Fantasy Index

Factoid

September 21, 2014

Divisional series

Look at lowest, highest scoring series of the last five years

Certain teams seem to have other teams’ number. The Giants, for example, always put up good numbers against Dallas. Lots of shootouts with those teams.

When other divisional foes square off, on the other hand, it’s always a lower-scoring slugfest. Rarely, for example, do you see 40 points scored when it’s an AFC North battle between the Steelers, Ravens or Browns.

Here’s a look at all 48 of the divisional series – six for each division. I’m listing them by average points scored in the last five years (the 2009 to 2013 seasons). The Giants-Cowboys, Patriots-Bills and Packers-Vikings have been the three highest-scoring series.

Ten games for each series (I’m leaving out playoff meetings). Only three teams have averaged over 30 points against an opponent over the last five years. Patriots (against Bills), Packers (vs. Minnesota) and Chargers (against Kansas City).

Rams-Seahawks. That’s your lowest-scoring series, with both teams averaging under 16 points. The next three low-scoring series are all from the AFC North.

THE 48 DIVISIONAL SERIES SINCE 2009
TotalTeam 1ScoreTeam 2Score
57.0Giants29.1Cowboys27.9
56.2Patriots34.0Bills22.2
55.0Packers31.3Vikings23.7
49.3Broncos27.1Raiders22.2
49.1Chargers25.9Broncos23.2
48.9Eagles25.2Giants23.7
48.7Saints27.4Panthers21.3
47.8Chargers30.1Chiefs17.7
47.8Bears26.8Lions21.0
47.4Falcons25.3Buccaneers22.1
47.2Eagles26.2Redskins21.0
47.2Falcons25.1Panthers22.1
46.7Patriots28.4Jets18.3
46.7Saints25.7Falcons21.0
46.2Bears26.2Vikings20.0
45.9Jets26.1Bills19.8
45.6Chargers23.2Raiders22.4
45.5Patriots29.0Dolphins16.5
45.3Texans24.0Jaguars21.3
44.9Colts23.2Texans21.7
43.7Saints28.0Buccaneers15.7
43.7Colts24.6Titans19.1
43.6Packers24.6Lions19.0
43.5Bengals23.3Browns20.2
43.1Vikings23.4Lions19.7
43.0Broncos26.0Chiefs17.0
42.9Texans25.3Titans17.6
41.7Panthers24.2Buccaneers17.5
41.7Colts23.8Jaguars17.9
41.6Titans22.4Jaguars19.2
41.0Seahawks23.2Cardinals17.8
41.0Cowboys21.4Eagles19.6
40.7Cowboys21.3Redskins19.4
40.049ers25.8Rams14.2
39.6Packers22.8Bears16.8
39.6Seahawks21.049ers18.6
39.1Giants22.7Redskins16.4
38.4Dolphins19.9Jets18.5
38.0Ravens19.7Bengals18.3
37.949ers25.7Cardinals12.2
37.8Steelers21.5Bengals16.3
37.5Dolphins20.5Bills17.0
36.5Chiefs19.3Raiders17.2
36.4Cardinals19.1Rams17.3
36.2Ravens19.6Steelers16.6
33.3Ravens21.8Browns11.5
32.0Steelers21.4Browns10.6
31.5Rams15.8Seahawks15.7

—Ian Allan

2 Reader Comments:

Jose Montana

ROSEMEAD, CA
2014-09-21T16:01:05Z
I understand going back to 2009 and earlier years when you're analyzing the broad issues across the entire league of scoring, passing yardage, total yardage, etc. I don't understand going back to 2011 (as I've seen at times in your updates) to compare matchups, because of the multiple changes in personnel, coaching staffs, etc. Perhaps I'm wrong and you're only doing this after you've judged that the two teams have not changed significantly.

Ian Allan

Seattle, WA
2014-09-21T17:02:21Z
Agreed. One should be careful when looking at historical numbers. These are just extra pieces in the puzzle, but they're often more of a distraction than actually useful. Steelers, for example, have had a great defense for years. But they're lousy now, so who cares what they did in 2011? Minnesota's defense appears to be a lot different under Mike Zimmer, making historical data meaningless for them.
Sign in to add a comment
Older
Newer

Fantasy Index