NFL stats potpourri: Least turnovers; most improved; playoff misses
The Houston Texans, led by J.J. Watt, was the NFL’s most improved team in 2014
Here’s three stats from the just-completed NFL regular season that you may find interesting.
* For the first time in NFL history, three teams finished the regular season with less than 15 turnovers. Green and New England each had only 13 turnovers this season, while the Seattle Seahawks had only 14. Each of these three teams also finished the season with 12 wins each.
Prior to this season, there had been 14 teams that had 15 or fewer turnovers in a season. The 2010 Patriots and the 2011 49ers each had only 10 turnovers in a season, best in NFL history.
Here’s a look at the NFL teams with 15 or fewer turnovers in a season.
10: New England, 2010; San Francisco, 2011
13: Miami, 2008; New York Giants, 2008; Green Bay, 2014; New England, 2014
14: New York Giants, 1990; Kansas City, 2010; Green Bay, 2011; Washington, 2012; Indianapolis, 2013; Seattle, 2014
15: Dallas, 1998; Jacksonville, 2002; Kansas City, 2002; San Diego, 2006; New England, 2007
* The Houston Texans were the most improved team in the NFL this season. The Texans went from two wins in 2013 to nine victories this season, an increase of seven victories. The biggest drop was a tie between Tennessee and Carolina; both dropped five wins from 2013 to 2014. Ironically, the Panthers still made it to the playoffs despite their five-win drop this season.
Here’s a look at the teams with the biggest gains (and drops) in wins for 2014.
Biggest Gain
+7: Houston
+4: Dallas, Detroit, Green Bay
+3: Buffalo, Cleveland, Pittsburgh
Biggest Drop
-5: Carolina, Tennessee
-4: New Orleans, New York Jets, San Francisco
-3: Chicago
* For the fourth time since 1996, the Kansas City Chiefs had a winning record yet failed to make the playoffs. The Chiefs were one of five teams this season to have a winning record (nine or more wins) yet did not make the playoffs. Buffalo, Houston, Kansas City and San Diego each had nine wins in the AFC but did not make the playoffs; the Philadelphia Eagles had 10 wins in the NFC, but it wasn’t enough to make the post-season.
Here are the teams with the most winning seasons since 1990 (when the NFL went to a 12-team format for the playoffs) that did not make the playoffs that year.
Winning record seasons but no playoffs (since 1990)
4: Kansas City, Miami
3: Chicago, New York Giants, New York Jets, Pittsburgh, San Diego
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99 Stats Until Kickoff (#93) When was the last time your team won a playoff game?
(Photo credit: Wikipedia)
From May 30 and every day until September 5… the start of the 2013 NFL season… Sports Stats ‘on Tapp’ will publish “99 Stats Until Kickoff” a daily dose of NFL stats that will get you ready for the 2013 NFL season.)
The Cincinnati Bengals had a chance this past year to end a 21-year drought with a win in the playoffs when they faced off against the Houston Texans in an AFC Wild Card game. The Bengals have not won a playoff game since 1990.
The Texans beat the Bengals in that Wild Card contest, thus extending Cincinnati’s streak of consecutive seasons without winning a playoff game to 22 years, the longest current wait for a post-season win in the NFL.
There are now nine teams that have not won a playoff game in 10 years or more. The Tennessee Titans joined that list this past season when they failed to make the 2012 playoffs. Their last playoff win was after the 2003 season.
Here’s a look at the last time each of the 32 NFL teams won a playoff game.
Last season they won a playoff game, team
1990: Cincinnati
1991: Detroit
1993: Kansas City
1994: Cleveland
1995: Buffalo
2000: Miami
2002: Oakland, Tampa Bay
2003: Tennessee
2004: St. Louis
2005: Carolina, Washington
2007: Jacksonville
2008: Philadelphia, San Diego
2009: Arizona, Dallas, Minnesota, Indianapolis
2010: Chicago, N.Y. Jets, Pittsburgh
2011: Denver, New Orleans, N.Y. Giants
2012: Atlanta, Baltimore, Green Bay, Houston, New England, San Francisco, Seattle
“99 Stats Before Kickoff” (Stats you need to know before the start of the 2013 NFL season) is available from e-book publisher Smashwords. Go to www.smashwords.com to download a copy, including a pdf version which can be viewed on your home computer. Cost is $2.99.
99 Stats Until Kickoff (#61) The Eagles are the kings of the Wild Card
From May 30 and every day until September 5… the start of the 2013 NFL season… Sports Stats ‘on Tapp’ will publish “99 Stats Until Kickoff” a daily dose of NFL stats that will get you ready for the 2013 NFL season.)
