Analysis
10/12/21
2 min read
Bills Are Top Super Bowl Contenders by Troy Aikman Efficiency Ratings
The 33rd Team is proud to be home for the Aikman Efficiency Ratings — Pro Football Hall of Famer Troy Aikman’s proprietary formula for measuring team offense and team defense in the NFL.
As opposed to just looking at total yards gained and allowed, Aikman combined seven categories, placing more emphasis on some:
- Points per game (20%)
- Points Per Red-Zone Possession (20%)
- Turnovers (20%)
- Yards per Rush (10%)
- Yards per Pass (10%)
- Third-Down Percentage (10%)
- First Downs (10%)
Through the first 5 games of the season, the Buffalo Bills have dominated the Aikman Efficiency Ratings with the No. 1 defense and No. 2 offense in the NFL. Heading into last week's AFC Championship rematch with the Kansas City Chiefs, the Bills top-ranked defense was faced with the Chiefs No. 1 offense.
Defense won out, and after a convincing 38-20 victory, Buffalo's offense overtook the Chiefs, who now sit at No. 3. Meanwhile, the Chiefs struggling defense maintained their last-ranked position in the Aikman Efficiency Ratings. Considering that Buffalo's next five opponents are a combined 6-19 thus far this season, they're likely to hold steady with their elite efficiency marks.
Ranking in the top 10 in both offense and defense is a sign of a legitimately well-rounded Super Bowl contender, and three teams aside from Buffalo fit that category this week. Those three include; the undefeated Arizona Cardinals (No. 4 on offense and No. 5 on defense), Dallas Cowboys (No. 1 on offense and No. 9 on defense), and Baltimore Ravens (No. 8 on offense and No. 10 on defense).
The four teams who rank in the top 10 have combined for only 3 losses by a total of 15 points. All three of those losses came in Week 1 — one coming in overtime, and another coming down to the final seconds of regulation.
For more on the Aikman Efficiency Ratings and the Aikman Foundation, click here.
