Top Three Threats to Win the Lombardi Trophy – 3rd Team R-E-V-E-A-L-E-D – by Alan Haupt – The Kansas City Chiefs are the only NFL team for the 2020 season ranked Top 10 in both offense and defense. In the process of researching this piece I’ve realized that top level offenses are not necessarily producing wins this year. Yes, the Chiefs offense is still producing wins, but there are not many others at that same level. Remember, from this morning’s piece, the Top Two Threats were the Steelers and the Saints, but now, let’s get to the R-E-V-E-A-L of that third team, that mystery team, who is one of the top three biggest threats to the Chiefs winning a second Lombardi in a row.
Mystery Team: The L.A. Rams
As I was doing my research for this article I was searching for a team that was highly rated in my vital statistical categories. I narrowed it down to just two teams, but I finally settled with the one team that is rated top five in both offense, and defense. The Rams are fairly young, and yet playoff experienced. They have a top ten level coach, and a first year defensive coordinator has got the team playing as a cohesive unit on that side of the ball. They have 10 key players that should contribute to a successful season, each one of those players has the potential to make it to a Pro Bowl status in the 2020 season. They are top five in four vital categories, No. 1 in overall defensive yards allowed, No. 2 in passing yards allowed, and No. 1 in overall team efficiency. They have had a better season than many media predictors thought they would.
Los Angeles Rams 2020 Season Stats
- No. 4 Point Differential at + 51 (#
- Points Scored 243 (# 17) Points Allowed 192 (# 2)
- No. 5 in QB Efficiency Ratings at 16.9
- Offensive QBR 95.5 (# 19) Defensive QBR 78.6 (# 2)
- No. 9 (Tied) in Turnover Differential at 0
- 15 Takeaways (# 3 Tied) Giveaways 15 (# 9 Tied)
- No. 3 (Tied) Sacks at 32 QB Pressures 25 (# 31)
- No. 9 in Passing Yards Gained
- No. 9 in Rushing Yards Gained
- No. 5 in Overall Offensive Yards Gained
- No. 2 in Passing Yards Allowed
- No. 5 in Rushing Yards Allowed
- No. 1 in Overall Defensive Yards Allowed
- Offensive Passing Efficiency 7.1 (# 8 )
- Defensive Passing Efficiency 5.1 (# 1)
- Overall Passing Efficiency 2.0
- Offensive Rushing Efficiency 4.2 (# 19)
- Defensive Rushing Efficiency 3.9 (# 6)
- Overall Rushing Efficiency 0.3
- Overall Offensive Team Efficiency 2.3 (# 1)
Summary: Top 3 Threats
I’ve been surprised when my research revealed the next three most qualified opponents all have dominant defenses. That got me thinking back to last year and the Chiefs final 2 games of the year as both opponents were defensively dominant with top level running attacks. The high level offense still won in the end. What I see in this year’s selection of top qualifying threats to the Chiefs #runitback mission, is a group of fairly balanced teams and that all three have top five level defenses. On the other hand, they only average run games.
Alan Haupt — ArrowheadOne
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