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Defenses better (or worse) down the stretch

Posted Mar. 17 at 12:19 AM

Among the defensive statistics we track from year to year, we like to see how defenses perform during the season's second half compared to the entire season. With that information, we can determine which season-long numbers are deceptive, and which defenses were dramatically better, or worse, in the final eight games.

In 2008, three defenses ranked 15th or worse in terms of points allowed were actually considerably better than that during the second half of the season. On the other hand, two defenses that finished the year as top-12 groups were ranked 25th or worse in the final eight games. Those numbers are presented below, with the teams that improved or declined the most down the stretch listed in bold; their full-season performance, while those that fell off the map listed in italics.

Points allowed, final eight games

13.4   Baltimore
13.4   Pittsburgh
15.1   Indianapolis
16.4   Tennessee
18.1   Minnesota
18.1   Philadelphia
18.4   Cincinnati (7th)
18.4   San Diego (8th)
18.9   San Francisco (9th)
18.9   Washington
19.3   Miami
19.9   New England
20.6   N.Y. Giants
21.1   N.Y. Jets
21.4   Atlanta
21.6   Buffalo
22.1   Chicago
22.4   Seattle
22.6   Dallas
22.6   Houston
23.4   Oakland
23.8   Cleveland
24.4   Jacksonville
24.8   New Orleans
25.3   Carolina (25th)
25.3   Green Bay
25.4   Tampa Bay (27th)
27.1   Kansas City
28.4   Denver
28.8   St. Louis
30.3   Arizona
34.8   Detroit

Points allowed, season

13.9   Pittsburgh
14.6   Tennessee
15.3   Baltimore
18.1   Philadelphia
18.4   N.Y. Giants
18.5   Washington
18.6   Indianapolis
19.3   New England
19.8   Miami
20.2   Tampa Bay (10th)
20.3   Atlanta
20.6   Carolina (12th)
20.8   Minnesota
21.4   Buffalo
21.6   San Diego (15th)
21.9   Chicago
21.9   Cleveland
22.3   N.Y. Jets
22.8   Cincinnati (19th)
22.8   Dallas
22.9   Jacksonville
23.8   Green Bay
23.8   San Francisco (23rd)
24.3   Oakland
24.3   Seattle
24.6   New Orleans
24.6   Houston
26.6   Arizona
27.5   Kansas City
28.0   Denver
29.1   St. Louis
32.3   Detroit

--Andy Richardson

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