Professional Football Researchers Association Forum

NWebster wrote: ↑Fri Jul 25, 2025 9:27 pm I think an era adjustment is required.

Then further, an opponent adjustment is required.

Then a Special Teams Adjustment is required - to break ties when there are small differences.

How many points did your DEFENSE give up versus what your opponents of your era expect them to if they were not playing you.

I did a version of this a while back and the '63 Bears were very favorable - not #1 but shot up the rankings, if I remember correctly.

To me the "best D calc" is PPG Allowed (x/returns) / PPG of opponents in the same season against other teams (x/returns)

could also add in pick 6s and scoop and scores by defensive unit -- as a "net points allowed"

Brian wolf wrote: ↑Mon Jul 21, 2025 12:18 pm The Vikings defense does deserve credit but there is a reason it was called the black and blue division. Not much offense from any team.

That 1970 team it should be noted took care of business against the better teams on their schedule: 5-0 vs the Rams, Cowboys, Lions and Chiefs (all of which finished above .500)

In a 14 game schedule that’s closer to half their games compared to a 16 gamer

If anything they faced a stronger schedule than their 1971 brethren

NWebster wrote: ↑Fri Jul 25, 2025 9:27 pm I think an era adjustment is required.

Then further, an opponent adjustment is required.

Then a Special Teams Adjustment is required - to break ties when there are small differences.

How many points did your DEFENSE give up versus what your opponents of your era expect them to if they were not playing you.

I did a version of this a while back and the '63 Bears were very favorable - not #1 but shot up the rankings, if I remember correctly.

To me the "best D calc" is PPG Allowed (x/returns) / PPG of opponents in the same season against other teams (x/returns)

PFR has a Team Defense metric which attempts to go vs league average in that season and accounts for home field advantage. Might be closest thing to what you're suggesting.

The top teams historically [since 1960] according to this metric:

11.3 - 1962 Green Bay Packers
10.9 - 1962 Detroit Lions
10.9 - 1963 Chicago Bears
10.6 - 1969 Minnesota Vikings
10.5 - 1965 Green Bay Packers
10.1 - 1968 Kansas City Chiefs
10.0 - 1966 Green Bay Packers
9.9 - 1971 Minnesota Vikings
9.9 - 1968 Baltimore Colts
9.6 - 1976 Pittsburgh Steelers
9.4 - 1985 Chicago Bears
9.4 - 1977 Denver Broncos
9.2 - 1970 Minnesota Vikings
8.8 - 1975 Pittsburgh Steelers
8.7 - 1975 Los Angeles Rams
8.5 - 1971 Baltimore Colts
8.4 - 1969 Kansas City Chiefs
8.3 - 1973 Miami Dolphins
8.0 - 2000 Baltimore Ravens

PaulDeVos wrote: ↑Sun Sep 28, 2025 10:37 pm

NWebster wrote: ↑Fri Jul 25, 2025 9:27 pm I think an era adjustment is required.

Then further, an opponent adjustment is required.

Then a Special Teams Adjustment is required - to break ties when there are small differences.

How many points did your DEFENSE give up versus what your opponents of your era expect them to if they were not playing you.

I did a version of this a while back and the '63 Bears were very favorable - not #1 but shot up the rankings, if I remember correctly.

To me the "best D calc" is PPG Allowed (x/returns) / PPG of opponents in the same season against other teams (x/returns)

PFR has a Team Defense metric which attempts to go vs league average in that season and accounts for home field advantage.

The top teams historically [since 1960] according to this metric:

11.3 - 1962 Green Bay Packers
10.9 - 1962 Detroit Lions
10.9 - 1963 Chicago Bears
10.6 - 1969 Minnesota Vikings
10.5 - 1965 Green Bay Packers
10.1 - 1968 Kansas City Chiefs
10.0 - 1966 Green Bay Packers
9.9 - 1971 Minnesota Vikings
9.9 - 1968 Baltimore Colts
9.6 - 1976 Pittsburgh Steelers
9.4 - 1985 Chicago Bears
9.4 - 1977 Denver Broncos
9.2 - 1970 Minnesota Vikings
8.8 - 1975 Pittsburgh Steelers
8.7 - 1975 Los Angeles Rams
8.5 - 1971 Baltimore Colts
8.4 - 1969 Kansas City Chiefs
8.3 - 1973 Miami Dolphins
8.0 - 2000 Baltimore Ravens

Yep, that metric is points allowed relative to the average of the opponents they played.

Might be closest thing to what you're suggesting.

The difference between Pro Football Reference SRS and my metric is that one accounts for all scores including special teams and defensive touchdowns, and my metric accounts for how many drives they had to work with; theirs did not.


Looking at the teams listed, there are a few earlier 60's teams that I referenced and possibly a couple others I didn't.

All told, I count 19 teams there, and 12 of them are in that ten year range of 1968-1977, and the only post Mel-Blount teams are the 85 Bears and 2000 Ravens.

On points allowed check out '66 Packers 163 vs '67 Packers 209
46 point difference

1 pic six and 0 special teams TDs given up for '66 vs 5 for '67 accounts for 28 of that leaving 18

67' offense had 37 turnovers while the '66 team had 24. I'm thinking that the extra offensive turnovers led the defense to give up some points.