed this group (minus DE/OLB Mario Williams for the final 11 games of 2011) into one of the best units in the league. And when this group was on, there were few better. But when they were off their game, it was a totally different story. Including the playoff win over the Bengals, the Texans allowed 124 points in their 11 wins compared to 164 points in 6 losses this season. Of course, 29 of those 164 points were by the Ravens in Week 6 at Baltimore as RB Ray Rice had a very productive afternoon…

It’s been a very un-Giants’ like season at the Meadowlands despite the team’s first NFC East title and playoff appearance since 2008. Tom Coughlin’s club relied on a banner year from QB Eli Manning while finishing dead last in the NFL in rushing, totaling less than 100 yards in half of their 16 games. Incl. playoffs, the Giants have totaled 100-plus rushing yards in season-high 3 straight games, including a season-high 172 yards rushing in the NFC Wild Card Game win over the Falcons. That latter figure was 50 yards higher than their previous season-best, a 122-yard outing in a Week 6 victory over the Bills. Of course, it will be interesting to see how Manning and company attack the Packers considering this Green Bay team surrendered the most passing yards in a season in NFL history.

Some thoughts and some numbers regarding Wild Card weekend of the 2011 season…

In recent seasons, the NFL playoffs have proven is all you need is to earn an invite and anything can happen. And even homefield advantage in the postseason has been diminished as of late. For instance, in the first round of the 2010 playoffs, only the NFC West champion and 7-9 Seahawks won at home, dethroning the then-defending Super Bowl champion Saints, 41-36. Elsewhere, the Jets (at Indianapolis), Ravens (at Kansas City) and Packers (at Philadelphia) all went on the road and won. All told, home teams are just 13-15 in the Wild Card Playoffs dating back to ’04, after going 41-15 in this round from 1990-03… Continue reading →

Some thoughts and some numbers regarding Week 17 of the 2011 season…

The Lions are headed to the playoffs for the first time since 1999, and with double-digit wins for the first time since 1995 are looking for their most victories since winning the NFC Central in 1991 with a 12-4 record. And speaking of 20 years ago, that’s also the last time the Detroit travel to Wisconsin and beat the Packers. Including playoffs, the Lions have lost 20 straight road games to Green Bay dating back to 1991 (the first 3 at Milwaukee from 1992-94, the last 17 at Lambeau Field from 1994-10). By the way, the Lions’ quarterback that afternoon in their 21-17 win at Lambeau Field was QB Erik Kramer… Continue reading →

Some thoughts and some numbers regarding Week 16 of the 2011 season…

Cowboys’ owner Jerry Jones has expressed some trepidation about this week’s rematch with the Birds, who manhandled the Pokes, 34-7, eight weeks ago on a Sunday night at Philadelphia. Perhaps Jones’ really fear comes from watching Eagles’ RB LeSean McCoy, who has totaled 46 attempts for 334 yards rushing (7.3 YPC) and 2 touchdowns in his last 2 games vs. the Cowboys dating back to last season. In this year’s first meeting with the Cowboys, the league leader in touchdowns scored (20) ran for 185 yards on 30 carries and scored twice… Continue reading →

Some thoughts and some numbers regarding Week 15 of the 2011 season…

As has been the case all season, you may see your share of late heroics when Denver hosts New England on Sunday. And while QB Tim Tebow and company have obviously saved their best for last, the same can’t be said for Bill Belchick’s team. The Patriots have allowed 166 points in the first 3 quarters while giving up 108 points in fourth quarter (and OT), while the Broncos have scored 164 points in last 8 games–78 points in the first 3 quarters and 86 points in fourth quarter and overtime… Continue reading →

Some thoughts and some numbers regarding Week 14 of the 2011 season…

It’s been all downhill since for Tom Coughlin’s team since surprising the Patriots in Foxborough (ending New England’s 20-game regular-season home winning streak). Big Blue has dropped 4 straight games since and in their last 2 setbacks, losses to the Saints and Packers, the Giants have allowed 87 points and 11 offensive touchdowns, quite a contrast for a team that gave up 228 points and 22 offensive TDs in their first 10 games this season. New York heads to Dallas in the first of 2 meetings with the Cowboys in the final 4 weeks… Continue reading →

Some thoughts and some numbers regarding Week 13 of the 2011 season…

The defending Super Bowl champions are now 11-0, meaning Mike McCarthy’s team has already won 1 more game than they did in 2010. But even more impressive has been their offensive production with 5 games remaining in the regular season. The Packers have scored 382 points and 42 offensive touchdowns in 11 games this season, after totaling 388 points and 42 offensive TDs in 16 games in 2010. While QB Aaron Rodgers and company will need some doing to break the 2007 Patriots’ NFL record total of 589 points, they could be headed for a franchise record for scoring… Continue reading →