NFL Week Three Power Rankings: The Computer Made Me Do It
If you make it past the part where the Lions are #1 to get to the part where the Bills are #2 and your head hasn’t already exploded, by the time you get to the part where the 49ers are #8 this will surely detonate some blood vessels.
Let me explain.
I am aware the 49ers have the lowers offensive yards per game average in the NFL. With no context, this statistic would automatically preclude them from being anywhere near the top 15, much less #8. But consider the following. They have scored two special teams touchdowns and forced eight turnovers in three games. They average 39.7 yards per kickoff return (best in the league) and 13 yards per punt return (8th). What I’m saying here is, they generally don’t have a lot of ground to cover to get into the end zone. Don’t hate the Niners because they have a great special teams and force turnovers. The formula doesn’t.
Indeed, the formula really likes that the Niners are +6 in turnover differential. It loves that they are holding opposing teams to 306.3 yards per game and outscores its opposition by an average of six points per game.
When you think about it this way it isn’t that hard to understand, right?
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I should stress that a team’s overall record has the greatest impact on where it falls in the standings. While I believe that ranking teams based on record alone is stupid, I don’t deny the fact that winning games is the ultimate goal of football and teams that win, no matter how or why, should be rewarded for doing so.
That said, I think you would agree that the 0-3 Vikings, having led all three of their games at halftime, against three teams that are a combined 7-2 no less, and having taken the 3-0 Lions to overtime, are properly ranked higher than a 1-2 Seahawks team that has yet to play a decent game. This is ultimately the goal of these rankings.
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Biggest movers
- UP: Nine spots — RAVENS (12 to 3) and 49ERS (17 to 9)
- DOWN: Eight spots –EAGLES (14 to 22)
|
TEAM |
LAST_WEEK |
RECORD |
RANKINGS_INDEX |
|
1. Lions
|
1 (.8193) |
3-0 |
.7807 |
|
2. Bills |
3 (.7683) |
3-0 |
.7351 |
|
3. Ravens |
12 (.5740) |
2-1 |
.6976 |
|
4. Packers |
8 (.6203) |
3-0 |
.6788 |
|
5. Titans |
10 (.6127) |
2-1 |
.6482 |
|
6. Jets |
2 (.7683) |
2-1 |
.6341 |
|
7. Cowboys |
9 (.6169) |
2-1 |
.6330 |
|
8. 49ers |
17 (.5155) |
2-1 |
.6121 |
|
9. Saints |
7 (.6209) |
2-1 |
.6095 |
|
10. Texans |
5 (.7095) |
2-1 |
.6078 |
|
11. Redskins |
4 (.7159) |
2-1 |
.6071 |
|
12. Patriots |
6 (.6824) |
2-1 |
.6068 |
|
13. Raiders |
13 (.5594) |
2-1 |
.5921 |
|
14. Giants |
15 (.5240) |
2-1 |
.5683 |
|
15. Steelers |
22 (.4806) |
2-1 |
.5413 |
|
16. Bengals |
11 (.5943) |
1-2 |
.5311 |
|
17. Buccaneers |
24 (.4752) |
2-1 |
.5250 |
|
18. Chargers |
20 (.5069) |
2-1 |
.5130 |
|
19. Browns |
19 (.5088) |
2-1 |
.5076 |
|
20. Panthers |
26 (.3953) |
1-2 |
.4720 |
|
21. Bears |
16 (.5183) |
1-2 |
.4668 |
|
22. Eagles |
14 (.5473) |
1-2 |
.4544 |
|
23. Broncos |
21 (.4462) |
1-2 |
.4484 |
|
24. Cardinals |
23 (.4787) |
1-2 |
.4432 |
|
25. Jaguars |
18 (.5142) |
1-2 |
.4288 |
|
26. Falcons |
25 (.4613) |
1-2 |
.4093 |
|
27. Vikings |
28 (.3608) |
0-3 |
.3958 |
|
28. Seahawks |
31 (.2825) |
1-2 |
.3919 |
|
29. Dolphins |
27 (.3833) |
0-3 |
.3295 |
|
30. Colts |
29 (.3549) |
0-3 |
.3272 |
|
31. Rams |
30 (.3359) |
0-3 |
.2253 |
|
32. Chiefs |
32
(.2245) |
0-3 | .2179 |
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