Season 35 Power Rankings

Here is my final Madden 17 power rankings column. I only included teams that I feel have been playing their games and not simming or going AP. (Take that simmers!) After each team, I included a random stat or fact I found interesting -- after spending way too much digging into the numbers.

I hope everyone enjoyed my stats columns this Madden. I had a lot of fun making them and I appreciate all of the compliments and comments. I especially enjoy the debate that these columns generate. I look forward to even more vigorous banter in Madden 18. Thanks for the great cycle everyone!

1. Bills

The Bills are allowing a league leading 14 points per game on defense. They have only given up 20+ points in 5 of their 15 games this season. For comparison, 17 teams average more than 20 points allowed per game.

2. Steelers

The Steelers finished the season on a 9 game winning streak, a 13-3 record, and a scoring differential of 166 points. Last season’s Super Bowl winning Rams finished last season on a 9 game winning streak, a 13-3 record, and a scoring differential of 167 points.

3. Browns

The Browns are 4th in rushing yards despite not having a 1000 yard rusher. They are 1 of only 3 teams in RedZone to have 3 players with 80 carries on the season (Packers and Eagles).

4. Bengals

The Bengals have scored 12 defensive touchdowns this season. The NFL record is 10 (Seahawks in 1998). Star middle linebacker Jameel Hasselbach has 6 of them.

5. Eagles

Carson Wentz, once the most efficient quarterback in the league, is below average in every single passing category, both standard and advanced stats. (27th in ANY/A, 25th in QB rating). Bonus stat, even though the Eagles are 11-4, they have had the 5th largest drop is scoring differential from season.

6. Rams

The Rams are second in the league is defensive sacks with 52. (Texans lead with 53) Still, the Rams had the 3rd largest increase in points allowed per game from last season (allowing 6 more points per game).

7. Jaguars

The Jaguars are the only team in the league to have two players with 1100+ yards passing. (Light with 2033, and Bridgewater with 1850). Despite a combine QB rating under 80, the Jags still have the 5th best passing attack.

8. Chiefs

The Chiefs allow a league low 62 rushing yards a game. Only 3 offenses in RedZone average less rushing yards per game (Bears, Cardinals, Broncos).

9. Raiders

Raiders QB Seth Lentz is 4th in the league in ANY/A (adjusted net yards per passing attempt). However, he is elite or above average in every single passing category except touchdown % (19th). If he were top 10 in passing touchdowns, he would jump to 2nd behind only MVP favorite Steven McLeod.

10. 49ers

Rookie running back Anton Reeves finished the season with 1323 rushing yards. Incredibly, that is the most a 49ers running back has had this cycle.

11. Panthers

Despite having the 3rd worst completion percentage in the league, Kirby Vance is 3rd in ANY/A due to his 9.4 yards per attempt average, second only to MVP candidate Steven McLeod (10.2). In related news, 4 players average 20+ yards per reception and two play for Carolina. (Idreis Bird 23.7, Eddrick McClain 21.8, Lacy Dyson 21.5, Deonte White 20.2)

12. Buccaneers

The Buccaneers are arguably the most improve team of the season. They had the second biggest increase in win % (.287 improvement), league rank (11 spots), and points allowed (9 points fewer per game).

13. Giants

Rookie QB Kris Utecht is averaging just 6.5 yards per attempt this season. That is good for 31st out of 34 qualifying quarterbacks -- Bradford level of dinking and dunking. After Brett Hundley took over as the full-time starter in season 30, he averaged 7.9 YPA.

14. Broncos

Kirk Cousins is the only QB in the league who sports both an excellent sack rate and interception rate (those are inversely correlated for the vast majority of the league). He is 1st in sack rate (3.5%) and 5th in interception rate (2.4%).

15. Packers

The Packers had the 2nd easiest schedule in the league by Opponent Adjusted Pythagorean Win Expectancy – virtually identical to the Chargers. They beat just two teams with a winning record all season (for comparison, Bills and Steelers had 5 and 6, respectively).

16. Redskins

Terraine Judie has the worst ANY/A in RedZone (34th out of 34 qualifying QB’s). When the Redskins drop back to pass, it is essentially as effective as Toby Gerhart running for the Jaguars circa 2014.

17. Patriots

Over the previous 5 seasons, the Patriots have averaged 64.4 sacks allowed. This season, Tera has been sacked just 31 times. His sack rate of 6.1% is good for 13th in the league.

18. Cardinals

The Cardinals are 31st in rushing yards with all 3 running backs averaging 3.1 YPC or less. This is all the more surprising when you consider the starting offensive line average run block rating is 89.

19. Texans

The Texans are first in sacks (53) and last in interceptions (7). They are 1 of only 2 teams that are top 10 in sacks and not top 10 in interceptions. (Steelers – 44 sacks, 15 interceptions)

20. Ravens

In the previous 4 seasons, the Ravens had an average scoring differential of -218 points. At 7-9, Ravens coach, Pat, had his best scoring differential of the cycle at -84.

21. Seahawks

Reshard Money has 295 of 352 running back carries for the Seahawks this season, good for 84%. Even though backup running back Kemnavus Thurman is averaging 4.9 YPC to Money’s 4.7.

22. Dolphins

The Dolphins are 32nd in points scored, 31st in total yards, 30th in passing yards, and 29th in rushing yards. Despite rushing being their best offensive stat (tallest midget in the room?) their best two running backs average a paltry 3.0 YPC.

23. Titans

The Titans are the luckiest team in the league according to Pythagorean Win Expectation, outperforming their win total by 2.1. If they had the luck of the Chargers, Colts, or Bears, the Titans would have 1 or 2 wins.

24. Colts

Andrew Luck has been sacked an astonishing 84 times this season. His sack rate is 18.1%!!! The Colts are surrendering a sack on nearly 1 in 5 pass plays. Only Dak Prescott, Derek Kranchick, and Terraine Judie have a worse ANY/A.