As we noted before the start of the season, passing yards allowed is a very poor way to rate the quality of a particular pass defense. Basically, some bad teams are so easy to run on that opponents rarely pass against them. So you end up with a situation in which a team appears to have a great pass defense when, in fact, it does not.

 

We declared that defensive passer rating was a much more effective way to rate the quality of a defense.

 

Once again, the Cold, Hard Football Facts were proven correct as events unfolded on the playing fields of the NFL.

 

Take a look at the top of the final 2006 defensive passer rating list. Notice something about the top four teams?

 

That's right. They rank Nos. 1 to 4, in order, in scoring defense.

 

Here what the list of the top four teams in passing yards allowed looks like:

Notice something about those four teams?

 

None of them have particularly stout defenses.

 

Now you know the difference between useless stats and "Quality" Stats.