What We Learned in 2018
 
1. Great defense didn’t work out for the Titans, Jaguars and Vikings with the league’s 3rd, 5th and 9th ranked defenses (by points allowed). They can’t vie for any championships because they didn’t make the playoffs. For now, things seem to have worked out better for the Chiefs and Rams, who have the top two offenses and low-ranked defenses. Of course, the Bears, Ravens, Texans and Cowboys have thrived with stout defenses and middling offenses, so we’ll just have to wait and see who prevails in the playoffs – perhaps the teams with the best combination?
 
Here is how the playoff teams rank by points per game:
 
Defense                                   Offense
Bears               #1                    Chiefs              #1
Ravens             #2                    Rams               #2
Texans             #4                    Saints              #3
Cowboys          #6                    Patriots            #4
Patriots            #7                    Colts                #5
Chargers          #8                    Chargers          #6
Colts                #10                  Seahawks         #7
Seahawks         #11                  Bears               #9
Eagles              #12                  Texans             #11
Saints              #14                  Ravens             #13
Rams               #20                  Eagles             #18
Chiefs              #24                  Cowboys          #22
 
2. Sometimes, you’re just in the wrong place at the wrong time! Dirk Koetter was fired as head coach of the Buccaneers, despite his team achieving the NFL’s #3 offense (the #1 passing attack). Unfortunately for Koetter, the Bucs play in a division with the Falcons (with the #4 passing attack), the Panthers (with the #4 rushing attack) and the Saints (with the NFL’s best record) – all of whom were playoff teams a year ago and played in a recent Super Bowl. Some folks will point out that the Bucs’ defense came in at #31, but I think this is also a reminder: ‘choose your division wisely’.
 
3. Former players and coaches are not necessarily better at picking game winners.  (More on that next time - and yes, I am bragging a little.)