Thanksgiving is usually a day of games that are, well, turkeys. Maybe not this year. The Vikings and Lions are actually good this year. Vikings will probably demolish the Lions, but who knows, it could be close. Chargers are improving and the Cowboys are on the way down the stairs. That might be an interesting game. The Giants are horrible and the Redskins are a zombie doormat. However, that is a long standing rivalry game so stats mean nothing. It could be a real close slug out, and the Giants might even find their third win of the year. The Oracle punts this Thursday. No predictions.
So just for fun, let's look at punts.
The leading punt team in the NFL is the Indianapolis Colts with 58 punts for 2,601 yard. They have only 3,000 yards of offense! As we all know, the more times you are punting, the more likely it is that you are leading the league in third and long, and the Colts are! The Houston Texans are tied for second with Cincinnati with 57 punts. Both teams are at 4-6 and functioning mostly as a team to beat as the good teams pad their divisional leads. However, the Jags are in 4th with 55 punts. Little stats like that might hint at bad things to come in the playoffs.
But the stat that really tells the story is Punts Per Minute of possession. Let's look at the teams playing on Thanksgiving:
Vikings (39 punts), PPM=6.2
Lions (43 punts), PPM=5.2
Chargers (53 punts), PPM=3.7
Cowboys (40 punts), PPM=5.9
Giants (55 punts), PPM=2.8
Redskins (43 punts), PPM=5.3
If your PPM is over 5, you are doing pretty well. Below 4, you are suspicious. Below 3, OMG. The three leading PPM teams are Bengals (2.75), Giants (2.8) and Colts (2.9). Jags, by the way, have a PPM of 3.75.
Based on their punting records, the Oracle expects The vikings and Lions to have a pretty close game, the Cowboys will barely beat the Chargers, and the Skins are going to bury the Giants. But hey, these are just stats, and it's Thanksgiving, so anything can happen.
The Oracle has spoken!
punt-astic!
ReplyDeleteVikings and Chargers win, Cowboys and Giants are sagging like a pair of old sweat pants. Lions are not sure where they are headed, but it isn't Macy's. Looks like we will be saying adios to Minnesota ant LA-C for now. It's nice to see those two teams on a roll again.
ReplyDeleteI like the new logo, even if it is huge!! Or I love our HUGE LOGO!! As the Commish said, the Giants are just a bad football team now. Chargers still just 5-6, but the way the Chiefs are going, and the soft schedule the Chargers have for the rest of the season, they could end up 9-7 and champs of the AFC West. And they get the Chiefs one more time 12/16. Should be a doozy.
ReplyDelete