NFL Opinion: Which Statistics Are You Missing? -

With the NFL season less than two weeks away, it is time to brush up on the statistics that you really need to know.

Numbers surround our everyday life. The NFL is no exception. With just about every conceivable metric floating through television and the internet, which ones actually matter? Granted, this is my personal list, so results and personal preference vary. Under those circumstances, what should fans keep track of statistically? Now, wins and losses remain the ultimate decider. Yet, each game is a piece to a larger puzzle.

Yards Per Attempt

Throughout my youth, the measure of a NFL quarterback success during a season always started with passing yards. Then, completion percentage became the standard metric. However, each possesses flaws. Percentage could bank on the dink-and-dunk offenses with the total passing yards could rely on the short passing game and influenced by yards after catch. With that said, YPA (yards per attempt) paints a more accurate picture. The higher the number usually runs alongside the potency of the offense, whether the offense is more of a ball control or air-it-out. For example, Patrick Mahomes sports a career YPA of 8.1. That is to say, that number clearly defines the Kansas City offense. Mahomes will test the defense vertically. On the other hand, the league average in 2022 was 6.9. The Bears and Browns exemplify that number.

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Quarterback Knockdown Percentage/Hurries

Yes, sacks and tackles for loss define the strength of an NFL defense. At the same time, what percentage is that opposing quarterback hitting the ground? Some players can boast a six-sack season but played over ninety percent of the snaps. In that case, what occurred on the other plays? Meanwhile, a companion stat, hurries compliment the knockdown. If a quarterback routinely picks himself up off the turf, he will tire if doing so. As a result, after extended pressure, that quarterback could attempt to throw even quicker, even before the receiver starts his break. In that case, deflections and interceptions venture into focus. By all measures, the more you hit a quarterback, the more likely he will start to weaken.

Completion Percentage Against

While everyone loves interceptions, they are few and far between, considering the high volume of passes thrown. In contrast, how a defender shuts down the passing game by sound coverage sticks out. Sauce Gardner did not lead the NFL in interceptions. In fact, he pulled down just two. Meanwhile, everyone wanted to proclaim Trevon Diggs as the best corner in recent memory based on fourteen interceptions in the last two seasons. They fail to mention the 1570 yards and seven touchdowns during that span. Meanwhile, Sauce Gardner held opponents to 53.5 percent completion percentage and just one touchdown.

Standard Stats

With all of this said, which NFL statistics should you use to grade performance? In all honesty, go by whatever metric that makes you comfortable. There is no one-size-fits-all rule for analysis. For me, looking deeper helps to peel away the stats that every player accumulates.