Analysis

11/3/21

2 min read

5 Clear Contenders Emerging in Week 9 Aikman Efficiency Ratings

Week 9 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%)

The Buffalo Bills bounced back from their Week 8 loss against Tennessee with a dominant second half performance against the struggling Miami Dolphins. Along the way to their 26-11 victory, Buffalo racked up the statistical profile to ascend to No. 1 on both offense and defense in Troy Aikman's Efficiency Ratings.

Sitting at 5-2, Buffalo will likely only strengthen their lead in the Aikman Efficiency Ratings with their upcoming three game schedule against the Jaguars, Jets and Colts – teams that are a combined 6-16 on the season.

While the Bills are in a comfortable position, they are just one of 5 clear contenders emerging for the second half of the season. Four other teams have earned placement in the top 10 of Week 9's rankings on both offense and defense. They include the Arizona Cardinals (No. 3 on both offense and defense), Dallas Cowboys (No. 5 on offense and No. 10 on defense), Baltimore Ravens (No. 6 on offense and No. 5 on defense), Los Angeles Rams (No. 2 on offense and No. 6 on defense), and Tampa Bay Buccaneers (No. 4 on offense and No. 9 on defense).

Those 5 teams make up 5 of the 6 top teams in The 33rd Team's weekly NFL Power Rankings, showing that these teams have established themselves as top contenders both statistically and on film.

The only team in our Power Rankings that is not in the top 10 on both offense and defense in Aikman's Efficiecy Rankings? Green Bay.

Despite their 7-1 record and place atop the NFC playoff picture, the Packers sit at just No. 16 on offense and No. 19 on defense, a mere minor improvement on last week's rankings.

For more on the Aikman Efficiency Ratings and the Aikman Foundation, click here.


RELATED