(Photo credit: Wikipedia)
In 1970, the National Football League added a new element to the playoffs: the Wild Card team. In that season, the league allowed one non-division winning team in the postseason in addition to the three divisional champs. In 1978, two Wild Card teams were eligible for the playoffs; in 1990, the postseason included three Wild Card teams and the three divisional champs. In 2002, the league expanded to four divisions in each conference and added two Wild Card teams from each conference in the postseason. (Enough of the history lesson!)
Since 1970, every team except the Houston Texans has been a benefactor of a Wild Card playoff berth. The Cincinnati Bengals were the only repeat Wild Card teams this season from 2011.
Here’s a quick look at which teams have made the most playoff appearances as a Wild Card team since 1970.
11: Philadelphia
10: Tennessee
9: Dallas, New York Jets
8: Miami, Minnesota, St. Louis
7: Indianapolis, Washington, Denver, New York Giants
6: Detroit, Atlanta, Buffalo, Oakland, Kansas City, Green Bay
5: Baltimore, Pittsburgh, Seattle
4: Cleveland, New England, Chicago, San Francisco, New Orleans, Jacksonville
3: Cincinnati, Tampa Bay
2: Arizona
1: San Diego, Carolina
0: Houston
These teams have not been a Wild Card team in this century (year listed is their last appearance as a Wild Card team): Oakland, 1993; Chicago, 1994; San Diego, 1995; Arizona, 1998; New England, 1998; Detroit 1999; Buffalo, 1999.
“99 Stats Before Kickoff” (Stats you need to know before the start of the 2013 NFL season) is available from e-book publisher Smashwords. Go to www.smashwords.com to download a copy, including a pdf version which can be viewed on your home computer. Cost is $2.99
Eagles are the kings of the NFL Wild Card… but not this year!
Image via Wikipedia
Sports Stats ‘on Tapp’ is a biweekly blog published every Wednesday and Sunday with a bonus “SIX STATS…” posting every Friday.
In 1970, the National Football League added a new element to their playoffs: the wild card team. Since that season, every team except the Houston Texans has been a benefactor of a Wild Card berth.
Here’s a quick look at which teams have made the most playoff appearances as a Wild Card team since 1970.
11: Philadelphia
10: Tennessee
9: Dallas, New York Jets
8: Miami, St. Louis Rams
7: Washington, Denver, New York Giants, Minnesota,
6: Indianapolis, Buffalo, Oakland, Kansas City, Green Bay
5: Detroit, Atlanta, Baltimore
4: Cleveland, Pittsburgh, New England, Chicago, Seattle, San Francisco, New Orleans, Jacksonville
3: Tampa Bay
2: Arizona
1: Cincinnati, San Diego, Carolina
0: Houston Texans
Here’s a few more stats re: NFL Wild Card teams…
* The Baltimore Ravens have been an AFC Wild Card in each of the last three seasons.
* These teams have not been a Wild Card team in this century (year listed is their last apperarance as a Wild Card team): Cincinnati, 1975; Oakland, 1993; Chicago, 1994; San Diego, 1995; Arizona, 1998; New England, 1998; Detroit 1999; Buffalo, 1999.
* These teams have had the most appearances as a Wild Card team in the NFL playoffs since 1990: Philadelphia (7), Green Bay (6), Miami (6), New York Jets (6).
Last playoff win for NFL teams
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Sports Stats ‘on Tapp’ is a biweekly blog published every Wednesday and Sunday with a bonus “SIX STATS…” posting every Friday.
Five NFL teams have not had a win in the playoffs since 1995 and beyond. But the interesting thing about these teams is that three of the five teams have winning records after Week 9 of this season and are right in the hunt for making the playoffs and possibly ending their playoff win drought. (Plus the Kansas City Chiefs are tied for first place with a 4-4 record.)
The five teams with the longest drought for a win in the playoffs (and their current record in 2011)
Team (current record) Last season they won a playoff game
Cincinnati (6-2) 1990
Detroit (6-2) 1991
Kansas City (4-4) 1993
Cleveland (3-5) 1994
Buffalo (5-3) 1995
Here are the remainder of the NFL teams and the last year they won a playoff game. (Note: The Houston Texans franchise began in 2002; they have never won a playoff game)
Last season team(s) won a playoff game
2000: Miami
2002: Oakland, San Francisco, Tampa Bay
2003: Tennessee
2004: Atlanta, St. Louis
2005: Carolina, Denver, Washington
2007: Jacksonville, New England, NY Giants
2008: Philadelphia, San Diego
2009: Dallas, Minnesota, Indianapolis, New Orleans, Arizona
2010: Chicago, Green Bay, Seattle, Pittsburgh, NY Jets, Baltimore
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