Ian Allan
I’ve been looking at teams today, trying to gauge whether it’s the same ones that tend to score more of their points on field goals each year.
And to a degree, it is. Three of the teams that everyone knows score a higher percentage of their points on touchdowns are near the bottom – Chargers, Patriots and Colts. And the Ravens and Cardinals, which have been heavy on field goals in recent years, have been near the top in recent years.
The following chart shows combined production over the last five years, with percentage of scoring by the kicker listed first, and also showing the average number of kicking points scored by each team.
PERCENTAGE OF POINTS SCORED BY KICKERS, 2003-2007
Chart shows percentage of points scored by the team’s kicker, as well as the average kicking points (in parentheses):
37.2% Baltimore Ravens (119.0)
35.8% New York Jets (103.2)
35.7% Cleveland Browns (100.0)
35.2% Arizona Cardinals (108.4)
35.0% Detroit Lions (103.0)
34.7% Chicago Bears (106.6)
34.4% Buffalo Bills (100.6)
34.4% San Francisco 49ers (96.2)
34.3% Oakland Raiders (91.4)
33.9% St. Louis Rams (119.4)
33.8% Carolina Panthers (108.8)
33.5% Miami Dolphins (95.8)
33.3% Denver Broncos (119.6)
33.2% Tennessee Titans (113.0)
32.2% New York Giants (109.2)
32.0% Washington (97.8)
31.9% Cincinnati Bengals (120.8)
31.7% Houston Texans (93.2)
30.9% Tampa Bay Buccaneers (89.4)
30.8% Jacksonville Jaguars (103.6)
30.7% Pittsburgh Steelers (111.0)
30.5% Green Bay Packers (116.0)
30.2% Philadelphia Eagles (108.8)
29.4% New Orleans Saints (101.0)
29.4% Dallas Cowboys (105.0)
29.2% Seattle Seahawks (114.2)
28.2% Indianapolis Colts (129.0)
28.0% Minnesota Vikings (99.2)
27.8% New England Patriots (118.8)
27.2% Kansas City (105.0)
27.0% San Diego Chargers (112.2)
—Ian Allan
- Comments [4]
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Posted by Richard Loppnow | Jun. 16 at 08:48 PM
Perhaps this correlates with head coaches more than teams? Schottenheimer in the playoffs last year and Belichek in this year's Super Bowl eschewed (gesundheit) very makeable field goals to go for it on 4th and very long. In each case quite possibly costing their team NFL championships. Holmgren, on the other hand, seems to always try the long field goal.
Posted by Richard Loppnow | Jun. 17 at 12:31 PM
So, is there some noticeable 'head coach' effect on field goals attempts?
Posted by IAN ALLAN | Jun. 17 at 12:54 PM
I don't buy your theory that Holmgren is a great coach for kickers. His teams tend to be good at scoring touchdowns. Over the last eight years, Seattle is one of only six teams that has scored less than 30 percent of its points via the kicker. The Seahawks average 107.5 kicking points per season during those eight years, which ranks only 10th in the league. So in terms of kickers, I consider Holmgren to be only slightly above average as a coach.
Posted by Tod Denison | Jun. 17 at 02:46 PM
An added note....don't be surprised if Josh Brown has an outstanding year....signing with the Rams and kicking indoors....especially if you get added points for long distance field goals