12-01-2022, 02:27 PM
(12-01-2022, 12:23 PM)WeezyBengal Wrote: I feel like this isn't being talked about enough.
The Chiefs' defense was pretty damn bad last year, but how do they compare this year? Are they about the same, worse, or improved? Let's look at a couple metrics to compare 2021 to 2022:
2021
Yards per play: 5.9 (2nd last in NFL)
Net passing yards per passing attempt: 6.7 (6th last in NFL)
Rushing yard per attempt: 4.8 (2nd last in NFL)
Points per game: 21.4 (8th best in NFL)
2022
Yards per play: 5.3 (20th in the NFL)
Net passing yards per parring attempt: 5.9 (21st in NFL)
Rushing yard per attempt: 4.3 (22nd in NFL)
Points per game: 22 (17th best in NFL)
So based on these simple stats, it would seem like the Chiefs defense has improved - pretty drastically if we are going to be honest. I do find it interesting that all of their per attempt metrics are better this year while their points per game are worse. That's relative to the scoring in the rest of the NFL, though.
Obviously, they played different teams last year compared to this year which will have an effect on the data.
If anyone with PFF wants to list their overall PFF grades from this year compared to last year that will give us an even better picture along with EPA if anyone has that data. This is just meant to hopefully be a starting point.
Is the 2021 data for the full, regular season 2021? If so, it would mean they played the Bengals in the 2021 season and the Bengals had 415 passing yards in that game and 34 points. Also, their 2022 season so far has had 6 home games and 5 away (they have only 2 more home games of the next 6) and last year they had 9 homes games and 8 away in their record. Given those data, it seems like probably a wash in terms of the statistics.
On the other hand, they do have a relatively easy schedule after the Bengals game, and not high-octane offenses like the Bengals, so they still may well end up with better defense statistics this year when the season is done.
