BudGoodeSports.com

"The Number 1 Name for Statistical Analysis in Sports"

Stat of the Week

Week 6 - Passing Efficiency

Chill winds roared off the Great Lakes and minimized the Vikes' chances of making the playoffs. That's what the data suggests after last week's game with the Bears. The Vikes lost 21.4 points on a passing efficiency stat which points to the troubles the Vikes will have this year with WR Randy Moss in another county.

Passing efficiency yardage is defined by simply adding QB sack yards and INT return yardds. QB Culpepper gave back 133 yards compared to only 20 by the Bears. This huge difference contributed a big 21.4 points per game (PPG) to Chicago's 25-point win.

The weekly graphs below picture this year's performance level. The Vikes have been merely average or weaker than average in every game this season.

Passing Efficiency

Chicago Bears

2007 Week 6 through 2008 Week 11

Passing Efficiency

Minnesota Vikings

2007 Week 6 through 2008 Week 11

This performance level has dropped them to the bottom rung in the ladder at a cost of 8.62 PPG. They are now 13.64 points behind the league leader (Bengals).

In separating winners from losers our concept of "passing efficiency" stats are the keys to winning. After week 6 the data suggests the Vikes do not resemble the Purple People Eaters of yore.

And they are out of the race to the playoffs.

Bud Goode, budgoode@ix.netcom.com

(Scroll down for a picture of the Vikes' last-place ranking relative to the league and points change relative to the league).

Passing Efficiency

Percentile Chart
100=Stongest 50=Average 0=Weakest
Lines: Playoff Avg=64 SuperBowl Avg=66
Win Mrg Points Change
Winning Margin Points Change
Sorted by Points Change, 2007 to 2008

Rank Team Pctl Stat
Value Points
behind
Leader Win Mrg
Pts Chg
vs 2007 Games
Won
1 TEN 100 8.10 0.00 2.78 10
2 ATL 94 10.90 0.67 5.92 6
3 CHI 83 16.10 1.92 5.50 5
4 G B 81 16.70 2.06 0.39 5
5 DEN 80 17.20 2.18 1.93 6
6 CLE 76 19.00 2.62 3.87 4
7 JAX 75 19.80 2.81 0.98 4
8 WAS 75 19.80 2.81 -1.20 6
9 N E 72 20.90 3.07 -1.13 6
10 MIA 72 21.10 3.12 2.45 6
11 CAR 71 21.60 3.24 0.16 8
12 S D 69 22.60 3.48 1.37 4
13 T B 68 23.00 3.58 0.32 7
14 BAL 65 24.20 3.86 2.68 6
15 PHI 64 24.70 3.98 0.79 5
16 N O 63 25.10 4.08 0.65 5
17 OAK 62 25.60 4.20 -0.07 2
18 NYG 59 26.90 4.51 1.91 9
19 CIN 52 30.50 5.38 -1.13 1
20 BUF 49 31.70 5.66 -0.12 5
21 SEA 48 31.90 5.71 -2.24 2
22 PIT 48 32.00 5.74 -0.83 7
23 ARI 48 32.20 5.78 0.42 7
24 HOU 46 33.20 6.02 -1.35 3
25 K C 45 33.40 6.07 0.61 1
26 IND 39 36.40 6.79 -4.61 6
27 DAL 34 38.50 7.30 -3.60 6
28 MIN 33 38.90 7.39 -3.79 5
29 NYJ 26 42.50 8.26 -2.52 7
30 DET 18 45.80 9.05 -1.74 0
31 S F 5 52.00 10.54 -2.54 3
32 STL 0 54.30 11.09 -1.71 2
2008 Season, YTD through Week 11

In season 2007 Vikings ranked 8th on Passing Efficiency at 23.13.
In season 2008 they ranked 28th at 38.90, down 3.8 points per game on this one stat.
From 2007 to 2008 Vikings declined by 4.5 points per game on Winning Margin.