Ian, yards schmards! The basis of every single game played in the NFL is points scored. They can be scored offensively, defensively, or via special teams and every point no matter how scored, is worth exactly what every other point is worth. Points can come as a result of lots of yards, or of only a few yards. Therefore, the relationship between won-lost performance and yards is dubious at best. There must be some measure of efficiency if not simply points scored, for or against, that are better indicators for ranking teams and even individuals in the case of quarterbacks particularly. Those should be used and not the traditional yardage comparisons.

In the world of NFL statistics yards seem to matter more than points do. A running back who has 1,200 yards rushing but only 3 touchdowns seems to be more valuable than one that has only 800 yards but 10 touchdowns. Why? Obviously fantasy football leagues know the priorities because most of them place a much stronger emphasis on points scored than they do on yardage gained. The exact same thing applies defensively allowing points for the least amount of points scored, not the least amount of yardage gained. They realize that it is points on the board either for or against at the end of the game that is the bottom line, not how many yards an offense got or a defense allowed.

Obviously yardage counts for something and it stands to reason in part that the more yards a team has offensively, the greater the chances are that more points were scored. Having said that however, that is also not nearly always the case. The Rams are the perfect example this season. Their 6th overall yardage offense ranking would seem to indicate a degree of success. However, their scoring offense ranking is only 23rd and more closely represents their 5-7 record. Obviously defensive performance is just as critical as offensive in determining wins/losses. Much like the Bills defenses of the early ‘90s that gave up yards by the bushel between the 20s but would tighten up like Scrooge at Christmas in the red zone.

A team that averages 210 passing yards per game, with a 400-yard effort this week, could conceivably leap up about 8 spots, or 25% in the passing offense statistical category. Much of those could come against a prevent D and if a score is not forthcoming after exactly such a play, then those yards are virtually meaningless. In the first Pats game this year, the Bills had 98 yards on their last drive and failed to punch it into the endzone. Those 98 yards made the game look halfway decent from a “yardage” perspective as Bledsoe had over 300 passing yards, when the facts indicated a blowout, 38-7. It is time for this league to start using scoring offense and defense in establishing their rankings, and time for another efficiency-based measure to be used for quarterbacks as well.

You need yards Wile E. As many as possible. Yards are your friend in the game of football. If Drew and the offense are out on the field, then the opponent is on the bench, while Pat Williams and company are enjoying a relaxing moment on the sideline, theirs is sucking air trying to stop all those yards being racked up on them.

No mistaking the idea that anyone would love a tough defense on their side. The way teams can't keep players long enough to build a tough defense in this league, I'll take an average defense to go with an average of 400 yards on Sundays. That gives my team 24 points a game on average. I know it's not enough to win them all, but it is good enough to win a majority of them. Buffalo is getting 370 yards average each game, that number should be much closer to 400 + if Travis Henry was allowed to run the ball on a league average. If only the NFL was like it's portrayal on video games where you can run up 45 points before the first half is over.

As long as I have a substantial amount of yards I have a stable team and can stay closer to my 24 points per game. One would need the most talented offense and be able to score on a whim to beat that every game week in and week out, while all along disregarding those precious yards. From the opening kickoff to the last few minutes of the game you use yards to your advantage. What if you're facing a fast scoring team? You want to keep their offense off the field, so you start grinding away piling up yards, yards turn into points and help by taking off as much time as you can off the clock doing so. Chewing up the yards and the clock at the end of a game can win it for you by helping preserve a lead.

Points are good, they are a must if you want to win. Which is why yards are more important, because without them you cannot have points. What would happen to teams like the Chargers if points meant more in the NFL rankings? They do not score a large amount of points, yet are a very good team. The same goes for Tampa Bay. I do not think one could get a clear picture on where a team stands in the league looking at points as a means of measuring there capabilities. Also it's a game where you can win with single digit numbers, what if you have a soft offense and a tough defense? You are going to win a lot of low scoring games, a team like that is capable of going to the super bowl and winning. Again, the yards matter most because without them how can you possibly score points? Ok ok.. you can score with out yards, just kick off the ball into the endzone and have the return man fumble the ball every time while somebody from your team pounces on it for the touch down. Now wouldn't that be nice!