As we move into the final quarter of the season, there are more stats in play. We can better see what teams are trying to do offensively, and how well they’re doing it. Around the goal-line, most notably, you can see what kinds of plays teams are tending to call in that all-important part of the field.
Four teams have called pass plays on at least 65 percent of their plays inside the 5-yard line – Dolphins, Steelers, Giants, Seahawks.
In that same part of the field, five teams have run the ball on at least 65 percent of their plays – Titans, Panthers, Bills, Rams and Vikings. The normally pass-happy Saints are just behind that group.
On these figures below, I’m including 2-point conversions (even though those aren’t technically considered plays, I think they’re still telling). There are a half-dozen aborted plays (usually involving fumbled snaps) but I’m leaving them out.
| PLAY-CALLING INSIDE THE 5 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Team | Plays | Run | Pass | Pct |
| Miami | 11 | 3 | 8 | 73% |
| Pittsburgh | 26 | 8 | 18 | 69% |
| NY Giants | 23 | 8 | 15 | 65% |
| Seattle | 37 | 13 | 24 | 65% |
| Arizona | 21 | 8 | 13 | 62% |
| New England | 40 | 17 | 23 | 58% |
| Oakland | 25 | 11 | 14 | 56% |
| Green Bay | 28 | 13 | 15 | 54% |
| Detroit | 34 | 16 | 18 | 53% |
| LA Chargers | 23 | 11 | 12 | 52% |
| Houston | 27 | 13 | 14 | 52% |
| Baltimore | 29 | 14 | 15 | 52% |
| Kansas City | 12 | 6 | 6 | 50% |
| Chicago | 20 | 10 | 10 | 50% |
| Tampa Bay | 25 | 13 | 12 | 48% |
| Denver | 25 | 13 | 12 | 48% |
| Washington | 30 | 16 | 14 | 47% |
| Cleveland | 28 | 15 | 13 | 46% |
| Indianapolis | 20 | 11 | 9 | 45% |
| Philadelphia | 36 | 20 | 16 | 44% |
| Atlanta | 34 | 19 | 15 | 44% |
| Jacksonville | 34 | 19 | 15 | 44% |
| NY Jets | 28 | 16 | 12 | 43% |
| Cincinnati | 14 | 8 | 6 | 43% |
| Dallas | 29 | 17 | 12 | 41% |
| San Francisco | 26 | 16 | 10 | 38% |
| New Orleans | 36 | 23 | 13 | 36% |
| Minnesota | 31 | 20 | 11 | 35% |
| LA Rams | 26 | 17 | 9 | 35% |
| Buffalo | 26 | 17 | 9 | 35% |
| Carolina | 29 | 19 | 10 | 34% |
| Tennessee | 20 | 16 | 4 | 20% |
Looking instead at effectiveness (rather than simply total plays), the Eagles, Dolphins, Rams and Vikings have been the best at getting the ball into the end zone on pass plays inside the 5-yard line. Again with the “TDs” I’m including not only touchdown passes but also successful pass attempts on 2-point conversions.
The Colts, Bucs, Panthers, Lions, Cardinals and Browns have been the least effective passing teams in this part of the field, getting the ball into the end zone on under a quarter of their plays.
| PASSING EFFECTIVENESS INSIDE 5 | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Team | Plays | TDP | Pct |
| Philadelphia | 16 | 10 | 63% |
| Miami | 8 | 5 | 63% |
| LA Rams | 9 | 5 | 56% |
| Minnesota | 11 | 6 | 55% |
| Atlanta | 15 | 8 | 53% |
| Jacksonville | 15 | 8 | 53% |
| Pittsburgh | 18 | 9 | 50% |
| Kansas City | 6 | 3 | 50% |
| Houston | 14 | 7 | 50% |
| Cincinnati | 6 | 3 | 50% |
| New England | 23 | 11 | 48% |
| Green Bay | 15 | 7 | 47% |
| Baltimore | 15 | 7 | 47% |
| LA Chargers | 12 | 5 | 42% |
| Seattle | 24 | 10 | 42% |
| NY Giants | 15 | 6 | 40% |
| New Orleans | 13 | 5 | 38% |
| Oakland | 14 | 5 | 36% |
| Dallas | 12 | 4 | 33% |
| Buffalo | 9 | 3 | 33% |
| Chicago | 10 | 3 | 30% |
| San Francisco | 10 | 3 | 30% |
| Washington | 14 | 4 | 29% |
| NY Jets | 12 | 3 | 25% |
| Tennessee | 4 | 1 | 25% |
| Denver | 12 | 3 | 25% |
| Arizona | 13 | 3 | 23% |
| Cleveland | 13 | 3 | 23% |
| Detroit | 18 | 4 | 22% |
| Carolina | 10 | 2 | 20% |
| Tampa Bay | 12 | 2 | 17% |
| Indianapolis | 9 | 0 | 0% |
When it comes to running the ball in that part of the field, the Steelers, Raiders and Colts have been the most effective teams inside the 5. (Why doesn’t Pittsburgh run it more in that part of the field? Seems like LeVeon Bell should be scoring on a lot more 1- and 2-yard touchdown runs.)
The Broncos, Seahawks and Chargers have been the worst running teams in that area. Each has scored on under 20 percent of its running attempts inside the 5.
| RUSHING EFFECTIVENESS INSIDE 5 | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Team | Plays | TDR | Pct |
| Pittsburgh | 8 | 5 | 63% |
| Oakland | 11 | 6 | 55% |
| Indianapolis | 11 | 6 | 55% |
| Minnesota | 20 | 10 | 50% |
| Kansas City | 6 | 3 | 50% |
| Chicago | 10 | 5 | 50% |
| NY Jets | 16 | 8 | 50% |
| Tennessee | 16 | 8 | 50% |
| Arizona | 8 | 4 | 50% |
| New Orleans | 23 | 11 | 48% |
| Dallas | 17 | 8 | 47% |
| Cleveland | 15 | 7 | 47% |
| Houston | 13 | 6 | 46% |
| Green Bay | 13 | 6 | 46% |
| Tampa Bay | 13 | 6 | 46% |
| Atlanta | 19 | 8 | 42% |
| Carolina | 19 | 8 | 42% |
| LA Rams | 17 | 7 | 41% |
| New England | 17 | 7 | 41% |
| Cincinnati | 8 | 3 | 38% |
| NY Giants | 8 | 3 | 38% |
| San Francisco | 16 | 6 | 38% |
| Washington | 16 | 6 | 38% |
| Jacksonville | 19 | 7 | 37% |
| Baltimore | 14 | 5 | 36% |
| Philadelphia | 20 | 7 | 35% |
| Miami | 3 | 1 | 33% |
| Buffalo | 17 | 5 | 29% |
| Detroit | 16 | 4 | 25% |
| LA Chargers | 11 | 2 | 18% |
| Seattle | 13 | 2 | 15% |
| Denver | 13 | 2 | 15% |
—Ian Allan