The Dude Abides: The Stats That Don’t Lie, Week 1

Statistics are like women; mirrors of purest virtue and truth, or like whores to use as one pleases. 

                                                                                                                                                      ---Theodor Billroth

There were 16 games played in Week 1.   Here's the big picture with respect to Turnovers, Time of Possession, 3rd Down Efficiency, and Field Position:

• In 12 of the 16 games, the winning team also won the turnover battle (75%)
• In 12 of the 16 games, the winning team also won the time of possession battle (75%)
• In 13 of the 16 games, the winning team had a higher 3rd down efficiency ratio (81%)
• In 12 of the 16 games, the winning team had a better average starting field position (75%)
• In 7 of the 16 games, one team won all four of the categories (turnovers, time of possession, 3rd down efficiency, and starting field position).  In all 7 of these games, they ended up winning the game as well.

Average Time of Possession of this week's winners: 32:47

Average Third Down Efficiency of this week's winners: 45%

Average Starting Field Position of this week's winners: 32.15 yard line

Individual Games:

Score      TOs      TOP         Third Down    Field Pos

TEN 10      2         28:19        25.00%            20.50

PIT 13        3         36:13        28.57%            30.85

DEN 12     0         26:33        23.08%             21.36

CIN 7         2         33:27        33.33%             28.00

JAX 12      0         26:04         40.00%            27.60

IND 14      2         33:56         57.14%            32.40

MIA 7         4         29:07         36.36%            21.82

ATL 19      0         30:53         40.00%            46.91

KC 24       0         20:11         20.00%            29.64

BAL 38     1         39:49          58.82%           30.09

PHI 38      2        31:37          38.46%            39.77

CAR 10    7        28:23:         18.75%            33.33

MIN 34     0       33:22            42.86%           38.08

CLE 20    2       26:38            25.00%           27.50

NYJ 24    1        38:46            55.56%           27.73

HOU 7     2        21:14            30.00%           21.78

DET 27   3       23:30.            43%                 32.50

NO 45     3       36:30             69.23%           31.92

CHI 15    4       33:03             26.67%            26.54

GB 21     0        26:57            28.57%            40.92

SF 20      1       31:37            38.89%             30.31

ARZ 16   2       28:23             28.57%            26.21

DAL34   0       26:28             30.00%             26.82

TB 21     0       33:32             38.46%             23.18

STL 0    1        27:33             18.18%             24.92

SEA28  3        32:27              53.33%            21.00

WAS17  2       23:52             41.67%             23.50

NYG23  2       36:08             46.15%             30.20

BUF24  1       22:52             40.00%             29.25

NE25    1       37:08              62.50%            33.60

SD24    2      28:23               41.67%             28.83

OAK20  3      31:37               50.00%            29.09

Week 1 down.  Here's hoping the Broncos can improve in 3 of the 4 categories.  If so, they'll have another week of success.

Originally posted at MHR